Motion: how to add a mask to a filter (but not mask footage below it once back in FCPX)?

In Motion:

How do I apply a mask (circular mask) to a filter (gaussian blur) ?

I've tried everything but when the Effect is brought into FCPX the mask, masks/blacks the footage below it. I just want the mask to mask the blur as set in Motion.

Basically the same as adding gaussian blur to footage then adding a mask to the gaussian blur - that works, but how to mimic that in Motion?

I've hit on proposed solutions, but in Motion they all entail duplicating a footage layer then applying a mask to that. I don't want any specific footage in Motion, I want an effect I can apply to any footage once back in FCPX... gaussian blur with a mask.

I want to blur toward the sides of footage, this can be done in FCPX, yes, but I want an effect that contains the slider controls I can add in Motion. This seems like it must be simple, add a mask to blur in Motion, but the mask not mask footage below it once in FCPX. Any ideas?

Posted on Aug 25, 2026 12:22 AM

2 replies

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9 (77,942 points)

Aug 25, 2026 9:07 AM in response to level-100

I am away from my mac and cannot test, but this should be relatively easy to achieve. No need to add any media. If working directly on the effect source layer doesn’t work, then press K to add a clone layer and apply the filter and mask to the clone layer.

level-100 Author

Level 1 (33 points)

Aug 25, 2026 9:27 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

...that is the answer, solved while away for your Mac. A simple solution, a huge thanks.