How do you align, distribute, and group your vector paths in rotoscoping?

1 What are vector paths?

Vector paths are the lines and curves that define the shape and outline of your rotoscope object. They are made of anchor points and handles that you can move and adjust to fit the contour of your footage. Unlike raster images, vector paths are resolution-independent and scalable, which means they retain their quality and sharpness regardless of the size or zoom level.

2 How to align and distribute anchor points?

Aligning and distributing anchor points can help you create symmetrical and balanced shapes, and avoid gaps or overlaps in your rotoscope object. You can use the Align panel in your rotoscope software to align your anchor points horizontally, vertically, or to a specific point. You can also use the Distribute panel to evenly space your anchor points along a line or a curve. To access these panels, you need to select multiple anchor points with the Direct Selection tool or the Lasso tool.

3 How to adjust handles and curves?

Handles are the small circles or lines that extend from the anchor points and control the direction and curvature of the vector paths. You can use the Convert Anchor Point tool or the Pen tool to change the type of your anchor points and handles. There are three types of anchor points: smooth, corner, and straight. Smooth anchor points have two handles that are opposite and equal, creating a smooth curve. Corner anchor points have two independent handles that can create sharp angles or curves. Straight anchor points have no handles and create straight lines.

4 How to group and ungroup shapes?

Grouping and ungrouping shapes can help you organize your rotoscope object into smaller parts or segments, and make it easier to edit or animate them. You can group shapes by selecting them with the Selection tool or the Lasso tool, and choosing Group from the Object menu or the right-click menu. You can ungroup shapes by selecting them and choosing Ungroup from the same menus. You can also use the Layers panel to view, lock, hide, or rearrange your groups and shapes.

5 How to copy and paste paths?

Copying and pasting paths can save you time and effort when you need to create similar or identical shapes in your rotoscope object. You can copy and paste paths by selecting them with the Selection tool or the Lasso tool, and choosing Copy and Paste from the Edit menu or the right-click menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+C and Command+V (Mac). You can paste paths in the same layer or a different layer, and adjust their position, size, rotation, or color.

6 How to use path operations?

Path operations are commands that allow you to combine, subtract, intersect, or exclude multiple paths in your rotoscope object. They can help you create complex and interesting shapes, and avoid overlapping or conflicting paths. You can use path operations by selecting two or more paths with the Selection tool or the Lasso tool, and choosing one of the options from the Pathfinder panel or the right-click menu. The options are: Add, which combines the paths into one shape; Subtract, which cuts out the front path from the back path; Intersect, which creates a shape from the overlapping area of the paths; and Exclude, which creates a shape from the non-overlapping area of the paths.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?