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From the very e Work-Shop
Metalwork / Armatures | Puppet Creation | Models & Miniatures | Animation | Filming / Capturing | Special Effects One way to make wire armatures, by Joshua Mosley : Building Armatures for Clay Animation Nick Hilligoss' Simple Wire Armature tutorial Try these Loc-Line armatures that you can modify (add feet, hands, head) .... create a maniken & animate just the bare armature to just practice animation: Loc-Line Doll Armatures Rex Armarture using balsa Wood & hardware store items, by Douglas Borton: Hinge Jointed Armatures Poor Man's Armature using pliers, wires, tubing, washers, etc. / Reprint from SMA.com Closeup images of basic ball & socket joints, by LIO : Armature Anatomy 101 A simpler method for basic Ball & Socket Armatures, by LIO : "Open Hole" Double Ball Joint Description & photos shows construction of stop motion animation puppet armature joints using common tools and basic metalworking methods: Armature making using Brass Metal Email discussion group about all sorts methods in working metal: Google Groups/Metalworking Email discussion group specifically about Table Top combo Mill-Drill machines: Yahoo Groups/Mill-Drill MIT : "Introduction to Machine Tools" Links page: The Home Workshop An overview of the general methods of Brazing (high-heat soldering): The Brazing Book, by Handy & Harman About jewelry/art metal techniques (especially brazing or soldering methods) in which some methods might be used in armature fabrication : The Art Metal Resource To Metalworking A good resource website with many links to other metalworking related sites: Metal Web News ___________________________________ Puppet Creation Making puppets overview (No photos) by Shelley Smith & Neil Hughes: Stop Motion Puppet Construction.Doc Download Word Document More detailed description of puppet making. Almost no pictures and may be difficult for beginner to understand. I think this was supplement to hands-on course Puppet Model Making.PDF Soft Sculpting Puppet Build-up Fabrication by LIO Simple beginners puppet build-up .... Dinos .... by Kenneth Brilliant: Dinosaurs: from the Inside-Out Creating Classic Stop-motion Monster: Build-up puppet method and here The Lone Animator Stop Motion brother, "down under" (Australia)....one way to make Wire Armatures and overview of foam rubber latex casting, feet tie-downs, and more : Nick Hilligoss: Puppet Man from OZ From The Art of Stop Motion Animation by Ken A. Priebe: Sample, Chapter 7: Building Puppets Sagecraft's very comprehensive online resource site: The Puppetry Home Page Fantasy modeling sculpting forum, methods & tips adaptable to Stop Mo puppets : Shiflett Brothers Board Forum about sculpting miniatures ... get ideas for stop-mo puppet fabrication: Yahoo / 1List-Sculpting Polymer Clay, sculptable then bakes hard ... many Stop Mo uses. Look up yourself : Polymer Clay Search Comprehensive resources relating to general sculpting field: Sculptor.org Overview of basic steps in making Gypsum mold, by LIO : Moldmaking Pics of a Dino UltraCal 30, the most often used high density plaster used for moldmaking, for foam latex casting, mask making, etc. ....find a distributor near you : Gypsum Solutions Overview description of handling Gypsums: Mixing instructions, consistency & setting times, by Laguna Clay Plaster molding basics, Ultra-Cal Gypsum best for molding stop mo clay sculpts: Art of Ceramic Mold Making Affordable ... hour video tutorial showing basics: Do it Yourself ! Foam Latex Puppet Making 101 Overview of Stop Motion Puppet fabrication by Tom Brierton : At Last, Foam Fabrication Puppet Explained Details & procedures about foam Latex by Tom Mclaughlin: Foam Latex for Puppets A few ways to fill mold, DIY Injection & Poor Man's Injection syringe: Foam Latex Injection Gun How-To section by the Smooth-On company : Liquid Rubbers & Plastics for Artists & Industry General information about mold making. Does not directly relate to Stop Motion puppet fabrication....shows basic principles : How to Guide (rubber molds) by, Sunbelt Materials Look as this book ... maybe some good plaster-type molding tips: Mold Making for the Original Doll ___________________________________ Some brief articles about about making props(also how to vacuform) : How-to Costume & Prop Building Canadian published mag about building props, some articles online & back issues available: Proptology Magazine Fantasy architecture, making castles, buildings, etc.: Hirst Arts Forum about some molding, castingas related to making models, miniatures, etc.: Yahoo Group Forum....Casting Resource site for scale models, miniatures, forums, suppliers, etc. www.scalemodel.net Creating miniature sets .... foam cutting & carving tools that will help: Hot Wire Foam Factory also Gallery Forum about casting and molding as related to making models, miniatures, etc. that could be applicable to stop motion: Yahoo Group Forum....Casting ___________________________________ Mostly covering "Drawn 2D" animation but general principles also applicable to Stop Motion: Stop Motion Timing Log Sheets downloads: Stop Mo GenericPDF- Stop Mo 30-FpsPDF - Excel frame numbered version Not much on the internet yet (that I could find) about Realistic-type animation (or even books)....some of it is technical, dry, and of a scientific nature and not in a language that could be useful to animators....I would recommend you study wildlife & nature videos (read my article below) and start recording / taping these shows for your motion reference library: A "trick" to help me with Animation, by L. Ivan Orozco: Studying Motion A most unique Clay Animation method, by L. Ivan Orozco: Strata-Cut Site just focusing on 4 legged animal walk: Horse/Dog Locomotion May be of interest....robotics simulating snake locomotion: Snake Robots A RICH resource/gallery website of small free video clips for animation reference & study: BBC Motion Gallery ___________________________________ Analog video cams Digital video cams, webcams, software How do I Record-Film Stop Motion? The most frequent questions I get is about what or how to record / film the stop motion .... here is a detailed description that might help your research or decision: StopMo Software & Tools Some want to use Digital Still Cams for Stop Mo ... some info here: Digital Still Cam Overview The Obi-Wan Kenobi of general How-to Film & Video work : RonDexter.com Overview & info....Motion Picture & Video basics about production: Guide Book for Guerrilla Filmmakers Digital-filmmakers resource site & some how-to & tips : 2-POP.COM Guide to making high-quality low-res movies : Digital Flicks Do-it-your screw control rig if you want to do moving camera animated scenes : Stop Motion Camera Dolly Super 8mm Movie Film Format: FilmShooting.com - ON SUPER 8MM - The 8mm Film Metadirectory ________________________________ If you are doing Stop Motion you may need other kinds of special effects, resources, inspiration or This is almost a Cinefex Magazine online but this is free: FX Guide Email group discussion on general special FX ... a bit disjointed but some info: Google Groups/Visual Effects Fabrication method, tips & ideas adaptable to Stop Motion: The FX Lab & The Monster Lab (archives only) PropBuild camera stabilizers, dollies, camera booms & other items: Homemade Camera & FX Gear Special Effects and Props : Halloween Online Links to special effects studios, suppliers, etc.: Chimera Studios
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ON-EXISTENT. There are informational resources about Cel / Drawn animation and in just a few short years, the bookstores and libraries are overflowing with books & instructions about computer-digital animation & special effects. The internet search engines have many Stop Motion listings, but most of them seem to be about nostalgia & history (which we should should know about) and a few studios, individuals, or hobbyists that do some Stop Motion. I do not know of any schools (private or public) or colleges that teaches in-depth about Stop Motion but you can easily find an incredible abundance of trade schools & colleges pumping-out a plethora of computer trained students. You should also know that there Does Not exist any Stop Motion "Industry or Organizations". It seems to me, that Stop Motion Animation might be a very helpful foundational skill that might be included in a 3-D computer animation curriculum.
arly Stop Motion Animation beginnings, it is still basically, an Individual & Self-taught Craft, and if you are really lucky, one might have the rare chance to w
ork on a Stop Motion project (& learn from experienced artists). Because Stop Motion involves so many skills and disciplines, it is understandable why very few pursue this avocation. You must be very dedicated and somewhat fanatical about Stop Motion in order to endure the effort and sweat. This is the "Creative" process that many traditional artists / craftspeople Enjoy; that tactile hand-to-mind connection which is like nutrition & exercise for the human brain cells. You must be very self-motivated and be curious and willing to do experimentation with materials & techniques and then, make mistakes; this is how you really learn. As I often say, "WARNING, only for Hard Core Stop-Motionists".
will focus mostly on free technical information available online (the internet). As I stated 
elsewhere, Stop Motion encompasses many crafts, methods & materiaIs and one must adapt-modify and apply them to Stop Motion. I DO NOT claim to be an expert in all areas, however, I will attempt to write some technical articles that may possibly help Stop Motionists. Whatever you find here will hopefully spark your own curiousity and then, YOU can take the initiative to do further investigation & research. Not everything is free and if you want more in-depth reference information please visit 
