What It Does
BAO Mask Brush converts mask paths into dynamic paint strokes and pattern fills. Draw a mask, apply a brush, and the plugin distributes copies of that brush along or inside the path. Works in true 3D space with camera awareness, per-vertex position control, and motion blur calculated per brush instance.
Two plugins handle different jobs. Mask Brush aligns brushes sequentially along a path. Mask Brush Fill scatters brushes inside a closed path to create textures and patterns.
Key Features
Reveal animations. Animate start and end sliders to draw brushes progressively along the path. Standard technique for write-on title effects and path reveals.
3D and 2D modes. Switch between flat 2D layout and full 3D with camera interaction. In 3D mode, position individual mask vertices in Z-space to create depth without leaving After Effects. Optional Z-sorting keeps depth order correct.
Motion blur. Calculated per brush instance, accounting for both mask path animation and parameter changes. Not a directional blur effect, actual per-object motion sampling.
Squash and stretch. Deform brushes based on velocity for cartoon-style or organic movement. Pairs with motion blur for natural-looking acceleration.
Time sampling modes. Control how each brush samples its source layer over time. Options include loop from random start points, useful when the brush is an animated pre-comp.
Use all masks. Apply the effect once and process multiple masks from the same layer simultaneously.
Who It’s For
Motion designers building animated titles, decorative flourishes, or organic transitions. The reveal feature handles classic write-on text effects. The Fill variant creates procedural textures and patterns that respond to mask shape changes. Useful when you need textured strokes that stay in 3D space or change density based on path length.
Pricing
$79.99 for a single-user license. Trial version available. Compatible with After Effects CS6 through 2026, including Apple Silicon support and Multi-Frame Rendering.