Objectives
Students will demonstrate understanding of rotoscoping as an animation technique by creating a self-portrait with Photoshop and a short animated clip. Students will attend to continuity in their style of rotoscoping.

One of the basic concepts in rotoscoping is that the animation will be created in a different layer from the original picture. For students to learn this concept have them first create a rotoscoped self-portrait in Photoshop.

1. Take a digital photograph of each student and make sure to keep the background simple (for example, a blank wall).
2. Download photograph to folder in computer desktop where original and Photoshop files will be saved.
3. Open Photoshop.
4. Click File Menu > Open image. Note: If picture was taken vertically make sure to rotate image by Image Panel > Rotate Canvas.
5. Make sure that your Layer and Tool windows are open (found in Window Panel). Your photograph should be the only layer, named background, and locked (Lock sign is located on the right side. To unlock double click on layer and enter OK).
6. Create a new layer. Layer Panel > New > Layer or Click on triangle symbol found in the top right corner of the Layers Window. In the pop menu select New Layer. Note: you can also Delete or Duplicate Layers.
7. Making sure that the new Layer 1 is selected (blue highlight) begin creating a contour drawing of yourself. Use Brush or Pencil Tool (B keyboard shortcut), use Black Color, and you can also select different brush diameters near the top left corner.
8. To view in-progress contour image, click on the eye symbol located in your background layer. This causes the original photograph to disappear and allows you to see only Layer 1.
9. Once your contour has been created you can Choose Paint Bucket Tool (G keyboard shortcut) and fill in the different parts of yourself. The two color boxes near the bottom of the Tool Window also known as the Color Picker allow you to change the background and foreground colors.
10. To include a new background for your rotoscoped self-portrait, insert a New Layer. Make sure that Layer 2 is underneath Layer 1 in the Layer Window. To move layers, click > hold > and drag layer to new location.
11. Fill Layer 2 with Paint Bucket Tool. Once layer is filled you can also apply Styles (located in Windows Panel).
12. You may choose to delete (Step 6) the original photograph by selecting background layer in Layers Window. Make sure it is unlocked!
13. File Menu > Save As. Save your final cartoon in JPEG and PSD formats (psd file will be a backup in case you decide to go back and change afterwards.)

Tips:

• Edit Panel > Undo will allow you to undo the last move. Note: the History Window will allow you to undo back to original image!
• Zoom in and out according to how accurate and detailed you want your self-portrait to be. (To zoom use Zoom Tool or Ctrl/Command + or -)
• Sometimes bleeding occurs when you try to fill a section because is not completely enclosed. To fix, click Undo, and then make sure that all lines in the section are closed.