<p>It's not possible. A generic blur effect relies on a function which smooths out pixel values within a specified radius. A mask combines the value of a pixel in the top layer with the pixel of the layer beneath, modulated by the corresponding alpha value of that pixel in the top layer.</p>

<p>So, in short a blur is a 'lateral' function, whereas layer compositing is a 'depth' function.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T08:30:15.233Z
2016-04-28T08:30:15.233Z
Gyan
<p>You won't be able to create a clip that can 'blur any layer underneath' when placed in other applications.</p>

<p>You can just blur assets from within AE and export them out.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T23:29:13.640Z
2016-04-28T23:29:13.640Z
alexh
<p>This is not possible, because the blur effect needs the underlying video as input.</p>

<p>You can either create the blur effect in Sony Vegas without the need for After Effects, or you can (for more complex effects) import the video into After Effects, add your effects, render the result as video, and import it into Vegas.</p>

<p>As you can see the second option takes some time and is only worth it for complex effects/animations that you cannot do in Vegas. It's better to try the included effects of Vegas first. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T10:10:12.713Z
2016-04-28T10:10:12.713Z
Fred42vid
<p>No this can't be done as you explain. You need to make a comp with multiple layers (as many as satisfy what you are going after) and mask them the same. I've applied the iOS blur effect in my lower thirds titles in FCPX with just two layers. Premiere, AE and other NLEs are the same. Wish it were easier!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T06:00:35.667Z
2016-05-03T06:00:35.667Z
A.J. Hernandez
<p>I am a beginner to Adobe After Effects and Sony Vegas Pro, so forgive me for a lack of a better term.</p>

<p>I am trying to create an Adobe After Effects composition. I want the composition to be transparent with a blur effect. I want to add this blur effect to be in such a way that upon exporting it to an .avi file, I can add this .avi file to a Sony Vegas Project, and the .avi file will blur any layers underneath it.</p>

<p>To illustrate, suppose I have the following Sony Vegas Project:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FMw9d.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FMw9d.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I want to create an after effects composition such that I can make the image look something like this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kB98j.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kB98j.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>However, I don't want to render the composition with the image in it. I want to render it as an .avi file such that I can apply the blur effect to <em>any arbitrary image</em>, or even video files.</p>

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

<p>Is this possible? My intuition tells me no, but I'm asking in case there is a way.</p>

<after-effects><vegas-pro>
Is it possible to "Blur a Transparent Background" in Adobe After Effects?
WeirdestQuestions
# Is it possible to "Blur a Transparent Background" in Adobe After Effects?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-28)

I am a beginner to Adobe After Effects and Sony Vegas Pro, so forgive me for a lack of a better term.

I am trying to create an Adobe After Effects composition. I want the composition to be transparent with a blur effect. I want to add this blur effect to be in such a way that upon exporting it to an .avi file, I can add this .avi file to a Sony Vegas Project, and the .avi file will blur any layers underneath it.

To illustrate, suppose I have the following Sony Vegas Project:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/FMw9d.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/FMw9d.jpg)

I want to create an after effects composition such that I can make the image look something like this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/kB98j.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/kB98j.png)

However, I don't want to render the composition with the image in it. I want to render it as an .avi file such that I can apply the blur effect to *any arbitrary image*, or even video files.

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

Is this possible? My intuition tells me no, but I'm asking in case there is a way.

**Tags:** after-effects, vegas-pro


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-04-28. Score: 6

It's not possible. A generic blur effect relies on a function which smooths out pixel values within a specified radius. A mask combines the value of a pixel in the top layer with the pixel of the layer beneath, modulated by the corresponding alpha value of that pixel in the top layer.

So, in short a blur is a 'lateral' function, whereas layer compositing is a 'depth' function.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-04-28. Score: 1

You won't be able to create a clip that can 'blur any layer underneath' when placed in other applications.

You can just blur assets from within AE and export them out.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-04-28. Score: 1

This is not possible, because the blur effect needs the underlying video as input.

You can either create the blur effect in Sony Vegas without the need for After Effects, or you can (for more complex effects) import the video into After Effects, add your effects, render the result as video, and import it into Vegas.

As you can see the second option takes some time and is only worth it for complex effects/animations that you cannot do in Vegas. It's better to try the included effects of Vegas first.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-05-03. Score: 0

No this can't be done as you explain. You need to make a comp with multiple layers (as many as satisfy what you are going after) and mask them the same. I've applied the iOS blur effect in my lower thirds titles in FCPX with just two layers. Premiere, AE and other NLEs are the same. Wish it were easier!


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