• Rotoscoping involves tracing over specific elements within a frame or sequence of frames in a video.
• It’s commonly used to isolate objects or characters from their background, especially when traditional keying techniques (like green screen) aren’t feasible or don’t produce satisfactory results.
• Rotoscoping can be painstaking work, requiring precise detailing and accuracy to ensure that the roto’d elements blend seamlessly with the rest of the scene.
• Roto work is often necessary for tasks like adding or removing elements from a scene, such as wire removal, background replacement, or adding digital effects that interact with live-action footage.

• Painting in VFX involves digitally altering or enhancing elements within a shot.
• This can include tasks like removing unwanted objects or imperfections from the footage, fixing continuity errors, or extending backgrounds to match the desired scene.
• Painting techniques can range from simple cloning or patching to more complex reconstruction of parts of the image.
• Paint work is often used for tasks like clean-up, where imperfections need to be removed from the footage to maintain visual consistency.

A 2D generalist excels in working with flat, two-dimensional images and footage. Their expertise lies in tasks like compositing, color correction, rotoscoping, and matte painting. Essentially, they are responsible for integrating visual effects into live-action footage, adjusting colors to enhance the overall look, and using techniques such as rotoscoping to isolate and modify specific elements within a scene.

On the other hand, a 3D generalist specializes in the creation and manipulation of three-dimensional computer graphics. They are adept at 3D modeling, animation, texturing, lighting, and rendering. Their role involves crafting lifelike 3D elements such as characters, objects, or entire environments. These elements are then seamlessly integrated into live-action footage or used to construct entirely computer-generated scenes.