Blending Movies + Possible Rotoscoping?

#1

Hey guys!
I’m working on my final project for an animation class at UMBC, and I’m getting to the point where I realize I need a little bit of After Effects CS3 help!

I have a movie file of the animated character (grayscale) which I will overlay over a single background (also grayscale). I know using a simple blending mode like darken or multiply or lighten will cause the background to show through the character, but will eliminate the surrounding white frame.

Is there a way I could put the movie on “darken”, then insert a layer beneath it and scribble in a white blob for the white values to show through? I’m not sure how to make a layer which will have a separate scribble on each frame, lest I do it in Photoshop or Flash and that would be a pain!

Any suggestions?? Thanks!:slight_smile:

#2

Oh yea, and it’s all hand drawn on punched copier paper!

#3

Sorry to keep bumping this up, but I think I may have found a solution:

If I create an Adjustment Layer and place it between the background and the character, then on each frame scribble white beneath the character, that will stop the background from showing through the character’s highlights, provided the characters are set to “darken” or “multiply,” correct? Thanks!

#4

Alright, just wanted to say I figured it out.

Apparently alpha channels are the way to go.
I’m set!

#5

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