any advice re shooting stop-frame animation? at DVinfo.net

Malcolm Hamilton · June 10th, 2008, 02:47 PM

Hi there,
I've never done this before, so I'd love some advice, especially if anything pertains to any special EX1 settings.
I've got to shoot a title for a series on literacy, so I purchased a box of those magnetic words (people make their own poems, I think, and put them on their refrigerators). I've cut the words up into letters, and I want to shoot them in such a way that a big jumble of letters becomes the name of the literacy organization...
I thought I'd work backwards, that is (after locking off the camera), first shoot the organization's name in the middle of the jumble of letters. Then I'll remove a few of the letters of the name, and shoot a few more frames, then remove a few more letters, etc. Then when I edit these shots in reverse, it'll look like these words are forming...
Is this the way to go about it? Is there a way to set up my EX1 (which I'm loving, by the way) to make this work especially well?
Thanks for any advice...
Malcolm

Gabriel Florit · June 10th, 2008, 02:57 PM

You can use the stop-motion setting of the EX1 for what you want to do... I'm not sure if you need much more advice than that, seems like you got it figured out. Maybe I'm not understanding your question?

Malcolm Hamilton · June 10th, 2008, 03:00 PM

No, that was it, Gabriel. I'll now go looking for the stop-motion setting. Thanks, Malcolm

Malcolm Hamilton · June 10th, 2008, 03:03 PM

You guys are going to hate me, but I just went looking for a stop-motion setting, and I don't see one.
Does someone have the patience to explain? I'm sure it's something else, and I'm being too literal.
Thanks, malcolm

Gabriel Florit · June 10th, 2008, 03:05 PM

I don't have the camera in front of me, so this might not be accurate - but I think there's a setting in the Camera Menu. You'll probably need a stable tripod and the remote.

Malcolm Hamilton · June 10th, 2008, 03:08 PM

O.K... there's an Interval Record setting, which is currently off, but I can turn it on. If this is indeed the right setting to play with, what should the 'Interval Time' be set at? (right now it's at 1 second)
What should I set the 'Number of Frames' at?
Thanks for your help,
Malcolm

Gabriel Florit · June 10th, 2008, 04:15 PM

That's time-lapse.

You'll have to go back to the manual for this one... sorry! I haven't gotten around to stop-motion yet. Just got my camera this past Friday.

Malcolm Hamilton · June 10th, 2008, 04:32 PM

Gabriel, thank you. I just downloaded the manual, and it's quite simple, as you say:
- attach camera to tripod
- use the IR Remote
- select Frame Recording in the Camera Set menu, turn it on, and choose the number of frames you want the camera to record each time you hit the Start button.
I've chosen 1 frame, which is hope is good.
Thanks again for your help,
Malcolm

Alexander Kubalsky · June 10th, 2008, 07:21 PM

Malcolm, just remember to set the Iris to manual so you dont get any change in lighting while animating.

Malcolm Hamilton · June 10th, 2008, 08:05 PM

thanks Alexander... I have iris set to manual... my only problem now is that the IR remote commander isn't working. I have it switched on in the menu... so (I just read the manual to look for something I've overlooked), since I have everything in the right place, it must be that the battery is dead. I can't think of anything else.
Malcolm

Alexander Kubalsky · June 10th, 2008, 08:36 PM

The IR Remote is pretty useless really. The reason it isnt working is probably because of It has to be pointed to the sensor somewhere in front of the camera. Are you pointing it from behind? It wont work. You have to be around the front so you end up nearly getting in the shot every time. Its probably designed for one man show reporting where the camera man and presenter are the same person. If stopmotion is not something you do regularily you can probably get by with this awkward device. Im also going to be doing a lot of stopmotiona nd will be looking for a cable remote soon.

Gabriel Florit · June 10th, 2008, 09:17 PM

Also I'd probably suggest doing more than just 1 frame per motion, unless you want an insanely fast movement. Maybe something like 4-12 frames? 1 frame will be too fast in most cases.

Malcolm Hamilton · June 11th, 2008, 01:02 AM

Hi guys... Alexander, I did in fact stand beside, behind and in front of the camera, and the IR remote didn't work in any position. Can you tell me where to get a cable remote?
Gabriel, I'd recorded the stop-frame before getting your last post... so I did go 1 frame, and actually, for what I'm doing, it works really well (I agree, it would be too fast for other situations).
Thanks so much,
Malcolm

Patrick Williams · June 11th, 2008, 02:24 AM

The remote will work. I had trouble figuring it out myself, but I've done a few of these animations now with great results. First, make sure that the protective plastic is out of the remote--it's a small clear plastic strip that is between the battery and the contacts to keep the remote battery from discharging before the camera is shipped. It should come out really easy and you probably have already taken it out. Next, make sure that the IR remote is enabled in the menu. It turns off every time you power down the camera. Then do what others have said and put the camera in "frame" recording and push the record button on the camera. The red tally light will be on, but the camera will just be waiting for you to record individual frames. Get in front of the camera. You don't even have to be close. On the remote, push the record button and the blank black button next to record at the same time. It will seem as if nothing is happening. However, if someone looks at the lcd screen, they would notice that the standby light blinks every time you hit record, and it is indeed recording. The far right number on the time code display is showing seconds rather than frames. It won't advance until you've crossed over 1 second. Again, it seems like nothing is happening, but it is. I'm sure after a little bit of testing you will be able to make it work.

Kevin Wayne Jones · June 11th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Back in my film days we were shooting 24 fps and doing a stop frame change every 3 frames for claymation type work.
Looked good.

kj

June 10th, 2008, 02:47 PM	#1
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	any advice re shooting stop-frame animation? Hi there, I've never done this before, so I'd love some advice, especially if anything pertains to any special EX1 settings. I've got to shoot a title for a series on literacy, so I purchased a box of those magnetic words (people make their own poems, I think, and put them on their refrigerators). I've cut the words up into letters, and I want to shoot them in such a way that a big jumble of letters becomes the name of the literacy organization... I thought I'd work backwards, that is (after locking off the camera), first shoot the organization's name in the middle of the jumble of letters. Then I'll remove a few of the letters of the name, and shoot a few more frames, then remove a few more letters, etc. Then when I edit these shots in reverse, it'll look like these words are forming... Is this the way to go about it? Is there a way to set up my EX1 (which I'm loving, by the way) to make this work especially well? Thanks for any advice... Malcolm

June 10th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#2
Gabriel Florit Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 65	You can use the stop-motion setting of the EX1 for what you want to do... I'm not sure if you need much more advice than that, seems like you got it figured out. Maybe I'm not understanding your question?

June 10th, 2008, 03:00 PM	#3
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	No, that was it, Gabriel. I'll now go looking for the stop-motion setting. Thanks, Malcolm

June 10th, 2008, 03:03 PM	#4
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	You guys are going to hate me, but I just went looking for a stop-motion setting, and I don't see one. Does someone have the patience to explain? I'm sure it's something else, and I'm being too literal. Thanks, malcolm

June 10th, 2008, 03:05 PM	#5
Gabriel Florit Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 65	I don't have the camera in front of me, so this might not be accurate - but I think there's a setting in the Camera Menu. You'll probably need a stable tripod and the remote.

June 10th, 2008, 03:08 PM	#6
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	O.K... there's an Interval Record setting, which is currently off, but I can turn it on. If this is indeed the right setting to play with, what should the 'Interval Time' be set at? (right now it's at 1 second) What should I set the 'Number of Frames' at? Thanks for your help, Malcolm

June 10th, 2008, 04:15 PM	#7
Gabriel Florit Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 65	That's time-lapse. You'll have to go back to the manual for this one... sorry! I haven't gotten around to stop-motion yet. Just got my camera this past Friday.

June 10th, 2008, 04:32 PM	#8
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	Gabriel, thank you. I just downloaded the manual, and it's quite simple, as you say: - attach camera to tripod - use the IR Remote - select Frame Recording in the Camera Set menu, turn it on, and choose the number of frames you want the camera to record each time you hit the Start button. I've chosen 1 frame, which is hope is good. Thanks again for your help, Malcolm

June 10th, 2008, 07:21 PM	#9
Alexander Kubalsky Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 172	Malcolm, just remember to set the Iris to manual so you dont get any change in lighting while animating.

June 10th, 2008, 08:05 PM	#10
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	thanks Alexander... I have iris set to manual... my only problem now is that the IR remote commander isn't working. I have it switched on in the menu... so (I just read the manual to look for something I've overlooked), since I have everything in the right place, it must be that the battery is dead. I can't think of anything else. Malcolm

June 10th, 2008, 08:36 PM	#11
Alexander Kubalsky Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 172	The IR Remote is pretty useless really. The reason it isnt working is probably because of It has to be pointed to the sensor somewhere in front of the camera. Are you pointing it from behind? It wont work. You have to be around the front so you end up nearly getting in the shot every time. Its probably designed for one man show reporting where the camera man and presenter are the same person. If stopmotion is not something you do regularily you can probably get by with this awkward device. Im also going to be doing a lot of stopmotiona nd will be looking for a cable remote soon.

June 10th, 2008, 09:17 PM	#12
Gabriel Florit Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 65	Also I'd probably suggest doing more than just 1 frame per motion, unless you want an insanely fast movement. Maybe something like 4-12 frames? 1 frame will be too fast in most cases.

June 11th, 2008, 01:02 AM	#13
Malcolm Hamilton Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 844	Hi guys... Alexander, I did in fact stand beside, behind and in front of the camera, and the IR remote didn't work in any position. Can you tell me where to get a cable remote? Gabriel, I'd recorded the stop-frame before getting your last post... so I did go 1 frame, and actually, for what I'm doing, it works really well (I agree, it would be too fast for other situations). Thanks so much, Malcolm

June 11th, 2008, 02:24 AM	#14
Patrick Williams Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 52	The remote will work. I had trouble figuring it out myself, but I've done a few of these animations now with great results. First, make sure that the protective plastic is out of the remote--it's a small clear plastic strip that is between the battery and the contacts to keep the remote battery from discharging before the camera is shipped. It should come out really easy and you probably have already taken it out. Next, make sure that the IR remote is enabled in the menu. It turns off every time you power down the camera. Then do what others have said and put the camera in "frame" recording and push the record button on the camera. The red tally light will be on, but the camera will just be waiting for you to record individual frames. Get in front of the camera. You don't even have to be close. On the remote, push the record button and the blank black button next to record at the same time. It will seem as if nothing is happening. However, if someone looks at the lcd screen, they would notice that the standby light blinks every time you hit record, and it is indeed recording. The far right number on the time code display is showing seconds rather than frames. It won't advance until you've crossed over 1 second. Again, it seems like nothing is happening, but it is. I'm sure after a little bit of testing you will be able to make it work.

June 11th, 2008, 12:09 PM	#15
Kevin Wayne Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Posts: 69	Back in my film days we were shooting 24 fps and doing a stop frame change every 3 frames for claymation type work. Looked good. kj