Effect Matte is a free After Effects plugin that adds a customizable matte directly to a layer, eliminating the need for a separate track‑matte layer. It offers expansion, roundness, feathering, invert options, and works across many AE versions.
Developed by Plugin Everything.
About Effect Matte
Effect Matte, developed by Plugin Everything, applies a sized, customizable matte directly to a layer in After Effects, removing the requirement for an additional track‑matte layer. When applied, the matte auto‑sets and includes an invert option. Controls include positive and negative expansion, roundness, and feathering. The effect requires continuous rasterization and its Auto Set Matte feature does not work with shape layers; parented layers are supported only in After Effects CC 2018. Compatibility spans from CS6 through After Effects 2026, with native Apple Silicon support added in version 1.3.7 and multi‑frame rendering stability fixed in version 1.4.0 (March 2025).
Features
- Expansion in both positive and negative directions
- Roundness control
- Feathering
- Invert matte option
- Matte auto-sets when applied to a layer
- Multi-frame rendering (MFR) support
- Native Apple Silicon (ARM) support
Best for
After Effects users who want a matte applied directly to a layer without creating a separate track‑matte layer.
Frequently asked questions
What After Effects versions does Effect Matte support?
Effect Matte is compatible with After Effects versions from CS6 through 2026, including all CC releases listed in the catalog.
Does Effect Matte require continuous rasterization?
Yes, the plugin requires continuous rasterization to be enabled on the layer for the matte to function correctly.
Does Effect Matte work with shape layers?
No, the Auto Set Matte feature does not work with shape layers; other controls remain usable but sizing must be set manually.
Does Effect Matte support Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes, native Apple Silicon (ARM) support was added in version 1.3.7, and later updates improve stability on Apple Silicon machines.
Is Effect Matte free?
The catalog lists Effect Matte as free, though licensing terms may change; check the developer’s page for current details.
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