Rotoscoping With Photoshop CS3

[mks...@adobeforums.com]

I want to trace the motion of a dancer from a Quicktime video.

I have imported the video into Photoshop CS3, but when I add a new layer, the layer is a single picture layer that remains over all the frames.

Do I have to create a separate layer for every frame that I want to draw, or is there a way to create a single layer with multiple frames?

(And can that Onion Skin feature help me out with this project?)

Thanks!

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

Maybe this will help are you working in the timeline or the frame animation. If in the timeline then go to the flyout menu and choose Panel Options near the bottom. Then check frame numbers in the timeline you will see in the upper left portion the number 0 now move the timeline position to another place and you will see the number will change to what ever frame you are at.

But if you go to layers and add a layer then the layer will be the length of the time line.

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

You can import video frames to layers as well and export it as a video…well a clip but there seems to be a 500 frame limit?

[mks...@adobeforums.com]

I imported the Quicktime into Photoshop CS3, and I am working in the window "Animation (Timeline)." In that window, there is no "Panel Options" in the flyout menu.

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

Palette Options, they use to be called palettes and are now panels. Select Frame Numbers in the Palette Options dialog.

Add a new layer the time line scrolls thee will be a new layer it should be the duration of the timeline. If not click on the right end of the progress indicator with a selection tool and drag as far as you want it to go.

[mks...@adobeforums.com]

I have selected Panel Options from the Animation (Timeline) flyout menu. In Panel Options, I have selected Frame Numbers.

The only way that I can see to add a new Layer is to select New Layer from the Layers window. That gives me a single image that remains over all the Quicktime frames.

Is there a way to create another Layer that is a series of frames, just like the Quicktime layer?

Thanks for your help.

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

That is a the same thing as a new layer with all the frames, if you want to do a frame by frame then you have to convert it to a frame by frame sequence also from the time line fly out.

If you want to create shapes or text the will over print the video then you place in it on the layer you created and any changes you make you have to use the keyframes to do that.

Expand the layer and you will the position, opacity and scale keyframe controls.

Draw a shape, click on the clock next to position, now move the timeline position indicator to another position say to one second. now move the object, a new keyframe appears in the timeline align in the position keyframes.

Pull the the indicator back to the 0 position see the object moved back to where it was.

It has all the frames it is up t you to d with it what you can.

If you need to more, like change colors then it is better to do this with After Effects or Premiere, After Effects would be better and has a lot of plug ins albeit expensive.

If you really need further information I will do a brief video. Bt there should be one already on the Adobe in the tutorials do a search photoshop animation tutorials.

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

Here is a video to show you that it is not one frame but all the frames and if you want to trace the dancer it will be very difficult to do this frame by frame and you will have to do quite few tricks. You can do it for a few frames and you might find it tough.

You will have to red about rotoscoping and how to do it in Photoshop it is not the right place t do it in my opinion but there may be a technique I am not ware of that makes it less painful as they say you can use it for rotoscoping so do a search.

Here is the video:

<http://mysite.verizon.net/wzphoto/VideoLayer/VideoLayer.mov>

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

Here is a link to a page about with a downloadable tutorial from Adobe about adding video layers.

<http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?searchfield=Animation+Tutorials&search_exchange=16&search_category=-1&search_license=&search_rating=&search_platform=0&search_pubdate=&Submit=Search&num=10&startnum=1&event=search&sort=0>