Rotoscoping: Techniques and Tools for the Aspiring Artist

Description

Master what it takes to make your rotoscoping and digital painting blend seamlessly into each shot.
—
Benjamin Bratt, VFX artist who has worked on recent movies such as Harry Potter 7: part 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, and X-Men: First Class. He is currently a senior roto/prep artist at MPC London. He has also taught VFX and Rotoscoping classes at the Academy of Art in San Francisco.

Market:

VFX artists, aspiring VFX artists and students; editors; indy filmmakers

Key Features:

*4-color presentation full of roto tips and techniques will have you performing like a seasoned pro in hours
*Application-agnostic technical insight allows the reader to implement lessons learned regardless of software being used
*Accompanying CD and companion website provides project files and sequences on which the reader can implement the techniques they learned in the book, as well as other bonus materials

Master what it takes to make your rotoscoping and digital painting blend seamlessly into each shot. Through illustrious four color presentation, the book features step-by-step instruction on the artistic techniques of rotoscoping and digital painting with lessons on:
*Articulate mattes
*Digital paint in moving footage
*Motion tracking
*Advanced rotoscoping and digital paint techniques, and much more

It also features practical insight on the subject and industry, delving into:
*The history and evolution of rotoscoping and the role of the rotoscoper
*A typical day in the life of a rotoscoper
*How to get a job as a rotoscoper

“This book is very well written. Everything is covered in great detail, yet it is a very enjoyable read, never boring, and offers plenty of wit and wisdom from someone who has himself been in the trenches. He more recently supplied roto work on such notable films as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and X-Men: First Class. Rotoscoping is certainly an art in itself, and Benjamin makes this clear. Roto artists are the “ninja of the compositing world,” he says, as their art is invisible to the rest of us. That’s a good thing in this instance, of course! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in roto work, or roto artists who want to improve their work process. There is plenty to be gained from having this book in your library, and, quite simply, there is no other book like this one out there. Thanks Benjamin!”–Renderosity.com

Contents:

Chapter 1: Origins of Roto
Chapter 2: Defining the Terms
Chaper 3: Rotoscoping Software
Chapter 4: Pre-Shot Warm-Up
Chapter 5: Key Framing Techniques
Chapter 6: Creating Splines
Chapter 7: Edge Consistency
Chapter 8: Object Mode Transforms
Chapter 9: Interpolation and Linear Movement
Chapter 10: Blur
Chapter 11: Checking Your Mattes
Chapter 12: Tracking and Roto
Chapter 13: Roto and the Human Figure
Chapter 14: Faces and Heads
Chapter 15: Hair (Or: Bald People Are Great)
Chapter 16: Human Movement
Chapter 17: Clothing
Chapter 18: Keeping Focus and Getting Work