: By: Derek Moran; In: FAQs; Published: 26 August 2012; Last Updated: 02 September 2022

Q: Why is there no Masking Tool in the Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Event Pan/Crop window ?

Answer: The "Masking Tool" is a Vegas Pro feature only and not included with the consumer grade Vegas Movie Studio Platinum version.

However, Vegas Movie Studio Platinum users can use the Cookie Cutter Tool to do basic shape masking.

I have a tutorial for Vegas Pro and Vegas Movie Studio Platinum users, which shows how to do masking with the Cookie Cutter tool here: Zen Tip #7: How to Pixelate and Conceal a Face or Number Plate with Sony Vegas

If you use Vegas Movie Studio Platinum and cannot afford to upgrade to Vegas Pro, there is another free program you can use to do Masking in your video projects. I highly recommend Hitfilm Express, which is a VFX and Video Editing program. Hitfilm Express is free to download and you can keep it for life, without paying a cent. There is also Hitfilm Pro, which is the fully functional Professional version of Hitfilm.

Screen shot #1 shows the Event Pan/Crop window in Vegas Movie Studio Platinum - no Masking Tool is present.

Screen shot #2 shows the Event Pan/Crop window in Vegas Pro and how to activate the Masking Tool.

Screen shot #3 shows the Masking Tool in action in Hitfilm Express (compositing mode).

Vegas Movie Studio Platinum - Event Pan/Crop - NO MASKING TOOL!

Vegas Pro - Event Pan/Crop - MASKING TOOL

Hitfilm Express - Masking Tool

Newest
- Best
- Popular
- Newest
- Oldest
Collapse All Expand All

You are a guest ( Sign Up ? )

or post as a guest

Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
Bluestreak · 17:25 05/07/2019
Masking is now in Movie Studio 16 (Platinum and Suite versions) as the "Bézier Masking" FX. Here's a Youtube video demonstrating it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWElsi1KuiQ

It appears to be a slightly cut down version of the (revamped?) masking tool in the Pro version. I viewed a video demo of bézier masking in Pro and noticed the Movie Studio version is lacking the invert FX option and that it is also limited to 1 mask area/shape (Pro version can do 5 areas)
- {"set":null,"list":null}
- Reply
- Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
  Derek
  
  Member
  
  Moderator
  
  · 17:09 07/07/2019
  
  Thanks for pointing this out. I will have to update this FAQ with the new information about Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 16.
  The Masking Tool that comes with Vegas Pro is not available in any version of Vegas Movie Studio Platinum. Bézier Masking FX is a new tool which can do similar functions.
  
  {"set":null,"list":null}
  
  Reply
Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
Smiler Entertainment · 01:06 27/06/2019
Masking is a HitFilm Pro feature now. This whole article proved useless.
- {"set":null,"list":{"7":1,"4":1,"2":1}}
- Reply
- Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
  Derek
  
  Member
  
  Moderator
  
  · 11:59 27/06/2019
  
  That is NOT correct. Masking is available in Hitfilm Express!
  You need to put your Hitfilm project into "Compositing" mode, before the Masking tool will turn on.
  I recommend you watch both of these tutorials.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Oi8Kkn_qZ4
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNbFf-h8-vY
  
  {"set":null,"list":null}
  
  Reply
Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
ember · 01:30 18/07/2017
well how do you download the plugin
- {"set":null,"list":null}
- Reply
- Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
  Derek
  
  Member
  
  Moderator
  
  · 13:50 18/07/2017
  
  There is no plugin to download.
  The Masking Tool is a Vegas Pro feature only! It is part of the program, inside the Event Pan/Crop tool.
  
  {"set":null,"list":{"2":1}}
  
  Reply
Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
Katie · 17:06 11/07/2015
Ummm yes you can do basic masking. If you go to the effects (next to the pan/crop icon) and select cookie cutter you can at least do basic shapes. I think that was worth mentioning here as it would help people to not spend several hundreds dollars on a dang masking tool.
- {"set":null,"list":{"2":5}}
- Reply
- Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
  Anonymous · 10:06 21/11/2016
  
  YOU SAVED MY LIFE KATIE
  
  {"set":null,"list":{"2":2}}
  
  Reply
- Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
  Ben · 10:02 09/03/2018
  
  Thank you!!!
  
  {"set":null,"list":null}
  
  Reply
Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
ceyda lol. · 05:57 21/04/2014
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i'm disappointed. ;_; *cry*
- {"set":null,"list":{"2":1}}
- Reply
- Your comment will be reviewed by a moderator before it is published on the site.
  Derek
  
  Member
  
  Moderator
  
  · 11:36 21/04/2014
  
  Remember that if you would like to upgrade to Vegas Pro one day, you get a discount because you already own a copy of Movie Studio Platinum.
  Vegas Pro 13 has just been released. They have a special promotion on until the end of May 2014. Upgrading to Vegas Pro 13 from Movie Studio costs $399.95. If you are interested, you need to press the banner Ad on this page to activate discounts, then go to Purchase - Upgrades - Upgrade to Vegas Pro 13 from Movie Studio.
  
  {"set":null,"list":null}
  
  Reply

Q: Why is there no Masking Tool in the Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Event Pan/Crop window ?

Answer: The "Masking Tool" is a Vegas Pro feature only and not included with the consumer grade Vegas Movie Studio Platinum version.

You are a guest ( Sign Up ? )

or post as a guest

Subscribe to Newsletter

Get VEGAS Pro tips straight to your Inbox, when you subscribe to my Newsletter.

About Me

Make a Donation