“Rotoscoping” is the process by which effects of various sorts can be added, frame by frame, to video footage, allowing the effect to move along with the on-screen object that it is associated with. The most well-known example of this can be seen in the lightsaber effect, in which the actor “wields” a glowing plasma sword that follows his or her movements. The glowing blade in this effect has been added in post-production using a program like Adobe After Effects. This article will show you how to produce this effect in After Effects.

1. Go to Creative Cow and download the Adobe After Effects Preset, which you will need for this project. Right-click the file and select “Cut”. Now go to the “Programs” folder, select the Adobe After Effects Folder and then open the “Presets” folder. Right-click and paste the file into the folder.
2. Step 2

   Launch After Effects. Select “File” and open a project containing video of your actor pretending to swing a sword. The actor should have a lightsaber prop handle in his hand during the filming. Go to the menu and click “Layer”, “New”, and then “Solid.” Name the layer “lightsaber” to keep things organized.

3. Step 3

   Go to the “Effects and Presets” panel on the right. Select “Animation Presets”, then “Andrew Kramer” (the person who made this preset) and click “VFX.” Below this you will see a “Light_saber” effect listed. Drag it to the video.

4. Step 4

   Place the “Start” base of the blade effect on the end of the prop in the actor’s hand. Place the other end where you want to end of the sword to be.

5. Step 5

   Drag the slider in the bottom right panel to get to the next frame. Move the two tips of the blade effect to match the movements of the actor. Repeat this for each frame.