What It Does
Compound Matte 2 handles multiple matte operations on a single layer without using After Effects’ built-in Set Matte effect or track mattes. It adds a drag-and-drop interface for combining, cutting away, intersecting, or excluding matte layers using four modes.
The plugin includes two engines. The Quick engine handles straightforward matte operations faster. The Complex engine tackles advanced setups with multiple overlapping mattes. The plugin detects which engine to use automatically and switches between them as needed.
Key Features
Four matte modes. Merge combines mattes, Subtract cuts areas away, Intersect keeps only overlapping regions, and Exclude removes intersections. You can apply these operations to unlimited matte layers on one source layer.
Dual-engine system. The Quick engine speeds through basic matte work. The Complex engine handles intricate multi-matte setups where layers interact in multiple ways. Automatic detection picks the right engine based on your comp.
Layer integration. The plugin reads layer opacity and works with layer effects. It analyzes how many times each layer appears across different mattes to prevent conflicts.
Responsive interface. The panel shows all active mattes on a layer with visual feedback for each mode. Rearrange mattes by dragging, adjust modes without navigating effect controls.
Who It’s For
Useful for compositors who work with complex alpha channel setups, motion designers building layered graphic reveals, or anyone tired of managing nested track matte chains. The Quick engine suits quick fixes during client revisions. The Complex engine handles jobs where five or more mattes interact on a single element, like masking product shots with multiple exclusions.
Pricing
Compound Matte 2 uses pay-what-you-want pricing with a suggested price of $29. Trial version available. Upgrade pricing applies if you bought version 1: free for purchases after July 1, 2022, or $12 for earlier purchases.