Technique Page - Animation/Video

Definition: A simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures, or frames.
How do you do it?
Part of my transition work from AS to A2 saw me experimenting with a technique called animation. The technique involves placing together some images and making them 'move'. Either a sequence of images can be used *see previous blog post* or the same image can be repeated with different adjustments on each layer. Here's how it was done:

STEP1 (After formatting the camera): Photograph your subject for the animation. Either photograph a sequence (previous blog post) or photograph one image which you will repeat within the animation.
STEP2: Download the photos to your computer and open Photoshop.
STEP5: Open the (first) image in Photoshop and apply any adjustments like any other normal photo. It's a good idea to make note of the exact numbers/options you use so you can apply the same thing to all the photos in the sequence to keep the quality consistent.
STEP6: Go to Window > Animation/Timeline to begin making the animation!
STEP7: Add a New Frame and layer either the next image or the same image over the first one. Make sure you open the image separately first to make the adjustments beforehand.If using the same images, change the adjustments so you can see a real contrast between the different layers, i.e. one layer b+w the other in colour.
STEP8: Repeat STEP7 to insert each of the other images into the animation.
STEP9: Toggle each layer so that only the image that you want in each frame is visible in the layers palette.
STEP10: Adjust animation-specific settings such as the timing and length of the animation. If making an animation with the same image throughout, using the TWEEN option will make the transition from one layer to the other smoother as the layers dissolve into each other. SAVE as a GIF!


For a video:

• Using similar techniques in video editing software such as iMovie, you will make the moving image or video, but instead export it as a video file such as mp4. Upload the video to YouTube to enable internet sharing. To shoot as an actual movie, you need to change the mode on the camera to 'video' and release the shutter in between filming separate clips.

What does it look like?

Using camerawork skills to film a sequence of events and using iMovie to add suitable music and effects.