Make a ball go crazy in this tutorial that explores the concept of "replacements". Replacment is basically substituting models between frames. You can save a lot of time using this technique.
| Have a look at the video on the right. You can see a ball flying around like a crazy mad thing. This is achieved with only 5 substitute models, and filmed in minutes. |
|
|
To make something similar, set up a new project in Stop Motion Pro. Set the frame per second rate (fps) to 15. This means 15 pictures will be played every second. Now, get out the clay and make 5 round balls all the same size. |
 |
|
Deform 4 of the balls so they end up looking like this. The ball on the far left has been slightly squashed vertically, this will give you ball a bit of squash when it jumps around. Leave one of the balls round, this will be the "normal" position of the ball between movements. The remaining three balls should be made conical, this is the stretch to give your ball speed. |
 |
| Now, set up your shot in Stop Motion Pro. Use the round ball to start with, shoot a few frames of it stationary. Now, with the live image on view, adjust the onionskin slider on the Stop Motion Pro toolbar (in all editions) (see below). You can now see through the live video to the previous frame. Position the next replacement object, in this case the first elongated ball. |
|
 |
|
Capture a frame of the ball in the new position. The onionskin will automatically update. You can then position the next replacement ball shape. The image on the right shows one of the movements overlaying each other. You can see the relative positions of each of the substitute shapes. Note how the vertially squashed ball is used the frame before the "normal" ball. This helps give the ball an elastic effect. Watch the video above, the slowed down version shows when the different shapes were substituted. Go ahead and try your own timing, add extra shapes and slow the animation down. Stretch the balls even further and really make it shoot about. Tip: A few frames (5 -10) of the ball stationary will give your audience time to catch up! |
 |
| What to do next... |
|
|
Design a character that moves using subsitute figures, walking cycles are well suited to this way of animating with clay. Replacement heads are commonly used for dialog and expressions. Try it out. There is a strong history of replacement animation, check out this classic |
|