ArtDes 300: Animation for Broadcast
Fall 2008
Prof. Heidi Kumao

FRAME THIEF TIPS
16x9 format

How to shoot stop-motion using a video camera, your laptop with Frame Thief software, and a firewire cable.

1. Attach camera to laptop using firewire cable. Turn camera on to CAMERA MODE.
digital video
2. Open FrameThief software

Create a New Animation and create a folder for all the stills you are going to shoot. They will be automatically numbered: your_title001, your_title002, your_title003, etc.

 
3. In Frame Thief change some settings in the PREFERENCES:

frame thief preferences

 
4. Set the RESOLUTION preference for NTSC DV 16x9

 
5. Set the Resolution Presets to NTSC DV 16x9

 
6. Set the QUICKTIME VIDEO FEED to "DV Video" and the Feed Mode to "Record"

quicktime feed

 

7. To use a video camera as the main FEED: click on Video Source (see above) and go to SOURCE.
Change the source to your video camera.

If you want to use the built in camera in your laptop, don't change anything.

Now you're ready to shoot your animation frame by frame!

For more links and info please see my Web Resources page for Flipbooks, animations, video art, performances...
8. To export your movie file as 16x9: File>Export>Animation to Quicktime Movie. Click on EDIT to specify changes.

export1

 
9.Change the settings for the exported quicktime movie:
export 16x9

This should give you a movie with the proper aspect ratio.

For more links and info please see my Web Resources page for Flipbooks, animations, video art, performances...