Superimposing and Compositing > Using keys to superimpose and create composites > Track Matte
 		><

Track Matte


Use the Track Matte key to create a moving matte (often called a traveling matte), which superimposes one clip on another using the matte to integrate the two. You can use any clip, still image, or still image with motion for the matte.
Because the Track Matte key can be applied to a video clip, the matte can change over time.

Areas of white in the matte create opaque areas in the superimposed clip, preventing underlying clips from showing through. Black areas in the matte create transparent areas, and gray areas make partially transparent areas. To retain the original colors in your superimposed clip, use a grayscale image for the matte. Any color in the matte removes the same level of color from the superimposed clip.

You can create mattes in a few different ways:
  • Use the Title window to create text or shapes (grayscale only), save the title, and then import the file as your matte.
  • Create a matte from any clip using the Chroma, RGB Difference, Difference Matte, Blue Screen, Green Screen, or Non-Red key. Then select the Mask Only option.
  • Use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop to create a grayscale image, import it into Premiere, and (optionally) apply motion settings to the image.
  • Add motion to any still image with the Motion settings in Premiere. For information on applying motion to still images, see Animating a clip's motion.

    • To apply the Track Matte key:

    1 In the Video 1 track, place the clip that will play in the background.

    2 In the first superimpose track, Video 2, place the clip that will be superimposed on the clip in the Video 1 track.

    3 If the Timeline window already contains a second superimpose track, go on to step 4. If not, click the Timeline menu icon and choose Add Video Track.

    4 In the second superimpose track, Video 3, place the clip or image you want to use as the matte.

    5 Select the clip in the Video 2 track and choose Clip > Video Options > Transparency. For Key Type, choose Track Matte. Then click OK.

    Superimposing and Compositing > Using keys to superimpose and create composites > Track Matte