<p>Probably a dumb question, but is your circle the same colour as the rocket?
Then it would appear to obscure the rocket...</p>

<p>Alternatively - 
There could be some kind of <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/alpha-channels-masks-mattes.html" rel="nofollow">matte</a> on one of the layers? 
Click on the Toggle Switches/Modes button at the bottom of the list of layers in the timeline, and see whether any mattes are switched on.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T10:29:58.467Z
That was it - white on white!  Thank you so much.  Wish I could upvote x10!
Sabuncu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T10:44:56.603Z
No worries at all - if you're ever not sure about something like that, switching the "Mask and Shape Visiblity" button on and off can help to see what's going on.  It's Cmd + Shift + H on a mac (ctrl + shift + H on a PC I assume).
tomh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T11:44:53.393Z
I switched back to white on white to see the effects of toggling "Mask/Shape Visibility".  It did not help.  Sometimes only knowledge from someone experienced as yourself works.  Thank you again. (No wonder BBC production values are high!)
Sabuncu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T10:23:13.277Z
2016-05-03T10:23:13.277Z
tomh
<p>I am following an AE tutorial.  As part of its exercise files, the tutorial provides an .ai file that has two layers: a rocket and a black background. The .ai file is then imported into AE as a composition, thereby retaining the two layers.</p>

<p>The tutorial then creates a circle as a shape layer.  It places the shape layer below the rocket but above the background:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MZ4Gh.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MZ4Gh.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>and the following is displayed:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RMVUE.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RMVUE.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>When I do the same, the circle obstructs the rocket layer:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4Oxlm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4Oxlm.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>The only way I can get the rocket layer to be visible is by moving the circle layer all the way to the vertical bottom:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/buKSr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/buKSr.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>It's as if the two layers of the original .ai file are behaving as one.  What could be the problem?</p>

<after-effects>
After Effects - Shape layer obscures graphics layer unless positioned at bottom
Sabuncu
# After Effects - Shape layer obscures graphics layer unless positioned at bottom

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-03)

I am following an AE tutorial. As part of its exercise files, the tutorial provides an .ai file that has two layers: a rocket and a black background. The .ai file is then imported into AE as a composition, thereby retaining the two layers.

The tutorial then creates a circle as a shape layer. It places the shape layer below the rocket but above the background:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/MZ4Gh.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/MZ4Gh.png)

and the following is displayed:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/RMVUE.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/RMVUE.png)

When I do the same, the circle obstructs the rocket layer:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4Oxlm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/4Oxlm.png)

The only way I can get the rocket layer to be visible is by moving the circle layer all the way to the vertical bottom:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/buKSr.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/buKSr.png)

It's as if the two layers of the original .ai file are behaving as one. What could be the problem?

**Tags:** after-effects


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-05-03. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Probably a dumb question, but is your circle the same colour as the rocket?
Then it would appear to obscure the rocket...

Alternatively -
There could be some kind of [matte](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/alpha-channels-masks-mattes.html) on one of the layers?
Click on the Toggle Switches/Modes button at the bottom of the list of layers in the timeline, and see whether any mattes are switched on.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That was it - white on white!  Thank you so much.  Wish I could upvote x10!  
> **username_1**: No worries at all - if you're ever not sure about something like that, switching the "Mask and Shape Visiblity" button on and off can help to see what's going on.  It's Cmd + Shift + H on a mac (ctrl + shift + H on a PC I assume).  
> **username_0**: I switched back to white on white to see the effects of toggling "Mask/Shape Visibility".  It did not help.  Sometimes only knowledge from someone experienced as yourself works.  Thank you again. (No wonder BBC production values are high!)  

---

