How to Use Masks in Premiere Pro 2026
If you’ve recently updated to Premiere Pro 2026 and can’t find the mask controls you were used to, you’re not alone. Adobe moved the traditional mask tools out of their previous location in the Effect Controls panel and introduced a new Object Mask Tool.
The good news is that the familiar Ellipse, Rectangle, and Pen Mask tools are still available. They’re now grouped together with the new Object Mask Tool inside the Tools panel.
In this guide, I’ll show you where to find the mask tools in Premiere Pro 2026, how to use the new Object Mask Tool, how to create traditional masks, how to track masks, and how to apply masks to effects such as Lumetri Color.
Where Did the Mask Tools Go in Premiere Pro 2026?
In older versions of Premiere Pro, you could find mask controls directly under an effect in the Effect Controls panel.
For example, if you selected Opacity, you would see options for creating an ellipse, rectangle, or pen mask.
In Premiere Pro 2026, those controls have been moved.
Instead, you’ll find the mask tools inside the Object Mask Tool menu in the Tools panel. If you click and hold the Object Mask Tool, you’ll see four different options:
- Object Mask Tool
- Ellipse Mask Tool
- Rectangle Mask Tool
- Pen Mask Tool
The Object Mask Tool is the new addition, while the Ellipse, Rectangle, and Pen tools are the familiar masking tools that were previously associated with Opacity and other effects.
So if you’re wondering how to create a mask on Opacity or another effect, you can now access the masking tools from this menu.
How to Use the Object Mask Tool in Premiere Pro
The Object Mask Tool is one of the biggest additions to Premiere Pro’s masking workflow.
Instead of manually drawing a mask around a subject, Premiere Pro can use its object recognition to identify different subjects and objects in your footage.
Step 1: Select Your Clip
Start by selecting the video clip you want to mask in your timeline.
Then select the Object Mask Tool from the Tools panel.
Step 2: Hover Over Your Subject
Move your cursor over the footage in the Program Monitor.
Premiere Pro will automatically identify different objects and subjects in the scene as you hover over them.
For example, it may identify:
- A person
- A laptop
- A microphone
- A lamp
- Other recognizable objects
When you hover over an object, Premiere highlights the area it has detected.
Step 3: Click to Select the Object
Once Premiere Pro highlights the object or subject you want to isolate, click it.
Premiere will create an Object Mask around your selection.
You can also select an effect first in Effect Controls and then use the Object Mask Tool to create a mask specifically for that effect.
For example, if you wanted to cut yourself out from the background, you could select Opacity in Effect Controls and then select yourself with the Object Mask Tool.
How to Add Multiple Objects to an Object Mask
You aren’t limited to selecting a single object.
If you need to include additional objects or areas in your mask, simply hover over another object and click to add it to your selection.
You can also use the Lasso and Rectangle options to manually add areas that Premiere didn’t initially recognize correctly.
The Lasso option allows you to draw around an area to add it to your selection, while the Rectangle option lets you select an area using a rectangular shape.
This can be particularly useful when Premiere’s automatic selection doesn’t capture every part of your subject.
How to Track an Object Mask
One of the most useful features of the Object Mask Tool is its ability to track your subject as it moves.
Once you’ve created your mask, look for the Tracker controls.
Select the option to track the mask forward and backward.
Premiere Pro will analyze the footage and create keyframes as the subject moves through the scene.
This means you don’t have to manually reposition the mask on every frame. Premiere does the tracking work for you.
Once tracking is complete, play back your footage and check the mask.
You may still need to make manual adjustments if the mask loses track of your subject, but automatic tracking can save a significant amount of time.
How to Adjust an Object Mask
Once you’ve created an Object Mask, you can adjust its appearance using the available mask controls.
You can adjust settings such as:
- Feather
- Opacity
- Mask Expansion
These controls allow you to refine the edges of your selection and make the mask blend more naturally with the rest of the image.
Sharp vs. Smooth Object Masks
Premiere Pro also gives you two Object Mask options:
Sharp and Smooth.
The names describe the general difference between the two.
Sharp
The Sharp option creates a more defined edge around the selected subject.
This can work well when your subject has relatively defined edges.
Smooth
The Smooth option creates a softer boundary around the subject.
This can be useful for subjects such as people, especially when you’re dealing with hair or other areas with more transparent or fine edges.
When deciding between the two, consider the type of edge you’re trying to isolate.
For a clearly defined object, Sharp may work better.
For a person or subject with softer edges, Smooth may produce a more natural result.
How to Create a Traditional Mask in Premiere Pro
The Object Mask Tool isn’t the only way to create a mask.
Premiere Pro 2026 still includes the traditional Ellipse, Rectangle, and Pen Mask Tools.
To access them, click and hold the Object Mask Tool in the Tools panel.
You’ll then be able to choose the type of mask you want to create.
How to Create an Ellipse Mask
The Ellipse Mask Tool is useful when you want to create a circular or oval-shaped mask.
Select the Ellipse Mask Tool, then click and drag in the Program Monitor to create your mask.
For example, you could use an ellipse mask to isolate someone’s face.
If you hold Shift while drawing the mask, Premiere will create a perfect circle instead of an oval.
Applying the Ellipse Mask to an Effect
If you haven’t selected an effect first, Premiere may place the new mask under Unassigned Masks.
You can then drag the mask onto the effect you want to apply it to.
For example, you could drag it onto Opacity to use the mask to isolate part of the image.
How to Adjust a Mask
Once you’ve created a mask, you can manipulate it directly in the Program Monitor.
You can:
- Move the mask
- Resize the mask
- Adjust individual points
- Adjust curves
- Add feathering
- Reposition the mask
The mask points are Bezier points, meaning you can adjust their curve handles to create more customized shapes.
You can also adjust the feathering directly from the mask controls.
To make the mask larger, you can double-click it to reveal a boundary box and then drag the edges to make additional adjustments.
How to Track a Mask in Premiere Pro
Traditional masks can also be tracked.
With your mask selected, go to the Tracker controls and use the tracking option to track the mask forward and backward through your footage.
Premiere will create keyframes to move the mask along with your subject.
This is particularly helpful when you’re masking a person or object that moves throughout the shot.
Clip vs. Frame Mask Controls
When working with tracked masks, you’ll also see options for Clip and Frame.
Understanding the difference between these two options can make it easier to make adjustments to your mask.
Frame
The Frame option allows you to make adjustments to the mask at a specific point in the timeline.
When you make an adjustment with Frame selected, Premiere creates a keyframe for the mask.
This is useful when your subject moves and you need to manually correct the mask at a particular point in the clip.
Clip
The Clip option applies your adjustment to the entire duration of the clip.
For example, if you want to make the mask slightly larger or reposition it for the entire clip, you can use Clip.
Unlike Frame, this doesn’t create a new keyframe for the adjustment.
A simple way to remember it is:
Clip = adjust the mask for the entire clip
Frame = create a keyframed adjustment at a specific point
How to Create a Rectangle Mask
The Rectangle Mask Tool works similarly to the Ellipse Mask Tool.
Select the Rectangle Mask Tool and click and drag in the Program Monitor to create a rectangular mask.
If you hold Shift while drawing, you can create a perfect square.
The Rectangle Mask Tool has another useful feature that the Ellipse Mask Tool doesn’t: you can add additional points to the mask.
To do this, select the Pen Mask Tool and hover over the rectangle mask.
When you see the plus symbol, click to add another point to the mask.
This allows you to turn a basic rectangle into a more customized shape.
How to Create a Custom Mask With the Pen Tool
If you need to create a mask around an irregularly shaped object, the Pen Mask Tool gives you the most control.
Select the Pen Mask Tool and begin clicking around the object you want to isolate.
You can also click and drag when creating points to create curved sections.
This makes the Pen Mask Tool particularly useful for objects with custom or irregular shapes.
For example, you could use it to create a mask around a lamp, product, logo, or another object that doesn’t fit neatly inside a rectangle or ellipse.
Once you’ve closed the mask, you can apply an effect to the masked area.
How to Apply a Mask to Lumetri Color
One practical use for masks is applying color adjustments to only part of your image.
For example, let’s say you want to make a lamp in your shot brighter without increasing the exposure of the entire image.
You can create a Pen Mask around the lamp and then apply a Lumetri Color effect.
From the Lumetri Color panel, increase the exposure or make whatever other color adjustments you need.
Because the mask is assigned to the Lumetri Color effect, your adjustments will only affect the area inside the mask.
This opens up a lot of possibilities for localized color correction.
You could use the same technique to:
- Brighten a subject
- Darken a background
- Change the color of an object
- Apply an effect to a specific area
- Isolate part of an image for additional editing
If you don’t want the mask assigned to a particular effect, you can move it back to Unassigned Mask and then assign it to another effect later.
Premiere Pro 2026 Mask Tools Explained
The biggest change to understand in Premiere Pro 2026 is that the traditional mask tools haven’t disappeared—they’ve simply moved.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Mask Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Object Mask | Automatically selecting people and objects |
| Ellipse Mask | Circular or oval selections |
| Rectangle Mask | Rectangular or square selections |
| Pen Mask | Custom and irregular shapes |
The new Object Mask Tool is especially useful when you want Premiere Pro to do much of the initial selection work for you.
The traditional tools remain useful when you need more precise or customized control.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve updated to Premiere Pro 2026 and couldn’t figure out where the mask controls went, the good news is that they’re still there.
The biggest change is that the Ellipse, Rectangle, and Pen Mask Tools have moved into the Tools panel, alongside the new Object Mask Tool.
The Object Mask Tool can automatically identify subjects and objects, while the traditional mask tools give you more manual control over the shape of your selection.
Once you’ve created a mask, you can track it through your footage, adjust its feathering and expansion, and apply it to effects such as Opacity or Lumetri Color.
The new masking workflow takes a little getting used to if you’re coming from an older version of Premiere Pro, but once you know where everything is, you have a powerful set of tools for isolating subjects and making targeted adjustments to your footage.