Masks and Rotoscoping

A Mask is a tool used to isolate a specific portion of an image, defining which areas are visible and which areas are transparent. In Oraphim, masks are generated using specific nodes and piped into the blue "Effect Mask" input of other nodes.

Shape Nodes

The most common way to create a mask is by using a shape node.

• Ellipse: Creates a perfect circle or oval.
• Rectangle: Creates a box with adjustable corner rounding.
• Polygon: A custom shape tool where you click to create individual points (splines). This is the primary tool for rotoscoping.
• B-Spline: Similar to the Polygon tool, but uses bezier curves to create ultra-smooth, organic shapes.

How to Apply a Mask

Imagine you want to blur a person's face to hide their identity, but leave the rest of the shot in focus.

1. Add a Blur node to your main pipe. (At this point, the entire screen is blurry).
2. Press Shift + Spacebar and add an Ellipse node.
3. Do not connect the Ellipse into the main yellow pipe. Instead, drag the output of the Ellipse node into the Blue Input (Effect Mask) of the Blur node.
4. The blur will now only occur inside the circle.
5. Select the Ellipse node to adjust its position and size in the viewer to cover the face.
6. In the Inspector for the Ellipse, increase the Soft Edge slider so the blur blends smoothly into the background.

Inverting a Mask

If you want the opposite effect—keeping the face in focus but blurring the background—you need to invert the mask.

1. Select the mask node (the Ellipse).
2. In the Inspector, check the box labeled Invert.

Tracking a Mask

If the person in the video moves, the blurred circle must follow them.

1. Select your mask node (e.g., Ellipse or Polygon).
2. In the Viewer, right-click the center crosshair of the shape.
3. Select Track > Planar Tracker.
4. A tracker panel will appear. Click the "Track Forward" button. Oraphim's AI-assisted tracking engine will lock onto the pixels and automatically generate keyframes to move your mask frame-by-frame.