Sorry for getting back to this thread a little late. My hours are a bit different
Here is a more detailed explanation on how to create solid color layers that can be used as masks.
I am giving you a very simple example first:
In Motion Effects:
Place your picture in the slide.
Press the + (plus) sign and choose "Add Solid Color". (the color is not important, it can be white as the default or any other color that you like).
This will add a colored layer as the top layer of your slide.
Unlock the x and y coordinates of this layer, and drag the corners to the size and form that you want. This is the layer through which your picture will be seen.
Right click on this layer and choose: Use as masking layer
This is how your screen should look like:
Go to Layers > Layers Setting > Masking Layer > Choose the type as Alpha Transparency
If you position now your mouse on the layer with your picture, this is what you will see:
This is the actual preview of your slide when you play it:
You will see first a small square of your picture, which will expand to a larger preview.
Remember: Everything under the mask is revealed. All else is covered (unseen).
Because of this, you can now zoom into your picture as you wish, (either at the beginning of the slide or at it's end), and only the parts that are covered by the mask will be visible.
May I suggest that you practice with this technique with one picture per slide first.
If you wish to use this technique for multiple layers, you will need to place more pictures under the mask, each picture entering the slide at different times (keyframes).
If you wish to move the mask from layer to layer, you will also have to use keyframes for both the mask and the pictures.
Please let me know if this solves your problem.
Last edited by
cherub on Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.