After Effects: How To Use Content-Aware Fill
December 27, 2022 · Mike Murphy
This tutorial will show you how to use Content-Aware Adobe After Effects CC 2023 to remove unwanted objects in your footage.
After Effects CC 2023: How To Use Content-Aware Fill
Solids Folder Basics
**Description:
**This tutorial will show you how to use Content-Aware Adobe After Effects CC 2023 to remove unwanted objects in your footage.
**Note:
**If Content-Aware Fill does not ‘fill’ in the masked areas, make sure your masks are set to ‘Subtract’ before clicking ‘Generate Fill Layer’
**Workspace Used in Tutorial:
**Default
**Keyboard Shortcut:
**V: Select Tool
M: Mask
MM: Reveal All Masks
N: Set End of Work Area
Cmd/Ctrl + S: Save Project
**Chapters:
**00:00 Intro: About the Tutorial
00:29 Default Workspace: Content-Aware Fill Panel
00:46 Mask Unwanted Objects
01:02 Pen Tool (G): Create Masks
01:22 Mask Property: Change to Subtract
01:52 Animate (keyframe) Mask
02:29 Change from ‘Subtract’ to ‘None’
03:30 Content-Aware Fill Panel (Fill in Masks)
**Software Used:
**Adobe After Effects CC 2023 (Click To Try or Buy)
How To Use Content-Aware Fill:
- Set Workspace to Default (or use Window…Content-Aware Fill to show Panel)
- Create New Composition (Cmd/Ctrl + N)
- Drag video footage on Composition
- Select the Mask Tool (G)
- Click around object that you want removed from footage
- Close out mask
- Twirl open layer
- Twirl open Mask
- Click drop-down and change from ‘Add’ to ‘Subtract’ to reveal layer below (or transparency)
- Repeat for any other objects to remove from footage
**
How To Animate Masks:**
- Drag Play-head to the beginning of timeline
- Twirl open Layers
- Twirl open Masks
- Click on stopwatch next to ‘Mask Path’ property to add keyframes
- Change Masks from ‘Subtract’ to ‘None’ so it is easier to see the unwanted objects
- Move forward 1 frame at a time (press Cmd/Ctrl + Arrow)
- Tap ‘V’ for Selection Tool
- Adjust masks if the unwanted object moves outside of the masked area
- Repeat to the end of the footage (keyframes will be added for each new adjustment)
**
How To Use Content-Aware Fill Panel To Fill in Masks:**
- Save Project
- Twirl open layer
- Twirl open Mask
- Click drop-down and change from ‘None’ to ‘Subtract’
- Go to Content-Aware Fill Panel
- Change Fill Method to ‘Object’
- Change Range to ‘Work Area’ (keep at Entire Duration if you did not set Work Area)
- Click ‘Generate Fill Layer’
- Wait for AE to analyze footage
- Masks should fill in like magic!
- Drag play-head to beginning and press Spacebar to preview