# Ideas on a masking problem
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358
**Category:** flash
**Created:** [April 12, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358 "2006-04-12T18:44:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jillymo](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/jillymo)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358/1 "2006-04-12T18:44:30Z")
I am using mask to make some roots “grow” from an acorn. I am having trouble coming up with a solution to make it look like the roots are really growing…(see image of roots below)
I want the top (sideways) of the root to “grow” first (so mask would be from right to left) and then the bottoms of the roots to grow in. (mask top to bottom) Other than using 2 masks, (which does work but does not look as real as I would like) I cannot think of a good way to do this, other than maybe using a shape tweened mask rather than a motion tween and I never seem to have much luck with shape tweens.
Anyway just looking for ideas…
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### Author:  [@no\_rain](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/no_rain)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358/2 "2006-04-12T20:18:33Z")
I did this once, and I think it`s a pretty decent way of doing it but I`m sure there`s a better one, But for now:
Make each root you want to grow a new layer
ad a masking lay for each one
do a sideways mask for the top root for say 5 frames
then on the fith frame have another mask start
and then right after that one have another mask start
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### Author:  [@jillymo](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/jillymo)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358/3 "2006-04-12T20:24:09Z")
That’s a good suggestion, I appreciate it =)
you know sometimes when you are thinking too much about this stuff it helps to have a fresh view…
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### Author:  [@rhamej](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/rhamej)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358/4 "2006-04-12T22:36:31Z")
Unfortunatley the only way to do what you want is with frame by frame animation of the mask. Or very complicated as. =)
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### Author:  [@jillymo](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/jillymo)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/ideas-on-a-masking-problem/185358/5 "2006-04-17T15:07:06Z")
yeah I am going to skip trying to get into as with this one and use no\_rain’s idea of separating to layers. Thanks! =)