If you are a motion graphic artist, you would know how important is the art of rotoscoping in physical animation. Pain notwithstanding, rotoscoping, just like the chroma keys, is still the most critical process in the industry (VFX/animation). However, it can also be tiring and time-consuming when done manually. That’s when you need a Rotoscoping software that automates the entire process reducing the pain to a large extent.
What is Rotoscoping Software?
Rotoscoping is a process of tracing over the movement of a movie scene, frame by frame, to create an animated version out of it. It basically aims to create life-like action by tracing over the actor in specific footage. It’s more of motion capture which is different from visual effects in the purpose.
While it creates an animation out of the moving scene of a flick, VFX creates a camouflage for an element that can be taken out and then fitted on the desired backdrop. This is further covered up in order to change the colors or for any other reasons. However, to use the software and its set of tools you would need some guidance.
So, let’s see which are the best rotoscopic software , which are best to help you start with rotoscoping.
Table of Contents
Adobe After Effects CS3
Adobe After Effects is one of the leading software programs that’s known to offer world-class motion graphics solutions. From creating film titles to intros and transitions, it offers all that goes into the making of an animated/VFX version of a movie scene. It enables you to extract an object from the said movie clip. Whether it’s making it rain or the character stand in front of a sea, create ng an animated logo or an imaginary character, this software allows you to transform your ideas into movements.
You can also take advantage of the advanced features for text by making animated titles, credits, or lower thirds. You can either start right from the ground up or use any of the pre-configured looks available in the app. To add movement to your text, you can also enhance it with spin, swipe, and slide effects. You can further blend the desired photos and videos, for instance, sending a spaceship to the sky, and much more. To get the desired effect you can easily remove people or objects from the video.
What’s more? You can animate almost anything such as logos or cartoons using expressions or keyframes. Alternatively, you can also use pre-configured looks to start with your design. The software also works perfectly with its other apps. Best of all, you can also import your creations from Photoshop, Illustrator, Character Animator, Adobe XD, and Animate.
Price: free trial available; pro version starts from $9.99
Autodesk Combustion
Autodesk is a popular software provider in the field of engineering, manufacturing, construction, and even media and entertainment. It offers 3D designing as one of its services that offer the combustion software for rotoscoping. Which means, it can be used in the process of creating attractive visual effects for movies, inventive TV ads, or TV soaps.