Rotoscoping in Film Production: Technologies and Techniques
- 16 video lectures
- 16 tests
- 10 assignments
- 2 weeks, 3 hours per day
- Free of charge
About the course
Rotoscoping in cinema is the process of creating an isolating contour around a filmed object for its subsequent separation from the background.
You will master a new profession, whose specialists are behind most visual effects. They are the first to assist when characters need to be moved from a soundstage to Mars.
The program includes theoretical foundations, tests, and practical assignments for honing your skills using real footage from the Ukrainian film Foxter & Max. BorisFX, the developer of Silhouette software, which is the industry standard for rotoscoping, provides you with a free educational license. The course is available to take at any convenient time, so register now!
You will learn about:
- The history of rotoscoping, its development, and modern applications
- Roto tools and techniques
- Practical skills for working in Silhouette BorisFX
- Interaction with other departments
- Quality requirements for working with film material
- How to deliver your work on the first attempt, even to the supervisor of Avatar
Why should you learn this?
Who will benefit from this course?
- For those seeking remote work in the film industry
- For professionals working with video
- For rotoscope artists looking to fill gaps in their knowledge
Course Modules
1. Introduction to the Course
- Meet the instructor
- Overview of the course structure
- Topics covered throughout the course
- Software tools we’ll use
- What students should achieve upon completion
2. What is Rotoscoping?
- Explanation of the rotoscoping process
- History of rotoscoping as an animation technique by Max Fleischer
- Development of rotoscoping in the film industry
- Growth of rotoscoping with digital and software-based video processing
3. Rotoscoping in Modern Filmmaking
- Rotoscoping and color matting
- Rotoscoping for creating complex multi-layered shots without color matting
- Rotoscoping for retouch and paint tasks
- Adding CGI using rotoscoping
- Requirements and specifications depending on the purpose of rotoscoping
4. Modern Tools and Technologies for Rotoscoping
- Rotoscoping directly in compositing software
- History of rotoscoping software
- Future development of the profession
- Introduction to Silhouette BorisFX
5. Step-by-Step Guide to Installing the Trial Version of Silhouette BorisFX
- Downloading
- Installation
6. Preparing Material for the First Session
- Downloading the material
- Understanding intellectual property
- Importance of structured project file management
- Naming conventions for work files and their significance
- Working with sequences
7. First Launch: Creating the First Training Project
- Launching and connecting materials to the project
- Setting up the project for rotoscoping
- Introduction to the interface
- Additional features of Silhouette BorisFX: Nodes
8. First Rotoscoping: Introduction to Splines
- Object analysis for rotoscoping
- Identifying key animation frames
- Choosing splines based on the task
- Creating splines: shapes, quantities, etc.
- Spline animation principles
- Hot keys to simplify and speed up shape animation
9. Basic Point Tracking
- When and why to track images
- Applying tracking data to a layer with shapes
- Single-point tracking: translation
- Two-point tracking: translate, rotate, scale
- Four-point tracking: corner pin tracking
10. Rotoscoping Geometry
- Specifics of rotoscoping geometric objects
- Common mistakes when rotoscoping geometry
- Tracking for geometric object rotoscoping
11. Rotoscoping Out-of-Focus Objects
- Masking objects with blur
- Setting blur on masks
- Rotoscoping objects with changing focus
- Motion blur techniques
- Rotoscoping objects with significant motion blur
- Tips and tricks
12. Planar and Mocha Tracking
- What is planar tracking?
- Main uses and features
- Common mistakes with Mocha tracking
- Advanced techniques with Mocha tracking
13. Rotoscoping Hair, Fur, and Similar Elements
- Task analysis
- Creating a core mask
- Building the main volume
- Detailing
14. Rendering and Exporting the Final Work
- Preparing the project for exporting shapes
- Exporting shapes
- Preparing the project for sequence rendering
- Rendering sequences
- Rendering multi-layered sequences
- Reassembling rendered sequences in compositing software
15. Self-Control and Self-Check
- How to review your work in Silhouette BorisFX
- Checking renders in compositing software
16. Course Conclusion
- Final thoughts
- Wishing you success
How Does the Learning Process Work?
Video Lectures
Watch online at your own pace.
Support Group
Where you can ask questions.
Tests and Practical Materials
For a better understanding of the material.
Language
Ukrainian
What Do You Need
for Learning?
Preparation
It is recommended to complete the "Digital Image" course beforehand. Basic PC skills and elementary English knowledge will help you understand the terms and make the learning process more comfortable
Equipment
For practical tasks, it is recommended to use a PC with the following specifications:
Processor: 9000+ points according to www.cpubenchmark.net
Memory: 16+ GB
Storage: SSD with 50+ GB of available space
Graphics Card: 2000+ points according to www.videocardbenchmark.net
Meet the
Lecturer
Mykhailo Yefimenko
Lecturer, Post-Production Supervisor
Mykhailo has extensive experience working on advertising, music videos, as well as film and TV projects as a post-production supervisor. He has contributed to music videos for Coldplay and Muse, and has worked on projects for Netflix, Apple TV, and Universal Pictures. Combining creative skills with technical knowledge, and his natural ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms, Mykhailo is the ideal lecturer for rotoscoping and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who supported the creation of this course
Maksym Asadchii, Roman Bazuchenko, Kostiantyn Balakin, Oleksandr Vonsovych, Denis Goldin, Oleksii Zavolokin, Petro Zalyva, Volodymyr Zapriahalov, Oleksii Zelinskyi, Dmytro Karasov, Mykola Kostomarov, Yulia Koshmar, Nataliia Kulakova, Tetiana Lazareva, Nikita Lysenko, Yulia Melnyk, Marianna Novikova, Davyd Padun, Hanna Pylyp, Artur Pudak, Andrii Prylypko, Oleksii Prykhodko, Vladyslava Rykova, Heorhii Riznychenko, Vitalii Saprykin, Viktoriia Troskot, Dmytro Chylimov, Alina Chystoserdova, Yelyzaveta Shyrochenko, Illia Shumafov.