AlexNewman: Learning Silhouette #3 - Master Rotoscoping with SilhouetteFX

I've already completed 4 exercises of the DVD (outcomes on my blog - part #1, part #2)

I've finally worked through the rest of the 6 hour DVD course by Ben Brownlee.

Here are another 4 exercises:

Exercise 5 - Articulated Motion (40:43 min)
Project objectives:

Why not to use complex shapes.
Analyse human movement and see where the trouble areas will be.
Track out camera movement.
Handle tracking when the object becomes obscured.
Create roto splines for legs and how to create simple seamless masks.
When to reshape the spline instead of moving it.
Further techniques to deal with motion blur

Notes:

complex shapes cause problems, it is difficult and irrational to animate them. better to break geometry into simple shapes
views in SilhoetteFX are very useful tool
transformation shortcuts Q - transform, W - rotate, E - scale
Tracking. If tracker points interrupt by objects, move it to another area on the same plane and keep tracking.
very important to analyse your shot, analyse objects and brake down them into different simple elements.
don't forget to activate motion blur in node tab, otherwise it won't work. motion blur with shrink/grow can give better results (in some cases)

Result:

Exercise 6 - Planar Tracking (24:24 min)

Project objectives:

Add new format presets to suit your workflow.
What is Planar Tracking?
When is Planar Tracking most useful?
What are the best shapes to track.
Stop fighting problem tracking data.
Learn to separate tracking and shape data.
Speed up your roto when objects distort.

Notes:

add new formats in silhoettefx/resources/formats. open via notepad.
planar tracking is a whole series of points. It's trying to follow where those points are going and makes average movement out of that.
planar tracking is useful when you have clear 2d plane
to speed process up it is better to switch on foreground view
order that will save your time ---> draw rough shape -> track it -> then draw final shape
when tracking don't forget of channels!
you have to be aware of planar tracking limitations

Result:

Exercise 7 - Spinning and Occlusion (37:17 min)

Project objectives:

See the problem with objects that spin or turn.
Find areas to track when the more obvious places are unavailable.
Break down the elements in a face, to easily deal with objects that disappear and reappear.
When you should add more shapes instead of using existing ones.
Use Multiframe to correct errors made across an entire section.

Notes:

Occlusion - shapes are disappearing out.
Spinning - objects are changing drastically from frame to frame.
if there are no obvious tracking points it is useful to find them in other places. Keep in mind parallax.

Result:

Exercise 8 - Keying (25:42 min)
Project objectives:

Revisit the Golden Threads to see why using a key often makes more sense than manual rotoscoping.
Explore the different types of key available.
Create a slap comp to check your work.
Combine keys and roto splines.
How to layer your shapes to do the least work possible.
Improve your result by using multiple keyers.
Find the limitations of the keyer and what to do after that.

Notes: