Rotoscoping with Silhouette 2020

Archive notice: This article was originally published on 19 November 2019. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

After Boris FX acquired the well-known rotoscoping and paint tool “Silhouette” this year, its first release has already been published. Silhouette 2020 includes new selection tools, a snapping feature, Mocha’s planar tracking and more. These are the most important changes.

Rotoscoping: New Roto Tools

For rotoscoping tasks, the update primarily contains a new magnetic selection tool with Edge Snapping, as well as RotoOverlay for visualising roto work. The Edge Snapping feature automatically adjusts existing splines to the edges of an object or person. The new Shape Overlay modes also visualise the roto splines as onion skinning, motion paths and motion blur.

Paint Improvements

With three new brushes, Dodge, Burn and Detail, among other additions, the developers aim to simplify matte painting, cleanup and comp work. A new “Compare” mode displays previews of planned paint strokes. You can also edit the respective image in the new “Detail” or “Color” views. These are intended primarily to speed up beauty work.

Mocha Planar Tracker Integration

The Mocha Planar Tracker is now integrated into Silhouette 2020 for free and no longer has to be purchased separately as a plug-in.

Availability and Prices

Silhouette 2020 is available as a standalone application for Mac OS 10.9+, Windows 7+ and Linux here: as an annual subscription (new), perpetual licence or upgrade. Every purchase of a new licence or an upgrade includes the 12-month U&S plan. A new perpetual licence currently costs $1,795, or $1.995 for the Mocha Pro Bundle.