The Art of Rotoscoping [No Project Files]

Turn your video footage into a work of art. Learn the basics of rotoscoping to build creative effects and to isolate video elements for compositing or VFX. In this course, instructor and mograph artist Eran Stern starts by diving the history and origin of rotoscoping in film and video, providing the background for subsequent practical techniques. He shows how to transform video into natural art—from pencil sketches to Van Gogh paintings, claymation to chalkboard drawings, watercolors to graffiti, and ink blots, Legos, 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.

Topics include:

Rotoscoping with Photoshop

Applying Photoshop actions

Rotoscoping with After Effects

Using AE Auto Trace for quick rotoscoping

Using third-party effects such as Sapphire Stylize

Generating an animated character from video with Characterizer

Keying effects

Creating and refining mattes

Tracking masks

Using professional roto tools, like Mocha AE