Frame by Frame Stop Motion

Frame by Frame Stop Motion

by Tom Gasek
Released January 2013
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136129339

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Book description

In a world that is dominated by computer images, alternative stop motion techniques like pixilation, time-lapse photography and down-shooting techniques combined with new technologies offer a new, tangible and exciting approach to animation. With over 25 years professional experience, industry veteran, Tom Gasek presents a comprehensive guide to stop motion animation without the focus on puppetry or model animation. With tips, tricks and hands-on exercises, Frame by Frame will help both experienced and novice filmmakers get the most effective results from this underutilized branch of animation. Practical insight and inspiration from leading filmmakers like PES (Western Spaghetti Creator, Time Magazine's #2 Viral Video of 2008), Dave Borthwick, of the Bolex Brothers and more! The accompanying website will include further content driven examples, indexes of stop motion software, a recommended film list and tools and resources for the beginner and intermediate stop motion artist, animators and filmmakers.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Halftitle
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Dedication and Acknowledgments
  7. Introduction
  8. Chapter 1: What Are the Possibilities?
    1. Creating Magic
    2. Silent Films and Beyond
    3. Stop Motion and Its Various Faces
  9. Chapter 2: Shooting Frame by Frame
    1. Technique to Serve the Idea
    2. Preproduction
    3. Equipment and Setting Up
  10. Chapter 3: Pixilation
    1. Take Advantage of the Medium
    2. Who Is the Director?
    3. Humor
    4. Shooting on Twos, Fours, and More
    5. Variations on Pixilation
    6. The Moving Camera
  11. Chapter 4: Time-Lapse Photography
    1. Expand Your Awareness
    2. The Intervalometer
    3. Understand Your Subject
    4. Contrast
    5. Shutter Speeds
    6. Time-Lapse Rates and Formulas
    7. Time-Lapse Photography and Pixilation
    8. Motion Control
  12. Chapter 5: Cinematography, Lighting, and Composition
    1. Cameras and Lenses
    2. Camera Controls
    3. Lighting for Animation
    4. Compositional Beginnings and Ends
  13. Chapter 6: Objects, People, and Places
    1. People, Objects, and Rigging
    2. Organic and Nonorganic Objects
    3. Shooting Safe Zones
  14. Chapter 7: The Multiplane Downshooter
    1. A Stand of Your Own
    2. Lighting for the Downshooter
    3. Clay, Sand, and Three-Dimensional Objects
    4. Cutouts
    5. Background
  15. Chapter 8: A Sense of Drama
    1. Live Action and Single Framing
    2. Subtle and Broad Performance
    3. Reference Film and the Cartoon
    4. Look in the Eyes
  16. Chapter 9: Rhythm and Flow
    1. Let the Music Lead
    2. Patterns of Movement
    3. The Beat Goes On
  17. Chapter 10: Collage (The Digital Advantage)
    1. Planning a Collage
    2. Match Lighting and Rotoscoping
    3. Clean, Clean, Clean
    4. The Chroma Key
  18. Chapter 11: Massaging Frames in the Edit
    1. Working the Frames
    2. Impossible Perfection
    3. File Management
    4. Playback
  19. Chapter 12: Exposure to the Market
    1. Now What?
    2. Record and Archive the Process
    3. Websites and the Internet
    4. Film Festivals
    5. Ownership
    6. A Few Thoughts
  20. Exercise 1: The Traveling Head
  21. Exercise 2: Rotating Human Subjects
  22. Exercise 3: 2-D/3-D Handball
  23. Exercise 4: Animated Light Loop: The Bursting Star
  24. Exercise 5: The Dropping Heads (Cutout)
  25. Exercise 6: 3, 2, 1—Countdown
  26. Exercise 7: Love at First Sight
  27. Index

Product information

  • Title: Frame by Frame Stop Motion
  • Author(s): Tom Gasek
  • Release date: January 2013
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136129339