This article will explain to you the basic steps of doing stopmotion.
Step 1
Have a idea of what you want to do.
Step 2
Get the thing you want to work with be it a action figure or a Lego man. This is a very open media and can work well with anything used.
Step 3
Find a place to do the stopmotion that has plenty of space and light.
- It's important to realize that stop-motion animation takes time.
- So look for place where you can leave your setup in place for an extended period of time. You also want your work area to be very stable, as even the slightest shakes and jars will be amplified in the final shot.
- Choose a low-traffic area, and make sure your work surface is very sturdy and stable.
- Light is important, but generally you should avoid using sunlight. Sunlight is always changing as the sun moves across the sky, and so it will change while you're creating your shot. For example, it can take several hours to create a scene that only lasts a few seconds on screen. In those few seconds the sunlight will change dramatically. It will effectively be a timelapse effect. The light could be on the right side of your subject at the beginning of the shot and on the left at the end. That's not generally a desired result. So plan on using lamps.
Step 4
Choose a camera. Any camera will do, but some have advantages.
- For example, a digital video camera that can be connected to your computer will allow you to preview and assemble your shot as you work.
- Similarly, some digital still cameras can be controlled by computer via a USB cable, and so will offer the same benefits as the video camera, while also adding the benefits of a higher resolution and most likely better lenses. Not all digital still cameras have this feature, however. If you use one of these you won't be able to see your results until you upload the stills to your computer.
- A film camera will work fine, too, but in this case you'll have to wait to have the pictures processed and transferred to digital files like JPEG's.
- A motion picture camera, like a 16mm or Super8mm camera, is the traditional camera used for stop-motion animation, and will work fine. However, this is probably the most expensive option for a variety of reasons, and so it's not recommended for beginners.
Step 5
Get some software. Windows movie maker will do. windows movie maker has a speed of 8fps. Adobe Premier and Premier Pro are better and easier too work with and have a speed of 24fps as a standard.
- Another resource for animation software can be found here.
Step 6
Take photos moving item a little bit each time. Depending on the complexity of the movement you want to do make markers that show the previous position of the model so you know if the movement was enough.
- Using a Lego man as a model:
- Take a picture of the Lego man in its current position. To take a picture, click "Grab" on the program to take a picture.
- Move the Lego man's arm about half of a quarter centimeter up, and take a picture.
- Keep moving the Lego man's body parts about a half of a quarter centimeter up or down, and keep taking pictures of every movement of the Lego man.
Step 7
Upload to computer.
- Moviemaker: Before putting to moviemaker timeline. go to tools, options, then click on advanced options. Change picture duration to 0.125. Copy to movie maker timeline.
- Premier: When importing the pictures tick the box saying numbered stills (this compiles all sequential pictures together (this makes each picture a single frame). Copy to movie maker timeline. Then depending on how many frames a second you shot change the speed of the video segment (i.e. 8 frames a second = 33% speed; 12 frames a second = 50%)
Step 8
Change other options you find to make your production smoother and better.
Step 9
Export movie to computer.
