by Chris Zwar·Workflow
Images © Chris Zwar. Used for product review; image policy.
A focused utility for a specific problem: layers that carry many masks. It turns each mask into its own cropped solid or pre-comp, which keeps new layers only as large as they need to be.
Masks to Cropped Layers works on After Effects layers that hold multiple masks, such as artwork pasted from Illustrator or areas tracked in Mocha. Each mask on the layer becomes a new layer carrying only one mask, created either as a solid or a pre-comp, and the new layer is cropped to the calculated size of that mask.
The utility has two main purposes. When animating vector artwork, it separates the masks into individual solids, and each new layer can take a stroke or fill effect and be animated like any conventional After Effects layer. For VFX work such as rotoscoping, clean-ups, or tracking confined to a small area of the plate, it creates pre-comps cropped to the mask size; using these as the source for effects work runs faster and gives longer RAM previews. In both cases the goal is to stop After Effects processing pixels that aren't used.
Mask sizes can be calculated from basic rectangles or from bezier paths, and measured from a single frame, the composition work area, or the layer's duration. New layers can be padded out, and position values rounded to integers.
Masks to Cropped Layers is best for after Effects artists animating vector artwork pasted from Illustrator, or doing VFX work like rotoscoping, clean-ups and tracking on small areas of a plate.
Masks to Cropped Layers is completely free to download and use.
Masks to Cropped Layers lists compatibility with After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, CC 2019, CC 2018, CC 2017, CC 2015.3, CC 2015, CC 2014, CC and CS6, covering a long range of releases from CS6 through the 2025 version. If you run any of these versions, the script is listed as supported. For details on installing or running it in your specific release, check the developer's page.
Masks to Cropped Layers takes each mask on a layer and creates a new layer that holds only that one mask, and it can make either solids or pre-comps. When animating vector artwork, it separates the masks into individual solids, and each new layer can take a stroke or fill effect and be animated like any conventional After Effects layer. For VFX work, it makes pre-comps cropped to the mask size, which you can then use as the source for your effects work.
Masks to Cropped Layers decides which masks to use based on your selection. If no masks are selected, it uses all masks on the layer. If you manually select some masks, then only those are turned into new layers. To make selection quicker, the script panel includes two buttons that select all open or all closed masks in one click.
Masks to Cropped Layers can calculate mask sizes in two ways: basic rectangles, which are fast, or bezier paths, which are slower but pixel-accurate. You can also choose the range it measures across, calculating the mask size from a single frame, the composition work area, or the layer's duration. New layers can additionally be padded out, and position values rounded to integers for sharper results.
Masks to Cropped Layers is listed as free in this catalog. No specific price is quoted here, and licensing terms can change, so check Chris Zwar's page for the current terms before you rely on it. Once in place, it works from a script panel inside After Effects, with buttons for selecting open or closed masks, and serves both its main uses: animating vector artwork and improving VFX performance.
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