rotoscoping
noun
ro·to·scop·ing
ˈrō-tō-ˌskō-piŋ
: a technique that involves drawing or painting over an element in live-action footage frame by frame (as to create a matte or a realistic animation)
Bakshi used rotoscoping to trace live footage for animation, and posterization to give it a rough, hand-made look.—Ethan Gilsdorf
This isn't the first time he [director Richard Linklater] has used animation layered over live performances, and this digital rotoscoping technique is especially attuned to nuances of gesture and facial expression.—A. O. Scott
Rotoscoping is one of the tedious necessities of many visual effects today. Any time a CGI element is placed in a live scene and an actor walks in front of it, a mask or matte must be created to overlay the actor over the CGI element.—John Jackman
Cite this Entry
“Rotoscoping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotoscoping. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.
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