Create a new composition. Then add anything to the stage (solid will work fine).
Goto your 'Effect Controls' panel (Window->Effect Controls)and you will see your comp name (Comp 1) and the name of the item you just created. (ex. Comp 1 * Orange Solid...
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1. Open Adobe After Effects.
2. While holding down the ALT key, click on the HELP menu and choose "About After Effects."
Instead of seeing the standard splash screen, you get a "pretty" looking screen with the developer's names
1. Launch After Effects and create a new project.
2. Create a new composition.
3. Import any type of footage into the project and drag it to the timeline to create a layer, then select it on the timeline.
4. From the menu, choose Layer -> Mask -> New...
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