Instructions for Creating a Stop Motion Animation

From Start to Finish

Set your set

• A set is a controlled environment. T.V. sitcoms are filmed on sets that look like the interiors of peoples homes.

• Decide what you want to use as your set. • Cabinets and shelves work well. • Shoeboxes work great too. With a shoebox, you

can glue in a background, poke holes in the top to hang things from, paint on them, etc.

Take Photos

• The camera will stay in the same place for the entire shoot!

• First prop up the camera. You can use a tripod, a stack of books, or anything else. Just so the camera is stable for the duration of the photo shoot.

• Make sure the set is well framed. The next slide has an example of what well framed looks like.

• 1 second of footage equals 8 photos…if you want a one minute movie, you need 480 photos….it sounds like a lot, but you can do it.

Examples of Framing

Well Framed Set Poorly Framed Set

Import your photos into a computer program…

• The following two slides outline the process for both Windows Movie Maker and I-Movie

• You will only use one of these two slides.

Editing using a PC: Windows Movie Maker

• Open the program and import the photos from the camera.• Go to ‘Options' and change the default time to display pictures from 5

seconds to 0.2 seconds. • CTRL-A to select all your pictures and then drop them on the timeline.• Add a title at the beginning, any transitions you want between the

pictures and end credits.• Go to ‘File’, ‘save movie as’, name your video and choose a location on

the computer to save it. • If you do this at a library or use someone else’s computer, you can

burn it to a DVD, or save it to a thumb-drive. • If you don’t have those options but do have a connection to the

internet, create a YouTube or Vimeo account and directly upload your video.

Editing using a Mac: I-Movie• Open the program and import the photos from the camera.• Hold control-A to select all your pictures and then drop them in the timeline.• While all are selected click the little gear icon that is in the corner of each of

the photos. • In the gears’ menu select ‘Fit’ instead of ‘Ken Burns’ effect and change the

duration to .2 seconds.• After add any titles, sound effects, and closing credits. • When you’re done, go to the ‘Share’ menu, click ‘Export’ and chose a name

for your project, a location to save it on the computer and decide a size for your project.

• If you do this at a library or use someone else’s computer, you can burn it to a DVD, or save it to a thumb-drive.

• If you don’t have those options but do have a connection to the internet, create a YouTube or Vimeo account and directly upload your video.

Still having problems?

• Look for answers online by trying to Google search your question.

• As a last result call or email Roberta and I’ll help you figure it out.