After Effects CC 2020: Pen Tool Mask & Shape Cursor Icons

Adobe After Effects CC 2020:
Pen Tool: Mask or Shape Tool Indicators
Adobe CC Update in October 2020
After Effects Version: 17.5.0 or later
This tutorial is in Adobe After Effects and you will learn how to know if you are about to draw a Mask or Shape when using the Pen Tool.
Pen Tool Keyboard Shortcut:
G
Pen Tool in Mask Mode:
Pen Tool Icon with Square that has a circle in the center
Pen Tool in Shape Layer Mode:
Pen Tool Icon with Star next to it.
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How To Draw A Mask Using Pen Tool:
1. Select a Layer in Project Panel
2. Tap G for Pen Tool or Select in Toolbar
3. Cursor will turn to Pen Tool with a square and circle in the center
4. Click to draw the mask
How To Draw A Shape Using Pen Tool:
1. De-select all Layers in Project Panel
2. Tap G for Pen Tool or Select in Toolbar
3. Cursor will turn to Pen Tool with a star next to it
4. Select Fill & Stroke Color, Stroke Width
5. Click to draw shapes
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[@mmusic1649]

thank you for the detail

[@OORVOKKI]

Thanks ! I got all time shape layer.Great video.!!!!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

Glad it helped! 👍

[@FixitFox]

THANK YOU!! This is what every other tutorial fails to mention. I kept wondering why my pen tool keeps drawing a mask!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

Glad it helped! 👍

[@georgekenny2333]

Thank you so much man!!!!!!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

You are welcome! 👍

[@smallbrainyaro6923]

Thank you very much!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

You’re welcome!

[@kandasamyrajan]

Thanks!

[@danielkrige7611]

huge help thank you

[@MikeMurphyCo]

Thank you and glad it helped! 👍

[@leelameka]

Thank you!!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

You are welcome! 👍

[@shawnshaju2513]

Thanks man!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

You are welcome! 👍

[@Kingkaidozw2]

Thanks

[@MikeMurphyCo]

You are welcome! 👍

[@dinakaran5588]

txs

[@MikeMurphyCo]

You are welcome! 👍

[@ElyushiAndyra2006]

Tip you gave was awesome i was struggling with it so much. Thank you very much for that. This might be off topic But whenever i try to use the pen tool the line is not straight its curved. It's been a while since I've been getting this. Do you know how i can get the line straight?

[@MikeMurphyCo]

Thanks! Hopefully this tutorial will help you. 👍
th-cam.com/video/srrQtk68wrA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gIafMazWto6r8s6Z

[@ElyushiAndyra2006]

@@MikeMurphyCo Yess thank you so much I appreciate it

[@shannonweiss188]

Is there a way to deactivate the shape and mask cursor icons? I find them distracting and don't like how they clutter up my workspace. I would much prefer to work without them, but I can't seem to find a way to turn them off since the latest update happened.

[@MikeMurphyCo]

I am not aware of a setting to disable this feature.

[@burakgncy9760]

first I choose compositions, only shape layer becomes.

[@mikeevans9897]

Great tutorial !
I straggle with one problem for so long, can you please help me?
When i use pen tool without holding shift, ewerything works perfectly, but when i hold shift to create a straight line, something strange happans, i can't move the line normally, and i can't underline it normally. I'm desppareit already, i tried everything, but nothing seems to help me. Hope you'll see this comment and be able to help me, thanks!

[@MikeMurphyCo]

👋. Happy to help, but not exactly sure what you are describing. Can you provide more details of what you mean by not being able to move the line normally or underlining it? 👍

[@mikeevans9897]

@@MikeMurphyCo Oh God, finally someone can help me! Сan I send you a video with this problem, it lasts less than a minute

[@MikeMurphyCo]

@@mikeevans9897 sure you can share a link to the video or send to [e-mail]

[@adeelazam4636]

Can we add anchor point in rectangle?

[@MikeMurphyCo]

To help me better understand, can you provide more detail about exactly what you are wanting to do or what is your end goal?
Every shape layer (rectangles, etc) has only one anchor point. Perhaps you are wanting to add additional vertices (points on a path)?

[@adeelazam4636]

@@MikeMurphyCo When we made a shape with rectangle or circle i want to add anchor points in it with pen tool. How
i can do that?

[@MikeMurphyCo]

@@adeelazam4636 I think you may be confusing Anchor Points and Path Vertices (points on a path). Anchor Points are created automatically when creating a shape and you cannot add additional anchor points. You can add more points on a path.

[@gevgalstyan8393]

So how do I deselect selected are?

[@MikeMurphyCo]

Have you tried clicking off on an empty space in the window?

[@gevgalstyan8393]

It's not working.. I just delete it from project panel with delete button on keyboard..
I thought there might be some button like in photoshop deselect with right mouse click

[@RS9_AEP]

fills not theyre

[@MikeMurphyCo]

Can you provide more details as I do not understand your issue/question? 👍

[@RS9_AEP]

@@MikeMurphyCo so when I add a shape or thr pen tool. When u can fill thr colour that button is fade out and I can't press it. Any fixes?

[@MikeMurphyCo]

@@RS9_AEP Make sure you do not have any layers selected (tap F2 to deselect all) before using the Pen or Shape Tools.