Creating a stop motion animation – in easy steps Set up your scene and a digital camera in a fixed position. Ideally, you will use a tripod to keep the camera as stable as possible. Visualize the movements and action of the characters in the movie (like what path they would follow, whether they would jump, etc). Take at least 5 pictures to begin your animation before moving anything. Make small movements to the characters in your movie and repeat this step until you’ve reached the final frame. Open Windows Movie Maker. Open the ‘Tools’ menu, click on ‘Options’ and the ‘Advanced’ tab. The picture duration will be automatically set to 5 seconds per picture. Lower the picture duration so that the pictures will flick together and give the impression of movement. 0.25 or 0.125 seconds work well.
Transcript
Creating a stop motion animation – in easy steps Set up your scene and a digital camera in a fixed position. Ideally, you will use a tripod to
keep the camera as stable as possible. Visualize the movements and action of the characters in the movie (like what path they
would follow, whether they would jump, etc). Take at least 5 pictures to begin your animation before moving anything. Make small movements to the characters in your movie and repeat this step until you’ve
reached the final frame.
Open Windows Movie Maker. Open the ‘Tools’ menu, click on ‘Options’ and the ‘Advanced’ tab.
The picture duration will be automatically set to 5 seconds per picture. Lower the picture duration so that the pictures will flick together and give the impression of movement.
0.25 or 0.125 seconds work well.
Now import all your digital photographs into Movie Maker. Select all of the photos (Edit – Select All), and drag-n-drop them onto the Video Timeline.
Save the movie. Use the File menu and the ‘Save Movie File’ option. If you want to add audio to the movie, then import the finished movie back into Movie
Maker and either choose the ‘Narrate Timeline’ option to record directly onto your movie or import sounds already stored on your computer.
That’s it! Add any titles and credits and enjoy your movie!
Matthew Edwards, 2008
Tips
If you can, use a tripod to keep the digital camera steady. Fix your stage/backdrop to the surface so that it doesn’t move. Don’t underestimate the number of photos you may need to take. One
second of animation is made up of approximately fifteen pictures! The number of photos you are working with may freeze older computers.
Either use a digital camera with only around 2 or 3 megapixels, or downgrade the camera before you start.
Don’t use the flash – use a couple of desk lamps instead to keep steady lighting.
Use free audio found on the net such as audio network (free through school connections) or findsounds.com, or record your own narration and special effects using Windows Sound Recorder.
If you are making your own characters remember that modelling clay will dry out. Use plasticine formed over a wire frame.
