Rotoscope resources (Rotoscope GIF included)

poc301 · Tue 18/10/2011 10:37:07

EDIT** = I've done the rotoscope (or attempted it). Image is below...

We are looking to do rotoscoped animation for the next Murran game instead of having Neil free-hand all the animations. I saw how good it looks in the latest Ben Jordan promo video, and am excited about how it could look.

Since I don't have a video camera to use to capture green-screen footage, I was wondering if anyone knew of any online resources where I could download some free-to-use footage of people walking, waving, scratching their heads, crouching, standing up, sitting down, drinking, etc, etc. Just normal everyday activities in case we need to use that kind of animation. I don't want Neil to have to record all the video to use in the rotoscoping process.

Then again, maybe I should just suck it up and buy a camera that was made after the year 2000 that can record video...

-Bill

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 18/10/2011 11:00:35

You don't even have a shitty camera in your laptop? Or your photocamera?
I've done some research on rotoscoping recently and nowadays with powerful software it's not so much of an issue (provided the camera doesn't move at all)

poc301 · Tue 18/10/2011 11:29:42

You know what the amazing thing is?

I wrote that original msg and this one sitting here on my smartphone. Right after posting I realized my phone has a freakin' HD camera on it lol.

I just got finished capturing my first bit of video (standing up and looking around in confusion). I am emailing it to myself and will look into processing it.

Amazing how I didn't even think of my phone...

Bill

Chicky · Tue 18/10/2011 13:35:15

How do you plan on doing walk cycles? I'm waiting on a cheap treadmill coming my way...

Anian · Tue 18/10/2011 13:44:23

Quote from: Chicky on Tue 18/10/2011 13:35:15
How do you plan on doing walk cycles? I'm waiting on a cheap treadmill coming my way...

Can't you go to a gym or fitness club and ask them if you could tape yourself or just pay for an hour of workout or something?

poc301 · Tue 18/10/2011 13:46:48

My lovely wife will be moving the camera with me. We'll put it on a piece of luggage with wheels, and she will set the camera on it, and slide the suitcase at the same speed as me walking.

Result (hopefully) will be me walking centered on the camera/phone without it moving and throwing off the perspective.

-Bill

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 18/10/2011 13:48:17

For Another Word*, Eric Chahi simply faked the walking. He was only balancing his body from one foot to the other.

* the scene where he walks into the elevator in the intro. At he beginning he's walking but you can see in the making off that his room was too small so he's faking the last few footsteps, with his face against the wall :-)

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 18/10/2011 13:49:12

Quote from: poc301 on Tue 18/10/2011 13:46:48
My lovely wife will be moving the camera with me. We'll put it on a piece of luggage with wheels, and she will set the camera on it, and slide the suitcase at the same speed as me walking.
Result (hopefully) will be me walking centered on the camera/phone without it moving and throwing off the perspective.

But then how do you plan on removing the background? It's easy only if your camera is not moving the slightest bit. Otherwise it's a nightmare!!!

cat · Tue 18/10/2011 14:14:25

I guess it depends if you want to use the actual photo or just trace over it to get the correct movement.

bicilotti · Tue 18/10/2011 14:29:33

Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Tue 18/10/2011 13:49:12
But then how do you plan on removing the background? It's easy only if your camera is not moving the slightest bit. Otherwise it's a nightmare!!!

Airport >> moving walkway >> hell yeah!

Anian · Tue 18/10/2011 14:40:28

Quote from: bicilotti on Tue 18/10/2011 14:29:33
Airport >> moving walkway >> hell yeah!

Too many people, plus usually isn't there a fence?

If you're looking at youtube, anything with "rotoscope" won't really give you results you need, what you need is something of search term for specific actions, like: "jump animation reference" search that on youtube and you'll get good results, same thing goes for "walk animation reference" etc. These account has a lot of good (some are even marked by coordinates and front and side views) references, with drunk walking, punching, martial arts etc. http://www.youtube.com/user/endlessreference#p/p

I any case you don't really need a running track, you just need maybe a few meters before and after so you can catch speed and slow down without those parts being included. Set up like this is probably fine for moste needs:

(from this page: LINK)

poc301 · Tue 18/10/2011 15:45:47

I am not using the video of walking. I am doing the trace-over method with it, making my main character the person doing the movement.

I am in the middle of doing the "Stand up from a laying position" right now, and I am AMAZED at the results. I am 10 frames in right now (it is a 30+ frame animation). I will animate the gif when done and upload it here so people can see. It is kinda cool. Expect it in a few hours.

-Bill

Dualnames · Tue 18/10/2011 16:07:38

This topic, may or may not be of any use.
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=42321.0

Ponch · Tue 18/10/2011 18:54:58

Tons of great references here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/moogyxo#p/u/23/rPPrIzPmrLk

Hope this helps.

poc301 · Tue 18/10/2011 20:33:32

Whelp, I did some experimenting, and ended up with my first ever rotoscoped animation.

This animation goes in my new game where the main character is laying down, sits up. Looks around, rubs his hand on his head and pauses for a moment to look around. Then stands up.

The initial frame and the end-frame are the actual sprite of the toon.

All the animation sprites in between are roughly colored/detailed of me wearing my jeans and a jacket. I wanted the feel of the coat swinging/flowing when the character moved, and I think I got the feel of it.

I can speed the animation up a bit to make it more fluid, and of course all the detail work needs to go into each frame.

Rotoscoping is FUN

Ponch : That link is amazing. I can probably use a bunch of that and skip having to do a lot myself on-camera

Thanks,

-Bill

Ponch · Tue 18/10/2011 23:58:37

Glad I could help. But doing a lot of it yourself on camera is fun! I wish I could find more excuses to make my friends act like fools in my living room, in front of a draped white sheet!

Grundislav · Wed 19/10/2011 05:55:50

Rotoscoping IS fun! And totally not cheating, don't listen to the haters!

poc301 · Wed 19/10/2011 08:09:59

Haters gonna hate, right?

Seriously though Grundy, I'm a huge fan of your games and love the rotoscoped look. I hope mine end up looking 1/2 as good.

Bill

Monsieur OUXX · Wed 19/10/2011 09:40:49

Quote from: poc301 on Tue 18/10/2011 20:33:32
I can speed the animation up a bit to make it more fluid, and of course all the detail work needs to go into each frame

Also you could use a simple filter to interpolate each frame more smoothly. (e.g. insert an additional frame inbetween each frame. that new frame would contain both previous and next frames, just made half-tranpsarent).

poc301 · Wed 19/10/2011 12:08:52

Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Wed 19/10/2011 09:40:49
Quote from: poc301 on Tue 18/10/2011 20:33:32
I can speed the animation up a bit to make it more fluid, and of course all the detail work needs to go into each frame

Also you could use a simple filter to interpolate each frame more smoothly. (e.g. insert an additional frame inbetween each frame. that new frame would contain both previous and next frames, just made half-tranpsarent)

:o

Oh my god I think you just blew my mind... I am going to try that once all the detail work is done.

-Bill