Roto/Prep Artist

020 7494 9513

Roto/Prep Artist

Speculative application

Role Details

The Roto/Prep department is integral to the creation of high quality images for our feature film and high end television projects that meet creative expectations and deadlines. Within that department the Roto/Prep Artist (RPA) plays a key role in the wider 2D team working closely with our Compositors to prepare plates to help them integrate all elements of an image, including CG and live action, into their shots. The RPA’s role will include the creation of accurate mattes to extract specific elements from shot plates, either in a single frame or over multiple frames and match motion blur frame by frame or using procedural methods such as 2D trackers or Planar tracking. This requires meticulous attention to detail, a keen eye and highly accurate roto ability. ​They will also be responsible for the clean up of background plates of live action-footage ready for additional layers and treatments to be added by the compositor. This may include removing unwanted elements such as dust, scratches, wires, rigs, graining or tracking markers. They will also be required to fix retime artefacts using a range of techniques, and remove unwanted elements such as lens flares or street markings and security cameras in period dramas. Prep work can be highly complex and requires a solid understanding of procedural and manual frame by frame techniques in Nuke as well as excellent attention to detail.


The RPA will be working with both an internal and external Roto/prep team depending on the size and requirements of the project so they must be able work both collaboratively and independently and be able to quality check their own work. They will have excellent time management and organisational skills and over time be able to provide accurate assessments of their shots and the time required to complete them.  The RPA will have a good creative eye and a strong sense of visual aesthetic. They will be able to take direction and feedback well and act efficiently on it, and have a good ability to problem solve.


The RPA will be proactive, self-motivated, able to work independently as well as collaboratively with both their immediate and wider teams and know when to ask questions. They will be good communicators, adept at building relationships at all levels and regularly keeping in touch with their immediate and wider teams to provide updates or raise any issues. They will have an excellent understanding of a client service based studio, happy to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in with whatever needs doing, and be able to multitask and adapt to changing priorities and situations, always remaining calm and professional.


Responsibilities:

  • Create clean and accurate roto mattes to extract specific elements from shot plates for Compositors to use and have a comprehensive understanding of how these mattes will be used

  • Cleanup - using patches and frame-by-frame painting techniques to remove wires, rigs, tracking markers, artefacts etc, cleaning green or blue screens, beauty work/cosmetic fixes, dustbust plates and scratch removal

  • De-grain and re-grain paint work 

  • Have an understanding of how to use 3D camera tracks and how to create 2D tracks using a range of techniques

  • Use initiative and creativity to extend and reconstruct areas of an image that are obscured or do not exist

  • Accurately estimate  how long paint and roto shots will take to complete

  • Communicate regularly with your immediate and wider teams and escalate any queries/issues

  • QC your own work regularly and before publishing/presenting

Skills, knowledge and experience:

  • Traditional art and design skills including a knowledge of composition and colour

  • A working knowledge of Nuke

  • Prior knowledge of a Linux based operating system would be an advantage

  • An understanding of motion blur and how it affects mattes and patches

  • Prior use of a roto-scoping package, ideally Nuke

  • Excellent organisational, prioritisation and communication skills

  • The ability to listen, take on board feedback and direction and action it accurately and efficiently

  • Good problem solving skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other artists and wider teams

  • A knowledge and interest in photography and digital manipulation is helpful 

  • A critical eye for detail and precision and the patience to complete complex tasks to a high standard

  • An understanding of the 3D environment within Nuke, being able to use geo data to project clean plates and understanding how to use UV projections

  • A willingness to learn new techniques and software and to share this knowledge with your colleagues

  • Ability to work under tight deadlines and to work efficiently within a production environment

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