Let's talk software

I found this package called stopmotion pro. It seems to be the best stop motion software package out there in my price range, so I got it. $250... That added to the Osprey 100 video capture card I got for $165 brings my total set-up expense to $415.

So, from here it looks like I will go over budget. To bad I am not on a governement contract, I would get more monet next year... but that is another topic.

So, I have software, the capture card is on the way, and I have a camera. So what other toys do I need?

I looked on the software companies webpage and found this cool "remote" control you can make for your computer. It is basically a 25 pin printer connector running into a little box with 4 switches allowing you to control 4 functions in the program without having to go all the way back to your computer. I think this is cool as you can stay seated and focused on your movements, so I made it. It cost about $10 to make with the switches, project box, and cable. If you do not have the ability to do this, you can probably get this doen for almost free by your local trade school or high school electronics class. If you bring the parts and a drawing (provided on the web) they will normally supply the know how and labor. Otherwise, this is a good project to acquire a few new skills that are always usefull like soldering and basic electronic assembly. It took me about 15 minutes to build, so I am confident anyone can do it.

So that is $425.

I will need a tripod... I found a Majestic geared head tripod on eBay for $70, but with shipping it was like $105. It is really nice though. It is an older tripod, but after a tune-up it workes like brand new. Besides, it has character and I like that. It will no doubt be a loyal employee for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunatly, that takes me to $530. A bit over, but I think I am ok to start.... This weekend looks like I will blast off and see what I get.

Method of Madness

I have a initial set-up budget of $500 bucks, as well as trying to establish a method to keep reoccuring cost low.

Let's talk about cameras.

There are multiple ways to capture your animation, you can go all digital, you can do analog video capture, you can go digital still capture, or the old school actual film.

I, as a newcomer, contimplated each option carefully.

The all digital option was my first choice, it allowed me to use a reasonably priced software package that has all the toys to do animation. The capture cards for this were also moderatly priced, under $250. All other computer upgrades were a wash across the board so it came to the camera. You could go web-cam, but the quality would be so poor, I saw no point in investing time in a product doomed from the onset to be sub-standard. The good cameras, the ones with 3CCD, start at about a grand... Bit pricey for me, on to the next option.

I next looked into digital still capturing, however this option would not allow me to use some of the best features of whatever software I chose to use, so again... next option!

Using film was totally out for me. This is a reoccuring expense that I can not afford. I am on a shoe string budget here, so every dollar counts. Even if I didn't get sticker, which I did, film and processing fees plus editing hardware would blow the budget.

Which leaves analog video capture. What does that mean? That means that an average camcorder can be used. A brand new one, with impressively high resolution, can be picked up for a few hundred bucks. I, however, already had one (actually, the wife did). Regardless, I conjunction, you need something to catch what the camera is pitching, so I found an analog video capture card for around $150 bucks retail (I have a bid on one on eBay for $65, all part of being cleverly cost effecient. Some people call it cheap, I call it cost effecient.) This card is nothing special, plugs into an expansion slot in your CPU, and your camera plugs right into it using RCA jacks.

So there we have it, by using what I already had and making it work, I got out in the camera department for under $200 buck.

Start at the beginning

I have always liked to watch stop motion animation. I enjoyed wondering about the techniques used to make the movements and puppets. I especially liked the puppets. I am not ashamed to say that I was and am a huge fan of The Muppet Show. So the puppets really interested me.

I must have watched Clash of the Titans a thousand times with my mom as a kid. I examined the animation, while she is a fan of all things science fiction and mythological.

Also, I am a fine collector of hobbies. I have dabbled in casting, sculpture, drawing, and an assortment of other hobbies that apparently have no connection.

I was watching JoJo's Circus with my youngest when it dawned on me that I could apply every tinkering thing I has ever dabbled in to one wonderful new pursuit... stop motion animation.

I did not enter into this pursuit without carefully considering the magnitude of the endeavor. I take alot of joy in researching a interest, sometimes more than I enjoy the actual interest.

It is that fact that has led me to this blog. It seems that there is very little information readily available for the amateur animator. I plan to chronicle my efforts, successes and failures, as well as resourses and suppliers here in hopes that it will help someone else in this area of interest.