Masks

In this Fable Foundations video, we're going to introduce you to Masking. We'll cover several techniques for creating and using masks to hide or reveal different parts of the layers in your projects.

Let's start with the essentials. The easiest way of creating a mask in Fable is to draw a basic shape.

Start by selecting a shape in the toolbar and then click and drag to create on the canvas. Hold down shift while you drag to constrain the proportions of the shape. If you need a specific height and width, enter the exact dimensions in the attributes panel.

Next click and drag a connection from the mask icon on the shape layer, to layer that you would like to hide or reveal. When you release the link, the mask layer will automatically have its visibility turned off and will hide everything outside of its bounds on the layer being masked.

If you hover over the mask icon, you can change the mode to invert. This will punch a hole into the image.

Now let's go one step further and create a custom mask. Select the pen tool and draw a shape.

Close it by clicking on the first point, then repeat the masking steps covered earlier in the video.

With a single shape, you can mask multiple objects. In this example, we create three ellipses and mask them with the rectangle that is already being used to mask the image.

The mask layer's position in the layer stack hierarchy does not affect the connections made between it and the layers being masked. Masks are non-destructive. This means that you are free to modify, animate, or disable them at any time.

If you need to add or subtract different parts of two or more overlapping shape layers, a different approach can be used. Create a rectangle and an ellipse. In the toolbar, you will find several options that can be applied to create a compound shape.

Select subtract to have the front shape cut a hole into the shape behind it. Select intersect to hide everything except where the shapes overlap. Select exclude to show everything except where the shapes overlap.

When you choose any of these options, fable creates a new compound shape group in the later stack. You can adjust the relationship between existing shapes and add new shapes whenever you wish.

Once you feel comfortable with basic masking, we encourage you to apply advanced techniques to create interesting compositions. Try some of these.

Mask groups in scenes

Create animated textures or text

or experiment with compound shapes.

Fable has many masking options to match your intentions. We can't wait to see you put them into motion.