15a PowerMesh for Rotoscoping [Mocha Essentials]

One of the most common uses for PowerMesh is to help drive splines for rotoscoping. We continue with our previous project, but begin to create new shapes to use as masks. In this two part exercise, we will be rotoscoping a bird from start to finish. Setting up PowerMesh for rotoscoping is similar to what we have already done. This exercise highlights the small changes to look out for, and how this type of roto technique differs from the one we used earlier in the course.
We will cover what frame to start on for warped splines, which tends to be the same sorts of frames you want to start your planar track on, largest in frame, most parallel to the camera, and least blurry frames. And we will cover some things to look for when you are working with a Warped Spline. At the end of this exercise, you'll be ready to tackle the more complex roto in the second installment.
Chapter List
00:00 Start
00:50 What frame to start on for warped splines
01:16 How rotoscoping with PowerMesh is different than traditional roto
04:40 Things to look for with a Warped Spline
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#borisfx #mocha #motiontracking

[@thewaxlab]

Every time I’m in Mocha, I hear Marys voice guiding me through what I’m trying to do. Mary Poplin is a treasure!

[@borisfxlearn]

Agreed!

[@rahuldeshpande3516]

It is super important to have 'Warp Spline' on for this because that is the whole point. With this option on and using the Power Mesh (and hence the sub planar tracking), the overall spline layer continues to warp/change as the object moves/contorts. Once that is done, we can disable the PowerMesh (hence it is a keyframe assistant, since it has done most of the warping and spline movement of the outlying spline for us so we don't have to - and when I say movement I mean spline warping - as the actual movement of the spline itself is driven by its planar tracking - Spline Planar tracking first -> then sub planar tracking), and then apply keyframes to adjust the spline wherever there are issues - such as blur, super quick movement, spline slightly going off the edge of the object and so on.

[@borisfxlearn]

You got it.

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Part of why I bought Mocha was for the AI assisted rotoscoping, and I thought I had made a mistake. With what AI is doing these days, one would think AI can follow even a complex shape such as this. Perhaps that upgrade is coming?

[@borisfxlearn]

Mocha doesn't have AI assisted roto. It has assisted roto with the tracking and PowerMesh. High quality, temporally consistent roto is out of the reach of AI tools still. If you need a mask for something loose like color correction or garbage masking, then AI mattes is an appropriate tool. But for sharp and consistent splines, there's still some elbow grease involved! We're sharply focused on making the best tools for our customers' needs and finding the best solutions for them.

[@vfxsquad511]

amazing..woweeeee

[@MONEYVAL9]

Thank you team Mocha for these amazing tutos , but all of these are very ideal conditions. Which is great for showing the core workflows . I'd like to see some feature difficult shots , even if it requires us to pay or some Patreon related content.

[@borisfxlearn]

You're right. The idea of Mocha Essentials is to build the skills needed to tackle bigger shots. We do have premium training products in our store, which tackle more difficult techniques, for example : borisfx.com/store/?collection=training-products&product=master-mocha-volume-2

[@EvanSykes]

Thank you for this! Huge time saver. Question: what does work best for rotoscoping when it comes to motion blur? Like in the case of a moving baseball bat or if the pigeon decides to flap it's wing?

[@ifrisb6865]

mby blurt out the edges? Like u often see in the alpha channel, in complete white..

[@user-un5zk5fr2y]

Awesome

[@borisfxlearn]

Thanks!

[@DannyBPlays]

I can't seem to find any tutorial on how to best rotoscope and object that is rotating or generally changing shape, such as if a head is facing left and then turns right. What's the best method for that?

[@borisfxlearn]

The best method is to break it up into multiple shapes. If areas go in and out of view, one technique is to do a main track for the front of the face, and link a roto shape that you animate to that. As a side goes out of view you can easily turn that roto'ed layer off. Make another tracked shape for the side that comes into view and have some overlap between the two. For fast moving objects, you are going to have to do a bit of manual animation, but the tracking will help out. I'm not sure if you've seen the roto part of this series, but it starts here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJu5YZ-Ee52gnLs And here's something about when planar tracking can't solve the whole problem : borisfx.com/videos/fix-tracks-fast-mocha-pro-and-planes-that-turn-away/

[@adeeboberoi5362]

thank you, how do you deside between powermesh and rotoscoping?

[@borisfxlearn]

You don't have to decide. The PowerMesh can be used simply to help drive the rotoscoping. If you don't want to see it anymore, just turn off the mesh view in the toolbar. Then you can work with the spline as normal, it's just being powered by PowerMesh instead of the regular planar tracking. Hope that makes sense.

[@ronydey2696]

Great tutorial these is much needed and helpful hi mam myself Rony I'm an VFX student from India

[@borisfxlearn]

Always a pleasure, Rony. Glad it was helpful!

[@BOTG_Adventures]

I dont have pro version just built in afx version i dont see mesh option do i not have it?

[@borisfxlearn]

Mocha AE doesn't have PowerMesh. Only the Mocha Pro versions do. Here's a more in-depth comparison chart for you : borisfx.com/products/mocha-pro/?collection=mocha-pro&product=mocha-pro

[@petrholusa5855]

Looks good and how about the legs of the pidgeon? Also what about the masking overlaping thing like walking legs?

[@borisfxlearn]

Break those out as individual shapes. Any occlusions should be dealt with like normal, with track mattes (Exercise 4b in this series). When using track mattes and PowerMesh, you should be a bit more generous with them. Don't roto directly to the edge, but give them a bit of a wide border. That way PowerMesh will still do most of the work for you. Mary deals with this topic in more detail in one of her Office Hours livestreams here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZKpoWprjrNqsJo

[@kolkutta]

Hi. Can you tell, why we need to use the last good frame?

[@borisfxlearn]

The idea of the "last good frame" means that you're always building on top of something that works. When a shot fails, just find the point where it starts to go wrong, instead of starting from the beginning every time. Hope that helps.

[@kolkutta]

@@borisfxlearn I just can't understand the logic. Why? The most common decision is to take the most distorted frame and get hope for auto keying. The last good frame isn't change anything, or not?

[@borisfxlearn]

I think I misunderstood your question or you misunderstood the reply. Once you have got a good track, you work to refine the shape through the arcs of the animation. Lock in the last good frame with a keyframe, move to the point of furthest drift and add a correcting keyframe. Repeat as necessary. I thought that in the original question you were talking about the *tracking* part of the process not the roto part. My apologies if that was not the case.

[@abhay8674]

He Mocha can you tell me how to solve the problem while exporting tracking data it say ( unable to excute script 6.null is not an object.) 🙍

[@borisfxlearn]

Make sure you're using the most recent software update for your Mocha Pro license and After Effects. If you're still having issues, please get in touch with Support and they'll be happy to help : support.borisfx.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

[@bryanschumacker5417]

I do not see mesh option. Where is this?

[@borisfxlearn]

It's only available in Mocha Pro. If you are using Mocha AE then you won't see it. Sorry for the late reply.

[@randomBBL]

@@borisfxlearn probably shouldn't have Mocha AE in the description then should ya?

[@randomBBL]

This is misleading as you have to have Mocha Pro to have the powermesh option.

[@borisfxlearn]

Everything past Exercise 12 "Introduction to Mocha Pro Modules" contains Mocha Pro only options. If you're not watching these in order, then I can understand the confusion and apologize.

[@LordJamesLondon]

Let me get this straight, you are selling software and charging customers to learn how to use it? *slow clap for your markting team*

[@borisfxlearn]

No. The entire course is free, which is why you can watch it here on KZbin or here : borisfx.com/free-training/mocha-essentials/ If you want to download the projects and footage, then there is a small charge for that. A majority of people just watch and apply the lesson immediately to their own footage. Are you complaining that you have access to a complete 8 hour product course, which takes you through the entire program, for free? Come on now. *regular-paced clap for the training team*