Stop Motion: CRAFT SKILLS FOR MODEL ANIMATION

247 Pages·2017·14.97 MB·English

by  Shaw

THIRD EDITION
STOP MOTION
CRAFT SKILLS FOR MODEL ANIMATION

THIRD EDITION
STOP MOTION
CRAFT SKILLS FOR MODEL ANIMATION
SUSANNAH SHAW
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
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© 2017 by Susannah Shaw
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Contents
•
Acknowledgments xi
Author xiii
1
Introduction: Playing God 1
What is stop motion? 1
Nature and caricature 5
What this book is for? 8
2
Getting Equipped 9
What do you need? 9
Choosing a camera 10
Webcam 10
Smartphone or tablet 10
Digital single-lens reflex 11
Lenses 11
Focal length 11
Animation software/frame grabbers 11
Tripods 13
Lighting 14
The animator’s toolkit 15
Recording sound 15
Editing 16
Glossary 16
3
Getting Animated 17
Animating familiar objects as a first approach 17
Setting up for the first time 18
Color correction 18
File naming and storage 20
v
vi CONTENTS
Notes on movement 23
Timing: Single frame or double frame? 24
Squash and stretch 25
Air resistance 28
The X-sheet 28
Planning 30
The old ones are the best 31
Glossary 32
4
Keep it Simple: Developing Your Story 33
Idea–script–treatment 33
The script 34
Find a good editor 35
Treatment 35
Planning your shots: Basic film grammar/composition of shots 36
Aspect ratio 36
Plan 36
Film grammar 36
How to set up your shots and give them continuity? 36
Camera angle 37
Motivation 38
Continuity 38
Crossing the line 39
Reverse angle shots 39
Camera move in a shot (pan, tilt, zoom, track) 39
Focus 41
Sound 41
The storyboard 41
Visualization 45
Editing: Animatics and story reels 45
5
Coat Hangers for Armatures: Making Your Own Model 47
Character design 47
Staying upright 50
Working with modeling clays 51
Making your own puppet 54
Simple wire and Plasticine puppet 54
Durable clothed puppet 58
List of materials used to make this model 69
CONTENTS vii
6
Advanced Model Making 73
The maquette 75
Ball-and-socket armature 76
Making your own ball-and-socket armature 77
Humanoid joints 79
Rigging points 80
Replacements and 3D printing 83
Replacements 83
Rapid prototype or 3D printing 84
Mould making: Hard and soft moulds 88
The sculpt 88
Textures 89
Undercuts 89
Seams 89
Making a hard mould 90
Plaster moulds 92
Resin moulds 92
Making a soft mould 94
Silicone moulds 94
Plasticine press moulds 94
Casting 95
Model making masterclass: ScaryCat Studio and the Duracell bunny 101
Glossary of model making materials 107
7
Four Walls and a Sky: Sets and Props 109
Research the look 109
Design and building of sets 109
Scale 110
The base 110
Creating landscapes 113
Buildings 114
Interior sets 115
Practical lights 115
Exterior sets 116
Forced perspective 118
Making props 119
Rigging 119
Glossary of materials for sets 120
viii CONTENTS
8
Sound Advice: The Voice Track 123
Pre-production 124
Recording dialog 125
Voice techniques 126
Recording 126
Sound breakdown 126
Lip sync 127
A rough guide to mouth shapes: Look in the mirror 131
Music and effects copyright 133
9
The Mechanics of Movement 135
Studies from observation 135
Using live reference 135
The invaluable muybridge 135
Posing the model 138
Balance 138
Line of action 139
Timing 140
Weight 140
Lifting a heavy box 142
Creating a sense of weight 143
Anticipation, action, and reaction 144
Hands and feet 148
Follow-through 148
Snap 149
Breaking up the movement 149
Walking and running 149
Rigging 150
Relaxed walk: 16 Frames 151
Fast walk: 8–12 Frames (one full step) 151
Run: Six frames (four steps per second) 151
The illusion of speed 151
Animal and bird movement 154
Four-legged animals 154
Lizard 155
Birds’ walk 155
Birds’ flight 155
CONTENTS ix
10
The Performance 159
Character animation 159
Comedy and comic timing 162
Eyelines 163
Blinking 165
More than one character 165
Subtle character animation 167
11
Ready to Shoot 171
Lighting 171
Measuring light 171
Calibrate your monitor 172
Color temperature and lighting gels 172
Lighting the background 174
Health and safety issues 174
Setting up the shot 174
Camera position 174
Shutter speed 175
Depth of field 175
Camera moves 176
Motion control 177
Blocking out your shots 177
Your own welfare 177
Shooting 177
Shooting with a rig 178
Chroma key or green screen 182
Checkerboarding 182
Using glass 183
Special effects: Tips and hints 183
Fire and explosions 184
Camera shake 184
Rain 185
Footprints in the snow 185
Water 186
Smoke 186
Fog/mist 186
Wind 186