The finished result is a frame where your key offensive and defensive players are masked in different colors. Each one can then run a route or drop into a zone. It keeps the eye on the right guys and makes the breakdown easy to follow.
Click the Player Mask tool in the Marker Suite. It stays selected while you work, so every click on a player applies a mask.
Use the two buttons at the top, one for offense and one for defense. Each side has its own colors. On offense you get yellow, green, blue, white and red.
Open the edit suite for this tool to fine tune the colors. You will find custom colors there if the presets do not read well on your film.
With the offense button active and red picked, click a receiver. He turns red. Click the running back in the backfield and he turns red too.
Click the defense button, then click the defenders you want to highlight. Each one takes on the defensive color you chose.
Hold Alt and Shift while you select a route, a zone coverage or any line tool. A green arrow button pops up. Draw the route for the running back, then click the green arrow and he runs it. Do the same for a receiver on a post. For more on routes, see the football route tree.
Draw a zone drop for a masked defender, then attach it the same way and he drops into that zone. Do it again with a curl flat or a flat route for another defender. Need ideas? Check the football coverage diagrams.
Get your players colored before you draw anything. Routes and zone drops are easier to place once you can see who is who.
In live mode, a masked player starts running the moment you click the green arrow. In image mode, he waits until you hit the play button on the timeline.
A route leaves a tail behind the player as he runs. Use the erase tool to remove it before you finalize the frame.
Switch between the offense and defense buttons to pick colors for each side. Offense in one color and defense in another keeps the frame readable.
Yes. Player Mask has an offense button and a defense button at the top. Each one has its own set of colors, so you can switch between them as you mask players.
Hold Alt and Shift while you select a route, zone coverage or other line tool. A green arrow button appears. Draw the route, then click the green arrow to attach it to the player.
It depends on the mode. In live mode the player runs as soon as you attach the route. In image mode he stays put until you press the play button on the timeline.
Draw on your own clip in the free Film Room to get a feel for the basics. Player Mask comes with the full program, which starts at $19.99/month.