by ALINCO·Workflow
Images © ALINCO. Used for product review; image policy.
Earns its place in the aescripts library as a focused utility for round-tripping between masks and shapes, with keyframe support plus options for 3D layers and track mattes.
MaskShapeConverter is a script for After Effects, developed by ALINCO, that handles two-way conversion between masks and shapes. It turns masks into shape layers and shape layers back into masks, and it supports keyframes during conversion.
The tool includes a Merge Shapes setting that keeps the appearance consistent even when additive and subtractive masks are mixed. When the selected layer is a 3D layer, the created shape layer is also made 3D. You can set a created shape layer as a track matte with Alt (Opt) + click, choose whether it sits above or below the selected layer, and its anchor point is placed at the center. Polygonal paths with rounded corners are supported, and conversion works directly from paths other than Bezier paths.
MaskShapeConverter runs with After Effects 2026, 2025, 2024, and 2023. Version 1.4 was released on June 14, 2026. It is listed as free here; check the developer's page for current licensing. A demo video is available.
MaskShapeConverter is best for after Effects users who need to move path geometry between masks and shape layers in both directions.
MaskShapeConverter is completely free to download and use.
MaskShapeConverter is compatible with After Effects 2026, 2025, 2024, and 2023, so it covers several recent releases of the application. The current release is version 1.4, published on June 14, 2026. If you are running one of these supported versions, the script should work as described. For any versions outside this range, check the developer's page to confirm compatibility before installing so you know what to expect.
MaskShapeConverter handles 3D layers during conversion. When the layer you have selected at runtime is a 3D layer, the shape layer it creates will also be set as a 3D layer rather than a flat 2D one. This behaviour was introduced in version 1.3. If you work with 3D layers in your compositions, this keeps the created shape layers in the same 3D context as the source layer you started from.
MaskShapeConverter can set a created shape layer as a track matte. Holding Alt (Opt) while clicking assigns the shape layer as a track matte, an option added in version 1.3. Alongside this, you can choose whether the created shape layer is placed above or below the selected layer, and its anchor point is set to the center. These options give you control over how the resulting shape layer is added to your composition.
MaskShapeConverter supports keyframes during conversion, a capability added in version 1.2. This means animated mask or shape paths can be carried through the conversion rather than being reduced to a single static frame. Combined with the Merge Shapes setting, which keeps the appearance consistent even when additive and subtractive masks are mixed, the script covers animated as well as still paths when moving geometry between masks and shapes.
MaskShapeConverter is listed as free in this catalog, so you can add it to After Effects without a purchase noted here. Licensing terms can change over time, so for the most current details on pricing, licensing, and any usage conditions, check the developer's page on aescripts. That page is also where you will find the download and the latest release information for the script.
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