![after effects stroke mask after effects stroke mask](https://www.stroke.org/-/media/grfw-images/about-heart-disease/signs-and-symptoms/stroke_symptoms_in_women_and_men_infographic_go_red.jpg)
![after effects stroke mask after effects stroke mask](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e9/06/97/e90697943c9efa1f44d6f9fbc8724e04.jpg)
Now, you might be asking, why not use a mask? Here’s the main difference: Track mattes are not layer dependent, masks are. Do you want a picture of a flower placed in your text? Or a graphic to hide your video clip until you want it to be revealed? Track mattes are your friend.
![after effects stroke mask after effects stroke mask](https://www.tricitymed.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1803_ig_tri-city_side-effects-of-a-stroke-700x1712.png)
Simply put, you can shape a particular layer using the appearance of a track matte above it. Track mattes are a fun and powerful tool in After Effects that allows you to use a clip, still image, or text to dictate the transparency of the layer beneath.