Mask Creator instead of cropping?

[JSH]

Hello,
I had to uninstall and reinstall VS to fix another issue.
When I load a project I was working on before the re-install all the images that had been 'cropped' are no longer cropped.
When I look closely at the project (it was based on one of the Instant Project Templates) I can see the 'crop' is achieved by 'Mask creator'. I must admit I don't really understand why Mask Creator was used - in Pinnacle Studio I would have made an image a difference shape by actually cropping the image. So my first question is, why was Mask Creator used to basically just crop an image? What advantage is there in using Mask Creator?

After I bit of investigation I discovered the reason why the Mask Creator was not working is that it had somehow lost the connection to the Mask file. When I opened the options panel and went to Blending I got an error message saying original Mask File does not exist. So I just linked it to the correct mask again. But I am still curious as to why a mask creator would be used.

[lata]

Hi
You are busy
First CVS 2020 has had a makeover with the library layout and the options panel showing the Edit, Effects, Blending, Chroma Key, Colour and lens Correction
Double click the clip on the overlay track to open the options panel showing the tabs
The blending tab being new contains the Matte Modes, these were part of the Chroma Key in earlier versions, the Mask Frames have been significantly increased from 38 to 112

The last mask is new to 2020 is a square a little smaller than full frame, apply that and our clip edges left and right are made transparent, this effect has been used in the IP, then apply Customised Motion aka Advanced Motion and we can make the image pan from left to right.

Ok so they have named that Mask Creator, that for me is misleading, what appears to have been applied is a mask frame and that is a fixed size.
The mask itself being a BMP black and white image possibly here
C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel VideoStudio 2020\Samples\Image

The Mask Creator has not been used as such, and if you try to open the Mask Creator from the yellow star (also new to 2020) you will not be able to adjust the actual mask.

Clear as mud

[JSH]

I am learning fast. I lost interest for a few years as Pinnacle Studio became painful to use. However my hubby and friends enjoy the videos so I am trying to produce some whilst we are all confined to home! I am getting used to the way VS works and I do prefer it over PS so far.

[lata]

Hi
I tried Pinnacle but found it confusing maybe a matter of cannot teach old dogs....

Have a look at Customise Motion worth getting used to that
Right click a clip on the timeline

It is also known as Advanced Motion from the options panel.

The yellow star on the clips is new to 2020, i am finding that very useful to find the effects that have been applied to the clips.
although on that instant project it shows a Mask Creator being used and that is confusing.

keep safe