Basic consumer camcorders can be used to create stop-motion home movies.
Stop-motion effects have been used since the early era of motion pictures, and modern audiences most likely have seen them used in claymation or even YouTube viral videos. Stop motion gives the illusion that an inanimate object, such as a clay figure or model car, is moving on its own. The effect is accomplished with a simple camera trick. Video recording devices, including camcorders, digital cameras and cell phones, can be used for this task. Creating a simple stop motion video is easy and potentially quite entertaining.
Instructions
Making a Stop-motion Movie with a Video Camera
1. Find a suitable location to place your camera on a tripod and plot a course of movement for your subject. A simple drawing that shows the course of action that your object will take will be very helpful. Make sure you know the area within your frame where the object will start and finish.
2. Place your camera on its tripod and turn the camera on. If you do not have a tripod, place your camera on a hard surface where it is not likely to be bumped or tilted to one side. Place your object in front of the camera. Hit the record button and record for about one second. Hit the record button again to pause the camera.
3. Move your object incrementally in the direction that you want it to travel. Since you are working within the confines of a camera's frame that will not move, you should probably move your object less than an inch. Press the record button again and then pause after about one second. Repeat this process until you have completed the path of motion that you sketched out. The object should have been moved at least seven to 10 times.
4. Play back your movie and view your results. Most camcorders have RCA output jacks that allow you to watch your home movies on your TV, although you can import your video footage to your computer if there is enough hard drive space. Basic video editing software also can allow you to edit out any botched takes, create titles and add music to your video. Once you are satisfied with your stop motion video, you can share it with your friends.
