
SCENE 01 / ROTOSCOPING CLEANUP
Rotoscoping & Cleanup
Precision rotoscoping and invisible cleanup work that forms the foundation of seamless visual effects.
Rotoscoping and cleanup are frame-by-frame post-production processes that isolate elements, remove unwanted objects, and prepare footage for compositing. Rotoscoping traces precise mattes around subjects for extraction, while cleanup removes wires, rigs, markers, and other artifacts visible in raw production footage.
We coordinate rotoscoping and cleanup work with VFX facilities experienced in detailed frame-by-frame processing. Our team manages shot turnover, quality reviews, and delivery schedules to ensure your footage is cleanly prepared for compositing or presented free of distracting production artifacts.
Capabilities
Rotoscoping & Cleanup Excellence
We provide the essential foundation for high-quality visual effects through meticulous frame-by-frame work that isolates elements and removes unwanted artifacts.
01
Precision Roto
Frame-accurate masking with perfect edge quality.
Accuracy
02
Wire Removal
Invisible elimination of rigs and support wires.
Invisible
03
Paint Work
Seamless cleanup and artifact removal.
Clean
04
Tracking Integration
Smart workflows with motion tracking.
Efficient
Rotoscoping Services
Cleanup Services
Why Us
Why Choose Our Roto Services
01.
Pixel Precision
Frame-by-frame accuracy for perfect results.
02.
Efficient Workflow
Smart techniques for faster delivery.
03.
Quality Control
Rigorous checking at every stage.
04.
VFX Ready
Prepared for seamless compositing.
On Location
Frame-by-frame roto-paint through Canadian VFX prep pipelines
Here is how the work lines up. Canadian rotoscoping and cleanup work is staffed through the country's senior VFX houses — DNEG Vancouver / Toronto / Montreal (Dune Part Two atmospheric particle cleanup, Tenet, Ex Machina edge-roto work), ILM Vancouver, Pixomondo Toronto (Star Trek Discovery wire and sign cleanup across the entire Strange New Worlds and Discovery production runs, plus Halo), Image Engine Vancouver (District 9, Lost in Space), SpinVFX Toronto (Game of Thrones, The Boys), Folks, Mavericks VFX Toronto, Rodeo FX Montreal, Hybride Quebec, and Mr. X / Wolfe Productions.
Roto-paint teams in this lineage handle the prep work that makes the downstream composite possible: character core-mattes with hair detail extraction, wire and rig removal across stunt sequences, sign and product cleanup for advertising and brand-clearance issues, marker and tracker removal, lens-flare cleanup, atmospheric particle reduction (Dune Part Two sandstorm work), and snow-and-debris removal across Banff, Jasper, Whistler, and northern-Canada production locations. The Inuit cinema cleanup tradition that started with Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner — natural-light, real-location, frame-accurate observation — informs the country's prep-work sensibility.
Tooling runs Boris FX Mocha Pro for planar-tracker-assisted roto (the industry standard, deeply integrated into both Nuke and After Effects pipelines), Boris FX Silhouette FX for detailed shape work and paint cleanup, Foundry Nuke with its native RotoPaint node for shot-context work, and Adobe After Effects for motion-design-adjacent cleanup. Motion blur is matched against source-footage characteristics using directional edge treatments and multi-frame sub-sample techniques, with hair, fur, and semi-transparent elements handled via core-matte-and-edge-feather approaches rather than hard-keyed shapes.
Tracker integration uses 3DEqualizer and SynthEyes for high-end camera-tracked roto and PFTrack for production-volume work. Shot turnover handles ARRIRAW, RED R3D, Sony Venice X-OCN, and Blackmagic RAW originals at 4K, 6K, and 8K, with ACES-linear colour management protecting the prep through the downstream composite. Reviews use ftrack or ShotGrid, with turnover from supervisor down through the artist team lined up against the broader VFX shot-tracking pipeline.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What rotoscoping software do you use?
We primarily use Silhouette, Nuke, and Mocha Pro for rotoscoping work. Each tool has strengths for different scenarios - Silhouette for detailed shape work, Nuke for integration with compositing, and Mocha for planar tracking-assisted roto. We select the best tool for each shot.
How do you handle motion blur in roto?
Motion blur requires careful attention to maintain natural-looking edges. We match blur direction and intensity to the source footage, using specialized edge treatments and multi-frame techniques. The goal is seamless integration where the roto edges are invisible in the final composite.
Can you work with difficult elements like hair?
Yes, we specialize in challenging roto including fine hair, fur, and semi-transparent elements. We use techniques including core mattes with soft edges, multi-channel keying assistance, and detailed hand work to achieve clean results that preserve natural edge detail.
What's your typical turnaround for roto work?
Turnaround depends on shot complexity and volume. Simple roto might be completed in hours per shot, while complex character work with hair and motion blur requires more time. We provide detailed estimates based on shot breakdowns and can scale our team to meet deadlines.
Related Services
Productions in Canada that need this often pair it with Visual Effects Compositing, CGI & 3D Animation Services, and Motion Graphics Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Virtual Reality Filming and Digital Cinema Package (DCP).
On Set
Ready for Flawless Prep Work?
Let's create perfect mattes and clean plates for your VFX.