Combine multiple layers creatively

1 Import clips

Import our clips. Drag Ghost Wide 01 into the timeline. Move Ghost Wide 02 onto the layer above. The top layer clip features just trees in the left of the frame (and no ‘ghost’.)

2 Reduce Opacity

Click on the top layer clip. Go to the Video Inspector. In the Compositing section drag the opacity to 45.0%. This mixes the woman on the top layer with the trees on the lower layer.

3 Add a mask

The man appears on both layers so we need to hide his part of the top clip. Go to the Masks section of the Effects browser. Drag the ‘Graduated’ mask effect onto the top clip.

4 Adjust the mask

Click on the bottom layer clip and press V to hide it for now. Click on the top layer clip. Drag the mask’s control handles so that it blends to black at the right side of the screen.

5 Test the mask

Click on the lower layer clip and press V to make it visible. Play the movie. Now the ‘ghost’ appears semi-transparent because she’s mixing with the trees. The man appears solid.

6 Create compound clip

Shift-click on both layers in the timeline to select them. Choose File>new>compound Clip. Label the clip. Click OK. This combines both clips into a single layer on the timeline.

7 Copy and paste

Select the compound clip. Choose Edit>copy. Place the playhead at the end and Choose Edit>paste. Drag the duplicate clip onto a parallel layer above the original.

8 Add motion blur

Click on the top layer and press V to hide it. Drag the ‘Visual Echo’ effect onto the bottom layer. In the Inspector set ‘Amount’ to 100 and ‘Duration’ to 0.21 to add a blur to the ‘ghost’.

9 One last mask

Press V to make the top layer visible. Add a graduated mask to the top layer and adjust it so it fades to transparent towards the left of the frame. This stops the man blurring.