After Effects includes Imagineer Systems mocha for After
Effects (mocha-AE), a stand-alone planar tracking application that
can export tracking data for use in compositions in After Effects.
(See Resources for mocha for After Effects (mocha-AE).)
After Effects also includes the mocha shape for After Effects
(mocha shape) plug-in, which converts paths from mocha-AE into mattes
in After Effects.
Important: The free trial version of Adobe After Effects
software does not include some features that depend upon software
licensed from parties other than Adobe. For example, mocha shape
for After Effects, and some effect plug-ins are available only with
the full version of Adobe After Effects software. (See
Setup and installation.).
You don’t apply the mocha shape effect to a layer directly. Rather,
you copy path data to the clipboard in the mocha-AE application
and then paste it onto a layer in After Effects. The paths from
mocha-AE are converted to instances of the mocha shape effect to
create a matte.
The Imagineer website provides several
video tutorials and other resources for learning to use mocha-AE
and mocha shape with After Effects.
Chris and Trish Meyer provide tips about mocha-AE and mocha shape,
including tips about variable-width feather, in an article on the ProVideo Coalition website.
