making animation
making a downshooter
the basics of a downshooter is a camera pointing down to photograph your animation.
timing and movement
above is a link to a site going over principals of movement
methods to try
modified base vs retrievable frames
in modified base animation the current frame is altered or "modified" to create the next frame, think of it like a single stage for your mediums to act on. in what i've dubbed "retrievable frame" animtion, every frame is separate, think it like a flip book
photographing your frames: stop motion studio vs dragon frame
Stop Motion Studio is an app you can use on your phone or tablet. it has basic tools like frame capture, simple editing, and onion-skinning, which makes it great for learning, experimenting, or making quick projects. The app is free to download, but also has additional features for one time price.
Dragonframe, is an indie to professional-level software used by studios and filmmakers. Its designed specifically for high-quality stop motion/photo capture and gives you way more control—like precise camera settings, lighting control, and advanced timeline editing. However the upfront software cost is pricey and requires extra equipment like a DSLR camera.
lighting and set up tips
the most improtant thing in animation is control. its best to make sure to shoot in a dark room with a few dedicated spotlights/lamps and minimal light changes that could affect your frame-by-frame photographing over time
its also necesarry to keep a stable camera set up to reduce unintended camera shifts that will cause inconsistent photo angles/framing and jitters in your animation over time. consider taping down everything that could move, including the camera lens focus ring