Rotoscoping is the rotated projection of a sequence of usually photographic action image frames so that the artist can trace from the frame or create an image to superimpose on it. It can be thought of as "painting on movies" efficiently. Prior to computers, an animation stand called a Rotoscope was used to project a sequence of action frames against a surface so that a set of animation frames could be traced or created. The same work can now be done with digital images and special computer software. Tools that provide efficient ways to rotoscope include Digital Magic and Elastic Reality. Rotoscoping is frequently used as a technique for combining (
compositing) cartoon figures with realistic settings in television commercials and is also used for special effects in feature-length films.
(technique invented by Max Fleischer in which live-action figures are cut out and re-drawn. This has historically been a valuable invention because animated figure movement could be much more realistic using a rotoscope.)
This technique was later used for A Scanner Darkly, 2006 directed by Richard Linklater
