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How do you make a stop motion video?
What is that and how does stop motion work?
Unlike 2D or 3D animation, stop motion uses objects or puppets instead of drawings in order to create movement.
You move objects and animate them, creating an illusion of movement.
A camera is needed in order to capture these sequences.
This is how you make a stop motion video:
You set up your camera and character
Pause your puppet and take a picture.
Move your puppet and take another picture.
You then repeat this process up to 24 times per second
When you play those pictures back in sequence the character moves.
Normally you will need at least 12 and up to 24 frames (or pictures) per second for this illusion to take place.
Want to make sure your stop motion video is made right?
Let’s go through the basics.
1. Pick a frame rate
This means deciding how many frames or pictures per second you would like to capture.
The normal frame rate for a professional stop motion production would be 24 frames (pictures) per second.
However, you can make your stop motion animation work with as little as 8 frames per second.
The more frames you take the smoother your stop motion animation will look.
That’s why 24 FPS is the most recommended practice.
It might be a bit difficult to achieve this frame per second rate at the beginning, especially if you don’t have a stop motion animation software in place.
If that’s the case I would recommend going for 8 or 12.
2. Set up your camera
What you’ll need:
-SD card and battery in (a constant power supply battery is preferred)
– DSRL camera (manual mode)
-Lens
-Tripod
-Remote shutter release
Head over to “Stop motion kit: essential equipment for projects on a budget” for more info on these.
Want to know how you should set up your DSLR camera for stop motion animation?
Here’s a summary.
1. Set up your tripod and secure it with tape or a sand bag.
2. Switch your camera to manual exposure.
3.Make sure your lens is set to manual control
4. Adjust your shutter speed, aperture and ISO depending on your shooting environment.
5. Disable your autocorrect image brightness. If you don’t your frames will have some flicker.
6. Adjust white balance (depending on shooting environment)
7. Image size: I usually go for RAW images since these give you complete freedom when it comes to post-production. These can take up a lot of space so make sure you have enough gb in your SD card.
After having your camera and tripod you should set up your lights before starting to shoot your stop motion film.
There are some things you should consider while doing so.
The most important thing is that no natural lighting should be allowed into your set.
Have a look at my article on “How to light a stop motion set” to know everything about it.
Stop motion tips
Keep it steady
Shoot in manual and check that your camera is always in focus as you move your characters.
Secure your camera in a sturdy tripod to avoid shaking.
Animate and organize your stop motion set properly. This will avoid you tripping over your equipment.
Don’t touch the camera
Use a remote shutter release to take your frames. Do not touch your camera as you shoot since your frames will shake if you do so.
Use a battery adapter power cable to prevent your camera from running out of batteries and having the same issue.
Keep your lighting consistent
Wear dark clothes
Use artificial lighting and cover your windows.
Watch your frame rate
Capture at least 1 frame per movement
Take at least 8 frames per second. Remember that for better results 12 or 24 frames per second will be best.
Remember to shoot extra time at the beginning and end of a stop motion scene. It will give you more editing options.
Keep these 7 tips in mind and you will be fine.
Remember you should focus on your movements and frames.
Come up with an action and explore these two factors with your set up.
Relax and experiment before you start filming your stop motion video.
If you’re using a clay character or puppet, one thing I like to do in order to warm up with stop motion is to film a small sequence of my character waving its hand.
You can then practice capturing the same scene with fewer or more frames and have a look at the final result.
The faster you move your character the more dramatic the move will be.
If we take the hand wave example, moving your puppet’s hand from one side to the other within 2 or 3 frames will have an agitating effect.
But if you take your time and move its arm little by little you will get the opposite result. Your character will wave in a confident and relaxed way.
Do I need a stop motion software to shoot my stop motion video?
A stop motion animation software will be beneficial but not crucial (you can check your progress by replaying the frames you took in your camera).
But truth be told, this will be very unreliable.
If there has been an issue with one of your frames, it is very unlikely you would be able to tell by using this method.
These are some free and easy to use stop motion software for beginners:
If you want to have a look at the full guide, check “7 Best Stop Motion software in 2020”
You can also use a tool called “onion skin” which will show you the last frame you shot as well as a live version of what your camera is seeing.
This tool is one of the main reasons why you should get a stop motion software.
Checking your frames while you animate will not only help you spot errors but will also allow you to correct them.
This is crucial in order to get your animation right.
You can also use an editing software to finish your stop motion film.
This can be used even if you haven’t been working with a stop motion software previously.
Most editing softwares are capable of editing stop motion.
These are a few I’ve used during the years:
You can usually edit the pictures by dragging them to the timeline, nest them together, and change the speed.
Okay...now what?
What are you waiting for?
Go make your stop motion video!
Once you have your first trial scenes ready play them back and observe the difference between them.
You can then correct your mistakes and determine if you need more or fewer frames.
Practise is the only way to truly understand this art form so get on it as much as you can!
Hope this post was useful for you.
If you feel like you would like to learn more about stop motion, check out my other articles on this subject.
-Ana
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