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Arrowtown - filming location in New Zealand

SCENE 01 / ROTOSCOPING CLEANUP

Rotoscoping & Cleanup

Precision rotoscoping and invisible cleanup work that forms the foundation of seamless visual effects.

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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

Silhouette and Nuke roto pipelines through Weta FX and Auckland boutique VFX houses

Here is how this works in practice. We staff roto and paint-cleanup artists through Weta FX Wellington, Cinesite Auckland, and boutique VFX houses including BluBlu Studios, Mukpuddy Animation, and Plot Point Productions, with overflow capacity managed through DNeg and Pixomondo partnerships when project scale demands. Standard toolchains run Silhouette FX for high-volume rotoscoping, Nuke's RotoPaint and Splinewarp for VFX-aligned roto, Mocha Pro for planar tracking-driven roto, and Fusion Studio for Resolve-integrated paint.

Here is how this works in practice. Cleanup work includes rig removal (wirework on Avatar Way of Water, Thor Ragnarok), tracking-marker paint, background plate restoration for shots that picked up unwanted detail (Auckland and The capital urban shoots routinely need traffic-light, signage, and vehicle removal under Auckland Council and The capital City Council location-permit conditions), and beauty work for hero performance shots. Pipeline ingest accepts ARRIRAW, REDCODE R3D, Sony X-OCN, and Canon CRM masters. Deliveries route to Park Road Post and finishing houses as DPX, EXR, and ProRes mezzanines.

Here is the short of it. NZ roto and cleanup heritage runs through Weta FX's six-plus Best VFX Oscar wins — Lord of the Rings Return of the King (2003). King Kong (2005), Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) — and the today's Rings of Power (Amazon Prime Video) campaign which sits as the largest streaming production ever made. District 9 (2009, Best VFX nomination) was a Weta-Wellington joint work. Avatar Way of Water's high-frame-rate 48 fps stereoscopic 3D needed roto pipelines retooled for HFR delivery, advancing the industry standard. Iwi consultation under tikanga applies to roto and cleanup involving culturally major material — moko, korowai, taonga objects — where digital alteration touches kaitiaki rights. Privacy Act 2020, AWS Auckland storage, GST 15 percent, NZD invoicing, ACC accident cover.

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.

Productions in New Zealand 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.