ABSTRACT
Masking allows you to generate new alpha mattes by creating polyline shapes or examining pixel values within an image. Masking is an integral part of compositing as it is often necessary to divide a frame up into multiple parts or to isolate a particular element. Rotoscoping takes masking one step further by animating the mask position or shape over time. This lets the mask follow a particular feature, like a moving actor or a shifting prop. Fusion offers a wide variety of masking tools, many of which provide a means to interactively draw or paint masks within the Display views. This chapter includes the following critical information:
Creating and connecting primitive masks
Drawing and editing polyline masks
Generating masks from pixel values
Animating masks to undertake rotoscoping
Applying advanced rotoscoping techniques with polyline tools
