ISTOP MOTION

PART A:  Filming the Animation in IStop Motion

  1. Be sure you are logged in to the correct class so that you'll be able to find your file later.

  2. Put the camcorder on the tripod > make it level to your background.

  3. Turn the camera on and set it to Movie Camera (the icon looks like a movie camera)

  4. On the Mac, click on the Mcintosh HD icon to get to the hard drive > Applications > IStopMotion

  5. Create a New Movie > Preset = Small, Frame Rate = 24 FPS (Frames Per Second)

  6. File Menu > Save > Where=Desktop > Give the file a name (YourNamesClaymation-per4)

  7. Click on Camera Icon on the Mac

  8. Move your camera so it's centred on your background without any objects on screen (unless you want them there)

  9. Click on the Record Button on the Mac 24 times for a 1 second intro.

  10. Move object(s) slightly then click on Record 2 times.  Notice you'll see where the object was so that you can see where you are moving it to.  This is called onion-skinning.  Continue moving objects and recording 2 frames for each small movement.

  11. Click on the Play button to view your animation

  12. When done, do a final save.

  13. To export as a Quicktime file for the next step -- File Menu > Export to QuickTime > Give it a filename and have it save to the desktop > Settings > Compression--Be sure it says DV/DVPro-NTSC >  The new file will have a .mov extension.  This file will be opened in IMovie to add sound or music.

PART B:  In IMovie Add Intro at Start and Credits at End

  1. If you haven't yet done so (see step above) load IStop Motion > Open your file > File Menu > Export to QuickTime > Give it a filename and have it save to the desktop > Settings > Compression--Be sure it says DV/DVPro-NTSC >  The new file will have a .mov extension.  This file will be opened in IMovie to add sound or music.

  2. Login to the appropriate class.

  3. Load IMovie > Create a New Project > give it an appropriate name so you and your teacher can find it later.  Save it to the Desktop.

  4. File Menu > Import > Import your QuickTime file.

  5. Drag your clip to the Clip Viewer (at bottom of screen).

  6. File Menu > Save Project -- Save early, save often, save grief.

  7. a.  Click the Titles button on the bottom of the clip shelf window to have the  transition choices displayed
    b.  Choose a title style.
    c.  Click the Preview button to see what the title will look like.  Change and preview until you are satisfied
    d.  Drag the title itself (just below the preview window) onto your movie Clip Viewer--before your video clip for the title and after it for the credits. It will appear as a black clip.

    NOTE: You can add a title on top of a clip. Uncheck  "Over Black" and drag the title to the left of the clip you want titled. If you want the title to last the duration of the clip drag the button on the Speed dial until it is the same time duration as the clip.  In all cases the title and clip will take a few secounds to render after the title is dragged to the movie.

Part C:  Music/Sound Effects to your Animation

  1. Turn on Timeline View (Button at left)
  2. Click the Audio button on the bottom of the Clip Shelf window to have the audio choices displayed
  3. ITunes Library songs will be displayed > select one and click on Play to hear it. Pick one and drag it to the 1st Audio Track on your Timeline (Under your video clip at bottom)
  4. Click on the song then drag the playhead (triangle above timeline) to the spot where your video finishes > edit menu > Split Audio Clip at Playhead > Select the section of the song to delete > Edit menu > Cut
  5. On the selection bar at top, select Sound Effects > drag the one you want onto the 2nd Audio track on your Timeline > Follow above instructions to cut it.
  6. You can also record a voice over by clicking the Record Voice button and speaking into the mike (stop left corner of computer).  Click the Stop button to stop recording.

    voice record indicator
     

  7. You can drag the voice recording, the orange block below, or other sounds to the appropriate place in the movie:

dragging voice to appropiate clip location.

Part D:  Making a CD of your Movie

  1. Open the project in iMovie.
  2. File Menu > Export > Quicktime > CD quality

Part D:  Making a DVD of your Movie

  1. Open the project in iMovie
  2. File Menu > Export (Share) > QuickTime . Full DVD Quality
  3. The class's videos will be copied to external hard drive to bring to 1 computer -- Go to external hard drive > select all files > copy/paste to Mac (don't drag the files; sometimes only makes a shortcut rather than copying full file.
  4. Still in iMovie click on iDVD (below Clip Plane)
  5. Click on the clip > click on Add Chapter > change name of chapter on Chapter Markers are if desired
  6. File > Save
  7. Click on Create iDVD Project (Save 1st!)
  8. Click on Customize button > pick a theme (Map button shows all clips)
  9. Preview to see
  10. put a DVD-R in the drive > Click on Burn