I want a mask whose size, shape, and opacity change over the duration of a frame. It gradually reveals, then encloses and obscures, a face that also moves a bit.

The PIP tools have a "focus" option that allows me to key-frame location and imperfectly alter size (the height and width buttons both change height and width simultaneously, not individually). However, this does not allow me to change the opacity at all.

On the other hand, the mask tab of the Modify tool allows me to chose any mask I want or create, and also to make all kinds of adjustments to shape, location, or opacity. But it does not seem to let me key-frame the mask so that it can change. When I invoke the key-framing, all the effects pass to the clip I mask and not to the mask itself.

The only threads or tutorials I find that address this pertain to products other than PD. Pinnacle has an advanced 3D editor tool that allows this as part of a crop / pan, transparency tool, and Premiere allows something similar. How to do it with PD?

Thanks for any guidance or tips. PowerDirector 12 (pondering 16)
Toshiba Qosmio X875, i7 3630QM 2.4 ghz, 16GB RAM, GeForce GTX 670M with 3GB video RAM.
HDC-SDT750, HX9V, GoPro Hero HD, LX7, LX100. Looking for, but cannot find, gear and software to author UHD 4k discs.