Select
or create a layer containing the objects to appear inside the mask.
Last updated on
Jun 9, 2026
Note:
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About mask layers
For spotlight effects and transitions, use a mask layer to create a hole through which underlying layers are visible. A mask item can be a filled shape, a type object, an instance of a graphic symbol, or a movie clip. Group multiple layers under a single mask layer to create sophisticated effects.
To create dynamic effects, animate a mask layer. For a filled shape used as a mask, use shape tweening; for a type object, graphic instance, or movie clip, use motion tweening. When using a movie clip instance as a mask, animate the mask along a motion path.
To create a mask layer, place a mask item on the layer to use as a mask. Instead of having a fill or stroke, the mask item acts as a window that reveals the area of linked layers beneath it. The rest of the mask layer conceals everything except what shows through the mask item. A mask layer can contain only one mask item. A mask layer cannot be inside a button, and you cannot apply a mask to another mask.
To create a mask layer from a movie clip, use ActionScript. A mask layer created with ActionScript can be applied only to another movie clip.
The 3D tools cannot be used on objects on mask layers and layers containing 3D objects cannot be used as mask layers. For more information about the 3D tools, see 3D graphics.
Work with mask layers
You can use mask layers to reveal portions of a picture or graphic in the layer below. To create a mask, you specify that a layer is a mask layer, and either draw or place a filled shape on that layer. You can use any filled shape, including groups, text, and symbols, as a mask. The mask layer reveals the area of linked layers beneath the filled shape.
Create a mask layer
Select Insert > Timeline > Layer
to create a new layer above it. A mask layer always masks the layer
immediately below it; create the mask layer in the proper place.
Place a filled shape, text, or an instance of a symbol on the mask layer. Animate ignores bitmaps, gradients, transparency, colors, and line styles in a mask layer. Any filled area is completely transparent in the mask; any non-filled area is opaque.
Right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh) the
mask layer’s name in the Timeline, and select Mask. A mask layer
icon indicates the mask layer. The layer immediately below it is
linked to the mask layer, and its contents show through the filled
area on the mask. The masked layer name is indented, and its icon
changes to a masked layer icon.
To display the mask effect in Animate, lock the mask layer and the masked layer.
Mask additional layers after creating a mask layer
Do one of the following:
Drag an existing layer directly below the mask layer.
Create a new layer anywhere below the mask layer.
Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Masked.
Unlink layers from a mask layer
Select the layer to unlink and do one of
the following:
Drag the layer above the mask layer.
Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Normal.
Animate a filled shape, type object, or graphic symbol instance on a mask layer
Select the mask layer in the Timeline.
To unlock the mask layer, click in the Lock column.
Do one of the following:
If the mask object is a filled shape, apply shape tweening to the object.
If the mask object is a type object or graphic symbol instance, apply motion tweening to the object.
When the animation operation is complete, click in the
Lock column for the mask layer to re-lock the layer.
Animate a movie clip on a mask layer
Select the mask layer in the Timeline.
To edit the movie clip in place and to display the movie
clip’s Timeline, double-click the movie clip on the Stage.
Apply motion tweening to the movie clip.
When the animation procedure is complete, click the Back
button to return to document-editing mode.
To lock the layer again, click in the Lock column for
the mask layer.
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