Mask Feather tool

Mask Feather tool
Mask Feather is a new tool for controlling feathering along defined points of a mask. Previously, the width of the feather was the same around
the entire closed mask. The Mask Feather tool is available from the Pen tool.
Press G to toggle between the Pen tool and the Mask Feather tool. To toggle between all tools under the Pen tool by pressing G, see Edit >
Preferences > General (Windows), or After Effects > Preferences > General (Mac OS).
Resources:
Variable-width mask feathering (CS6)
Video tutorial: New features workshop: Variable-width mask feathering
Layer bounding boxes and selection indicators
Layer bounding boxes and selection indicators include features to support the new 3D features. They support beveled, extruded, or curved layers,
in addition to standard "flat" layers. You can scale and rotate a 3D layer by manipulating the bounding box from any side. Snapping the anchor
point to different parts of a side of a bounding box is also available.
Resources:
Layer bounding boxes and selection indicators
Video tutorial: New features workshop: Layer bounding boxes and selection indicators
Video tutorial: reTooled.net: Bounding boxes
Vector art footage-to-shape conversion
Vector art footage-to-shape conversion creates shape layers from any vector art footage layer. You can even modify vector-based Illustrator, EPS,
and PDF files after you import them into After Effects CS6. Furthermore, with the new 3D extrusion support, you can extrude artwork. For example,
you can extrude and stylize logos in After Effects CS6.
Resources:
Vector art footage-to-shape conversion
Video tutorial: New features workshop: Converting imported vector graphics from Illustrator to shape layers