What do you need to change to connect the text to the mask?

To connect text to a mask in Adobe After Effects, you need to adjust the Path Options. When you apply a mask to a layer, the mask acts as a clipping path that reveals or hides parts of the layer depending on the mask's shape. By changing the Path Options for the text layer, you can manipulate how the text responds to the mask. This might involve reorienting the text to align with the mask’s shape or modifying its path to ensure it conforms appropriately to the mask's outlines.

The Path Options allow for significant flexibility in how text interacts with masks, enabling effects such as following the contours of the mask, which is crucial when trying to achieve specific visual outcomes like animating text to fit within a particular shape. This interplay enhances creativity and helps produce professional-looking animations.

Options related to Anchor Points, Keyframe Settings, and Mask Properties serve different functions within After Effects. For example, Anchor Points determine the pivot point for transformations, Keyframe Settings pertain to the timing and progression of animations, and Mask Properties control the visibility attributes of the mask itself. While they are essential for various tasks within After Effects, they do not directly facilitate the connection between the text and the mask as the Path Options do.