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Motion Graphic.mp4

Motion Graphic Video Just Starts from $35

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Compositing is the process or technique of combining visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously called "chroma key", "blue screen", "green screen" and other names.

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Keep Control Points to a Minimum
When you begin to learn rotoscoping, your first instinct might be to create as many points as possible in order to properly outline the element within the footage. However, it is better to use a minimal amount of points and only what is needed to trace the subject. If a matte's outline changes over several frames, it can have a jittery look when played back, and it's much harder to keep track of too many points.

A good technique is to find the most complex shape that the subject is in, and outline that first so you know the most points you'll ever need for that rotoscope. The rotoscoping tools in your compositing software have very powerful curve manipulation abilities that can create complex curved lines with a minimal amount of points.

creating separate shapes when rotoscoping a hand making the vulcan hand gesture

Create Separate Shapes
If the object or person is a very complicated shape, do not try to use one shape for the entire subject. It is best to separate different limbs, fingers, etc. into different sub-shapes.

For instance, parts that are going to be moved independently of each other should be separated, like the hand, the fingers, the forearm, and the arm. If you tried to follow the outline of a complex movement, like two characters fighting, it would be nearly impossible to follow the actions accurately with one single outline.

Use as Few Keyframes as Possible
When you are animating the rotoscope to follow along with the movement of the element in the footage, you typically don't need to create a new keyframe for every frame. The computer will automatically interpolate between keyframes and will generally produce the desired results.

In the same way that an animator would first draw in the key poses, you can find the frames where the most movement occurs and adjust the shapes accordingly. If the outline is not following perfectly with the subject, you can then go in and add another keyframe to make that adjustment.

Study the Footage
Before you start rotoscoping, you should study the footage you will be working with. Are there large changes in direction? Do parts of the subject get obscured by other elements within the scene? Are there big camera shakes that could be stabilized to make the rotoscoping process easier for you? By knowing the footage, you can better determine the timeframe for the project, as well as the best way to approach the rotoscoping.

Consider Animation Principles
Rotoscoping is a lot like animation; you are creating keyframes and animating the outline of the subject within the footage. Just as an animator incorporates techniques such as arcs (the visual path of an object or action) and ease in and ease out (the idea that movement needs time to accelerate and slow down) when working on a project, you should as well.

After all, animation principles were based off of real-world studies, and you'll see these principles in action while tracing your footage. Thinking about these things while you are rotoscoping VFX will help you figure out early on how subjects are likely to move and where the ease ins and ease outs would occur in the footage so you can place the keyframes in the right spot.

Though rotoscoping may seem tedious and not that exciting, it’s an important technique for any VFX artist to know. Even if you are more of an effects person who likes to create the explosions, you should still know this technique and understand the importance of it within the visual effects world. So the next time you're tasked with rotoscoping, try implementing some of these tips into your projects.