VFX Session: Understanding Rotoscopy & Motion Graphics with the Industry Pros

What is Rotoscopy?

Rotoscopy, by definition, is an animation technique used by animators to trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, when realistic action is required. Originally, photographed live-action movie images were projected onto a glass panel and re-drawn by an animator. The projection equipment used for this purpose is referred to as a Rotoscope. Rotoscopy in VFX is widely used in modern filmmaking to seamlessly integrate live-action elements with visual effects, enhancing the realism of action sequences.

About Toolbox Studio

The guest lecturers, Abhijeet and Vipin, are experienced pros from Toolbox Studio, our sister concern and a highly sought-after VFX outsourcing partner for major production houses worldwide.

Toolbox Studio is a proficient VFX?CG Studio with extensive experience (9 years, to be precise) working on TVC/AV productions, VFX for feature films and TVCs, pre?production, 2D & 3D animation, rotoscopy in VFX, sound designing, conversion of 2D into 3D and black & white into colour, virals and eLearning. The company takes great pride in the quality of work it has delivered for over global projects, including India, North America, the Middle East, Australia, UK, and Thailand.

Toolbox Studio's core team of 20 multi-specialty artists at Toolbox Studio has effectively delivered 28 successful projects and 100,000 frames till date for 18 clients!

With a 5,000 sq. ft. facility and a 24-track sound studio, the company is well-equipped to deliver film, broadcast, TV/web series and digital VFX solutions (for both live action as well as animated films).

Another reason clients prefer outsourcing their VFX requirements to Toolbox Studio because of state-of-the-art equipment and the latest software, such as Maya, 3D Max, Nuke, Silhouette, Adobe After Effects, and Photoshop. The company’s extensive portfolio includes some of the  biggest Hollywood projects including Maleficent, The Hunger Games, 300: Rise of an Empire, Jupiter Ascending and Insurgent.

Toolbox Studio’s forte lies in its 2D/3D animation capabilities, motion graphics for TVCs and films, and VFX for broadcast and films. Within the VFX domain, the studio offers the following broad services:

• PRE-VISUALIZATION
• 3D ASSET MODELING
• ROTOSCOPY & TRACING
• MATCHMOVE
• VFX PAINT
• COMPOSITING

Back to the Rotoscopy & Motion Graphics Session

Given the credentials of Abhijit and Vipin (plus the fact that Seamedu and Toolbox Studio work in close collaboration for knowledge and resource sharing), this session was an absolute super hit amongst the Visual Effects batch. The pros from Toolbox Studio enthusiastically spoke about the company's projects – especially on the Rotoscopy in VFX and Motion Graphics front.

They shared case studies and their own experiences of working on some huge projects, the intriguing production flow and the overall process that was followed in order to execute them to the T.

Our students got an insider’s perspective into how things work before, during and after production, including insights into VFX motion graphics and their role in enhancing visual storytelling. This was followed by an elaborate Q&A session where the students asked these professionals several questions about their work, the industry, and the difficulties one faces while working on such projects and how they are to be tackled. Both Vipin and Abhijeet obligingly answered all queries and followed it up with something special.

Under the supervision of Mr. Abhijeet Kolvankar, the students were given a Roto project to work on! In addition, they explored essential techniques in VFX motion graphics, allowing them to blend creativity with technical skills. Seamedu School of Pro-Expressionism has always maintained that it believes in experiential learning, and this session was just another example of that.

Ask the VFX batch and they’ll tell you how much fun they had working on the test Rotoscopy assignment!