ROTOSCOPING

What is ROTOSCOPING?

What makes an animation amazing isn't JUST the quality of the illustration, it's the quality of the MOVEMENT!

Rotoscoping is where live actors are filmed and the animation is then created using them as a template. In traditional animation production, the filmed images are traced by hand onto a separate roll of celluloid film. This technique makes the movement of characters more realistic and was used in Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

When you use actual VIDEO as a reference, you can trace frame by frame to create VERY impressive movement.

You need to learn how to use your tools efficiently - rotoscopes can take a considerable amount of hands-on time!

Follow this video and the instructions below to complete this assignment

VIDEO TUTORIAL: Creating a ROTOSCOPE with Wick Editor

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Technical Specifications
• 500 x 500 pixel size
• 24 FPS
• Animated GIF format
• NAME file properly:  FIRSTNAME_Rotoscope1
2. Effectiveness
3. Clear Illustration
4. Temporal Resolution - enough unique frames drawn to create believable motion
5. Creativity
6. Smooth Seamless Looping
7. Initial Frame would make a good static avatar

DUE DATES: (-5pts for every day late)  

3 MINOR GRADES & 1 MAJOR

• MONDAY, 11/14:  Film Video and Upload to Google Assignment (Minor Grade)
• TUES. 11/15 : Convert Video to Stills in https://ezgif.com/video-to-jpg  (Minor Grade)
• Save to your Google Drive
• Begin working in Wick Editor App (instructions above)
• WEDS. 11/16: EXPORT VIDEO (in Wick Editor) of your progress (Minor Grade) even if you are not done. 
• Continue working on illustrations
• Friday, 11/18:  FINAL GIF DUE (MAJOR GRADE)

Instructions:

1. RECORD a 10 second video of human motion - ideally YOURS so that you can use the animation as an avatar later - try to create a "seamless loop" (Check your Cellphone Settings BEFORE you shoot! SEE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW)
2. Use the instructions below to prepare and import your video into the Wick Editor as a REFERENCE layer
3. Follow the appropriate instructions to Trace over "Key Frames" with the BRUSH tool, then hide the reference layer and export your Rotoscope as an Animated GIF

TIPS:

1. Try a SIMPLE, SHORT test BEFORE you commit to your main project VIDEO
2. Keep your camera steady - rest it on a stable surface, tripod, or stand
3. Think of movement that will result in a creative, expressive, and seamless loop ANIMATION
4. Choose Significant "keyframes" to illustrate first, then go back to fill in the tweens to add extra detail to the movement
5. Keep it SIMPLE - Hair, Eyes, Eyebrows, Mouth, Nostrils; Just use blobs, not fine lines!
6. TAKE A BREAK - SAVE OFTEN - use UNDO when you need to. Get up, walk away and come back to it!

How to Convert Video to Stills for the Wick Editor App

1. Shoot your reference video in a short, low res format ie on your laptop or mobile device. Transfer the file to your computer using Google Drive.
2. Convert the video into individual image frames using a utility like https://ezgif.com/video-to-jpg
3. Upload an MP4, MKV or MOV file
4. Set the appropriate START TIME and END TIME so that you just convert the part that you need
5. Set the SIZE to AUTOx480 and the FRAME RATE to 20 FPS
6. Click CONVERT and images will start to appear
7. SCROLL DOWN to the bottom to download the packaged images as a ZIP file
8. Open the ZIP file, then DRAG or COPY the images to an appropriate folder on your computer, or in Windows Explorer, Right Click the Zip folder and Select EXTRACT ALL
9. Create a new Wick Editor project sized to 450x450 pixels and 24fps
10. UPLOAD the images into Wick as reference graphics, and add only the first couple of images. Name that layer "Reference" -
11. Create another layer called "Guidelines" above the reference layer, and draw guidelines there to help you line up your images as you drag them into the reference layer.
12. Now continue drag reference images to new keyframes and line them up with your guidelines.
13. Lock the reference layer, hide the guideline layer, and Create a final layer for you to start sketching in!

VIDEO TUTORIAL: Converting Video to Stills and Rotoscoping in the Wick Editor App

How to SET UP your phone

1. RESOLUTION: Look under your camera settings, and try to set it to a low resolution no more than 1080p (1920x1080 pixels) - you DON'T want the files to get too big! DON'T use 4K or 60fps!
2. AVOID HEVC: IF you have an iPHONE, there is a troublesome movie format called HEVC that can cause problems in editing. iPhone users should check their settings BEFORE THEY SHOOT to avoid this format. Here's how:
1. Go to Settings > Camera.
2. Tap Formats.
3. Tap Most Compatible. This setting is available only on devices that can capture media in HEIF or HEVC format, and only when using iOS 11 or later.
3. Use the proper TECHNIQUES
1. Pay attention to the background
2. Frame in LANDSCAPE orientation just above the head to just below the chest
3. Shoot outdoors for better LIGHTING, and pivot to see what light angle (and background) looks best
4. Look directly into the lens
5. Find a QUIET location, and consider using your earbuds as a microphone
4. Transfer the files
1. Install the GOOGLE DRIVE app on your phone
2. From your phone's photo album, select a video clip and click the SHARE icon. You should see the Google Drive icon as a destination
3. Specify which account, which drive folder, and what filename you'd like to send the file to.
4. Make it easy to find - create a new folder called UPLOADS