Stop Motion Tutorial: Basic Setup and Animation

Here’s a start-up tutorial for those looking to try stop motion animation, covering camera setup, software, and basic animation principles. You’ll learn about the tools you need to get smooth, steady movement and how to bring an object or character to life. Please see my other tutorials on how to make an armature for a puppet, as well as other stop motion subjects. Software: Dragonframe. iStopmotion (Mac and mobile) is a good frame-capturing app for the price. I understand iKITmovie is a good free option for Windows. Stop Motion Studio is a good mobile app. If you have a favorite stop motion app, please tell us about it in the comments. Effects compositing in After Effects and editing in Adobe Premiere Pro. I have not had the opportunity to try out free or inexpensive alternatives for Windows. Camera: I’m using a DSLR. But if you’re not there yet, a good option is a camcorder that can run a live video signal to your computer. Fo