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that works, but the layer still moves with it.

I'm not sure I gave a good explanation, and that is what I always find for annoying about these types of questions posted on here is that people try to write out what the issue is but the image doesn't translate into words very well.

the three layers are "decoder" "code" and "code cover" the decoder or the glass is by itself on the layer. the "code" layer is a copy of the "code cover" layer except that it has some text on it "happy birthday harlie" (my niece)

the code and code cover layers are twice the size of the current canvass. the thinking was that once masked I would be able to move one layer over the other without seeing the edge of the layer. however in doing it this way the top layer, be it the code of the code cover move with the glass.

I think I'm just having a major brain fart here but I can't figure it out.

here is the gif

in this I have:

1) code cover with mask in the shape of the decoder
2) decoder
3) code

you can see how the code cover moves with the decoder and looks stupid. this is what I want to avoid.

Last edited by Donkey Butter (2009-10-18 2:26 pm)

Well, I don't think you can link a mask and a layer…

I will keep AfterEffects in mind for the next time.

thanks for the help guys

pottymouth wrote:

I've been reading this thread over and over since day 1 and I still don't get it

mahakali wrote:

Well, I don't think you can link a mask and a layer…

I just wanted to say "Of course you can! That's why they're layer masks!" but that makes me feel like maybe I still don't get it.

Oh well. Glad you got it taken care of

The mask is on a different layer than the layer we want to link it to. What we want to move is only the mask and another layer. Hopefully this will explain:

- layer A
- layer B -- mask (unlinked from layer B so that if you move the mask, layer B would stay put)

We want to move layer A & the mask on layer B together without moving layer B. See, if only we could link layer A and the mask on layer B. Grouping them also wouldn't work since that'd move layer B.

Here is the finished gif. 

The animation would have been more interesting but I couldn't link the mask and layer (as mahakali said) and had to move them independently.

You can see the decoder glass reveals the secret code. Being able to see the desired result would there have been a better way to create this gif?

looks good Jonski. I was thinking that there would be a way using a clipping mask but I was so focused on the layer mask idea and getting that to work.

I like that even though you put this together as a "quick demonstration" you still but a little glare on the lens.

(I thought I was the only one that labeled my background as bg)

Just had a think about this. There's actually no need to include a Layer Group at all - that's just me wanting to keep things organized. There are benefits but it's not essential.