Capturing Animation with DragonFrame

Object Pixillation

Mixed media forced perspective

Translucent materials on lightbox

Stop Motion-Puppet

Paper cut -out

Ink on glass over a lightbox

claymation camera pointing down

Pixillation using people

Traditional Puppet

sand on glass over a light box.

Workshop Descriptor
Mary Murphy/Gary Embury

 Technical  Area:
Animation for Illustration

 Technical Instructor:
Mary Murphy

Group:
Sign up group

Module
Illustration-various

 Location  
Illustration F Block studios

 Maximum Numbers: 
15

Times of workshop: 
9.30 AM -12.30 PM

Dates and Group information:
Wed 18/01/17 
 

    Technical Learning Objectives

• This workshop introduces the hardware, software and specialist studio furniture used when shooting basic sequences in an “under camera” animation process using the mad based "Dragonframe" software package. The focus of the workshop is in presenting the software package in the context of selecting basic camera settings (White balance, colour saturation, contrast etc). and the simple functions and tools needed to get started.
• Students are shown through demonstration how to set up the test camera, computer and   project in order to capture a basic animated sequence. A simple exercise in paper cut out is set where the students are encouraged to focus on framing the action, and selecting the correct preferences and camera settings to shoot and export 3 to 5 seconds of animation.​

Associated Module Outcomes 
Illustration/graphic level 1 and 2 - TBC
    
 Key processes/Technologies covered 

• Health and safety in the capture stations, and good studio practice.
• Setting up grip and camera for testing and shooting a 2D sequence
• Capturing and playing animation in Dragonframe 
• Shooting in ones, shooting in twos, edit function and export settings
• Toggle and onion skin.

Workshop Lecture notes and extra resources and information.

The image above shows the Dragonframe Interface being used to shoot simple animation.Click on the image to get to the Dragonframe website, where you can follow some tutorials and learn more about the advanced functions of the package. 

There are a number of versions available to purchase, ranging from a £40 version which can be used with a USB webcam to a £450 version which will connect to a high end Digital SLR camera. 
The less expensive set up will cost less than £100 for the software and camera, and is perfect for testing and training, as its simple to use, quick to set up and very stable. 
The Digital SLR set up is a little more complex, and a lot more expensive. The camera alone will set you back to the tune of £800, as you need to purchase specialised lenses, adaptors and mains connectors.
A much simpler and cost effective way to set up a testing station at home is to use your smartphone or tablet. Click on the image below for a guide on how to make a simple and robust testing station at home.
 

Stop Motion Pro is the PC equivalent  and is also an industry standard tool used to capture, sequence and export a series of images photographed by a camera to create animated sequences. It is used by leading animation studios such as Aardman Animations in the production of feature quality stop motion animation.

Stop Motion Pro has an excellent website, which will tell you everything you need to know about the different versions available, the types of camera that will work with the software, and the key features and capabilities of the program. The video tutorials are excellent, and give you a sense of how the program is used by studios and independent film makers.
Click on the Stop Motion Pro button on the right to have a look at the site.

The Bristol School of Animation uses Stop Motion Pro in all of the animation capture stations. At level 2 and 3 students will also have the option of learning Dragon-frame.As the Graphic Design and Illustration studios are Apple Mac based, Dragonframe is used in these studios. While you will have a basic introduction the software is not supported by the EPI centre, so you will need to commit to a disciplined independent learning period in order to use it confidently. The time for this is not the week before assessment. You will not be able to request specialist support from the animation technical staff outside of workshop time. 
The SMP software is used in the production of all traditional under camera processes, such as stop motion, sand on glass, paper cut out and pixillation. During your induction you will be making animated sequences using all of these techniques, so it is important that your first training session is in the use of the program. It is also a key part of your training when addressing the traditional 2D pipeline, as it is used to produce "Line tests" as part of the hand drawn cartooning process. There are also a number of advanced functions which make it an excellent tool for developing a knowledge and understanding across a range of key animation concerns, such as audio breakdown, action analysis, hybrid and composite approaches etc. 

Lecture Notes

Examples of Practice

Dragonframe Website

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