How long does rotoscoping actually take??

I have never actually done any rotoscoping but Iam intending to create fan film with Jediwraith, I was interested to know just how time consuming it is. How long do you think it would it take to rotoscope 8minutes of sabre footage, at 25fps, using photoshop which Iam competent in.

Is it worth doing 25fps or should I stick to 15 fps. Keeping in mind that I intend to play the video on a large screen, i.e. a projector.

 

It really depends...

If you are using very High Res and large resolution images, it might be a little easier, as you will be able to see well.

And it also depends on how perfect you want them to look, and if you can get into a "rythym" in your rotoscoping...

If you are only doing lightsabers, that will go alot quicker than doing both lightsabers and adding in backgrounds/taking out bluescreen.

Lots of different factors...

I am by no means an expert (have only fooled around myself) so maybe somebody will actually be able to give you a "time needed".

Indy

 

GEEZ!!!! 8 minutes!? Well, my friend, first off, stick with 25 fps if you're planning to project it. And if you're going to be using Photoshop, be prepared for several full evenings of hard work. I couldn't tell you exactly how long it will take, but be prepared to spend anywhere from a few days to a week or two on 8 minutes of quality work. So break out those ginseng pills and just bite the bullet! Best of luck to you!

 

The time spent on rotoscoping sabers in Photoshop depends on your speed, and the speed of your computer (opening large filmstrip files can take long. Same with adding blurs to the entire file). But yeah for 8 minutes that should take long. About 15~20 seconds took me a whole afternoon and evening at 30 fps.

However you should rotoscope the 25 fps version. Keep the 15 fps one for the Net. It's always nice to have a version in which there are no missing frames.

 

Look at it mathematically...

8 minutes = 480 seconds X 25 frames per second =
12 000 frames.

24 000 lines (assuming only 2 sabers)

say 30 seconds per saber line...
720 000 seconds = 12 000 minutes = 200 hours.

Now of course not every frame is going to require rotoscoping, but it is still going to take you a chunk of time to do it right.

But think of the AWESOME results when you are done...

 

Dude I think you just convinced him to use AlamDV.

 

Thanks, I knew it would be extremely time consuming.

Indigo_Jade what did u mean by:

Now of course not every frame is going to require rotoscoping,

The meantion of AlamDV, is that any good, are the results anywhere near as good as photoshop for example.

 

...or after effects.

/Z

 

...or a good program, like After Effects or Commotion...
How do I tell them that, because of the unfreezing process, I have no inner monologue? I ... hope i didn't say that out loud just now.
And as for how AlamDV compares with everthing else, I'll let you decide. Here are the results of the first, the best, the greatest Lightsaber Competition.

 

Well not every frame will have both lightsabers in it... some may not have one in it at all (close ups of the actors faces, etc.)

Not to mention that when one of your actors' body goes in front of the saber, it makes for a smaller line or no line at all...

200 hours sounds like a LOT of time, but if you film your fight scene first (or parts of it) and work on the rotoscoping in your spare time and do sections at a time (just MAKE SURE you write down all the settings/colors you use) it will break it up and not make it seem like such a daunting task. Kinda like cleaning the garage, if you look at the whole thing, it seems impossible, but if you look at just doing a corner or a square foot at a time, it doesn't seem so bad...

Indy

 

Ok, I get ya, Thanks

I can't seem to edit my message so ill just post it here....

Anyone know where I could find a good tutorial on creating a force lighting effect. I have After Effects, but if there are other programs better for it ill use them.

 

I was just reading up on lightsabers at the Official Site (for an unreleated topic) and came across this tidbit of information:

Most of the lightsaber luminosity seen in the classic trilogy was the result of rotoscoping. Years ago, rotoscoping described the process of laying tracing paper over a blow-up of a film frame, and tracing, frame by frame, the necessary animation. This animation was typically painted onto an animation cel - a transparent sheet of acetate. Those cels would then be photographed one frame at a time, and optically composited into the frame.

Just be thankful you don't have to do that

Indy

 

LOL, so true