Fundamentals of Rotoscoping

Requirements

• Familiar with Photoshop or After Effects is helpful, but not required

Rotoscope animation describes the process of creating animated sequences by tracing over live-action footage frame by frame. Though it can be time consuming, rotoscoping allows animators to create lifelike characters who move just like people in the real world.

The technique of rotoscoping also made the lightsaber possible. To create these visual effects in the original Star Wars films, animators drew the color and glow of each lightsaber over the sticks the actors held on every frame in which they appeared.

In this course you’ll learn how to transform video into natural art—from pencil sketches to paintings, claymation to chalkboard drawings, watercolors to graffiti, and ink blots, comic books, pastels, and much more.

You can also find out how to use the same foundational techniques to isolate elements for compositing and visual effects work, and create simple character animations.

Plus, explore the different software for rotoscoping, from Photoshop and After Effects to professional applications such as Mocha AE.

By the end of this course you will have a solid understanding of rotoscoping.

Who this course is for:

• Animators
• Aspiring or new filmmakers
• Film students
• Beginning rotoscope artists

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What you’ll learn

• Learn the fundamentals of rotoscoping
• Rotoscoping with Photoshop
• Learn how to use After Effects and Mocha AE for rotoscoping
• Learn how to transform video into natural art
• Learn rotoscoping effects
• Much more