Also called: Roto Artist, Paint & Roto Artist
Traces around actors and objects frame by frame so effects can be added behind or in front of them.
A roto artist draws precise shapes around an actor's flying hair in every frame of a shot, so the background can be replaced. It's patient, detailed work and a classic entry into VFX.
Approximate; much roto work is outsourced overseas.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. VFX certificate or self-taught; entry-level role.
Ways in: Certification, Self-taught, 2-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Visual Effects (certificate), Digital Media.
Shrinking. AI segmentation tools are rapidly automating rotoscoping.
High risk for 10 years. AI segmentation tools now trace actors and objects automatically, so this entry-level VFX job is shrinking fast.
Classes: Art, Computer applications, Photography, Film/video production CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1014.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.