Produce mattes for visual effects

This standard is about creating mattes of filmed elements so that effects can be added. This can be done by various methods including rotoscoping and keying.

Following matte creation, compositors will use these mattes to create a layered image or make adjustments to achieve the desired effect.

This standard is for those involved with rotoscoping and matte creation and could be used by Animators in VFX.

---

1. interpret production information about how the shot will develop and how this will affect required mattes
2. assess shots to gain familiarity with subjects’ movements
3. plan shapes and mattes required and how best to produce them
4. create mattes effectively and efficiently, making sure you are not producing more than required
5. check and confirm that mattes have accurate edge proximity, introducing edge softness as appropriate
6. check and confirm consistency between frames
7. check there is no background contamination
8. replicate motion blur to match original photography
9. share work with compositors and use feedback to revise mattes when required
10. check that work meets quality and schedule requirements
11. check and confirm that mattes meet required outputs and are delivered on time

---

1. how to evaluate the requirements of the shot and how it will develop
2. the role of the compositor in planning matte creation and how to communicate with them
3. how to keep your scripts tidy and organised and name shapes effectively
4. how to determine the shapes to break down when creating mattes
5. how to use tracking techniques to attach spline shapes to objects
6. how to use blocking and traditional animation techniques to avoid edge chatter or undesired interpolation
7. the advantages and disadvantages of using rotoscoping, keying and other image processing techniques to produce mattes and the relative time taken by each
8. the properties of different types of key and how to use them
9. how cameras capture images
10. how motion blur works and affects the mattes
11. how to assess the quality of created mattes to meet the production requirements
12. how to use your experience to judge when additional mattes may be required
13. how to render mattes into separate colour spaces

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

3

---

2027

---

Current

---

Original

---

ScreenSkills

---

SKSVFX11

---

VFX Technical Director , VFX Artist , VFX Junior Artist , VFX Assistant Technical Director , VFX Producer , VFX Supervisor , VFX Assistant Supervisor

---

---

mattes; VFX; visual effects; rotoscoping; keying; production requirements; production; pipeline;

---