Cinematography tools to check focus, set exposure, and make sure you get the perfect shot.

Animation tools for video assist, frame-grabbing, and editing.

The five workspaces of Dragonframe software provide these tools: Dragonframe has innovated in the world of stop motion software by pushing the functionality beyond frame grabbing to provide a full assortment of production tools. Using the live view of a supported digital camera, Dragonframe provides video assist tools for the animator, and is the central hub for capturing and organizing the high-resolution frames from your camera.ĭragonframe is an excellent frame-grabber, with tools such as step-to-live, onionskinning, auto-toggling, and drawing (virtual grease pencil). What Dragonframe Doesĭragonframe is the premier frame-grabbing software for stop motion animation and time-lapse photography. This meant that the animator could see a fairly accurate through-the-lens preview of their animation as they went. Since then, DSLRs have been used to capture most of the professional quality stop motion that you see, from feature films to music videos to broadcast television series and commercials.ĭragon 1.0 (the original release of Dragonframe) was released March 1, 2008, and was the first stop motion software package to support both the Canon 40D and the Nikon D90 DSLRs with live view. As long as it takes photos, you can create a stop motion video.In 2007, Canon and Nikon introduced DSLRs with live view. Something basic like the camera on your phone will do a good enough job to start with. The camera doesn’t need to be a top of the range device.

All you need is something to animate, a camera, and some stop motion video editing software.

If you’re making a stop motion video you don’t need a lot of tools, either. It’s a timeless style that works as well today as it did decades ago, whether you are creating a short film for fun or a feature-length movie to release in cinemas.

You can do this with characters, objects, food, candy - anything that’s inanimate can be made to move using stop motion animation. After a while, you can string all of the images together and create the impression of seamless movement.

Each time you take a photo, you move an object very slightly into a new position. Instead of using a video camera to create a continuous film, you use a stills camera to capture one image at a time. The basics of stop motion animation are very simple.

Learn stop motion animation online