How to Use AI Masking in Filmora

Key takeaways:

• AI masking lets you isolate people or objects in your video 🎥
• You can pick from smart brush, smart character, or select subject
• Masking is different from background removal, but you can track movement

Ever tried to edit a video and just wanted to work on one person, not the whole scene? AI masking in Filmora is a lifesaver for that. This tool lets you pick out a subject, like a person, and focus your edits on them. No more messing up the background or spending hours with manual masks. I’ll walk you through how to use it, what each option does, and a few tips to get smooth results.

What AI Masking in Filmora Actually Does and Why You’d Want It

AI masking is made to separate your subject from the rest of the video. Think of it like putting a spotlight on someone and dimming everything else. You can blur, color grade, or add effects just to that person, while the background stays untouched. It’s not the same as a green screen or AI video cutout—masking is more about focus than full removal.

If you want a quick way to blur faces instead, check out how to blur face in Filmora.

Getting Started: Importing and Selecting Your Video

Start by dropping your video onto the timeline. Just drag and drop, nothing fancy. Click on the clip you want to mask. This tells Filmora, “Hey, work on this one.”

If you’re new to editing and want a simple video editor, I’ve got a list of beginner-friendly editors too.

Where to Find the AI Mask Tool in Filmora

With your clip selected, look for the video section in the top menu. There’s a mask tab—click it. Then you’ll see AI mask. This is where the magic happens.

You’ll get three main options:

• Smart brush
• Smart character
• Select subject

Breaking Down the Masking Options: What Each One Does

Smart Brush: Manual Selection With AI Help

Smart brush is for when you want to roughly draw around your subject. You just scribble a bit, and Filmora does its best to fill in the rest. It’s not pixel-perfect, but it’s fast. The AI tries to figure out what you meant, so you don’t have to be exact.

Smart Character and Select Subject: Let the AI Guess

Both smart character and select subject try to find the main thing in your video automatically. Most of the time, that’s a person. You click, and Filmora draws a mask around them. If you have a busy scene, sometimes it might pick the wrong thing, but for talking-head videos or vlogs, it’s usually spot on.

What Happens After You Apply the Mask

Once you pick your option and confirm, Filmora shows you the mask. The background will turn black or transparent, depending on your settings. Play the video to see if the mask follows your subject. If you want to keep the background but just edit the person, you can add effects, color, or blur just to the masked area.

Masking vs AI Video Cutout: What’s the Difference?

Masking is about focus and effects. The background stays, but you can make it black or blurry. AI video cutout is for replacing the background—like putting your subject on a beach or in space. If that’s your goal, use the cutout tool instead.

For more on background tricks, see how to remove fisheye distortion or color grading in Filmora.

Motion Tracking With Path: Making the Mask Move

If your subject walks around, you want the mask to follow. There’s a path or motion tracking option. Turn it on, and Filmora will try to move the mask to keep up with your subject. The shape of the mask stays the same, but it shifts position. It’s not perfect—if your subject does a backflip or turns sideways, the mask might lag behind. But for simple movement, it works.

Customizing Your Mask: Fine-Tuning for Better Results

You can adjust the mask’s shape, feather the edges, or tweak how much of the subject is included. Play around with these settings to make the mask look more natural. If you mess up, just reset and try again.

Tips for Smoother AI Masking

• Use high-contrast videos for best results. If your subject blends into the background, the AI might get confused.
• Keep your subject in the center and well-lit.
• For tricky scenes, start with smart brush and help the AI out.
• If the mask jitters or jumps, try turning off motion tracking or adjust the path.

Use Cases: When to Use AI Masking

• Focus on a speaker in a tutorial
• Highlight one dancer in a group
• Add effects just to a product in a demo
• Blur everyone else except the main subject

Saving and Exporting Your Masked Video

Once you’re happy, export your video as usual. The mask will be baked in, so your edits stay put. If you need to keep editing, save your project file too.

Troubleshooting: What to Do If the Mask Isn’t Working

• Mask not showing up? Make sure you’re on the right clip.
• AI picks the wrong subject? Try smart brush instead of auto.
• Mask doesn’t follow movement? Double-check motion tracking is on.

If you want to record your screen or need more Filmora guides, here’s how to record desktop screen in Filmora.

FAQs

How do I access AI masking in Filmora?

Click your video clip, go to the video menu, then mask, and pick AI mask. The options will pop up right there.

What’s the difference between masking and background removal?

Masking focuses edits on a subject without fully removing the background. Background removal (like AI video cutout) lets you swap out the background completely.

Can I make the mask follow my subject if they move?

Yes, use the path or motion tracking feature. The mask will move with your subject, but the shape stays the same.

What if AI masking picks the wrong thing?

Switch to smart brush and draw your own selection. The AI will help fill in the rest.

Can I use masking and background removal together?

You can, but they work differently. Masking is for focus and effects, while background removal is for changing the whole scene.

That’s all you need to get started with AI masking in Filmora. Mess around with the settings, and you’ll get the hang of it fast. If you want to learn more about making your videos pop, check out how to improve video quality in Filmora. Happy editing! ✂️