Browse the galleries on Animated Clay.com where Marc Spess generously shares his knowledge about Claymation. He describes the process as basic stop motion animation, saying that equipment is one of the crucial ingredients for animation.
A Web Resource for Learning about Claymation
He sets out this list with the minimum requirements for a simple animation project:
- a few lights
- a digital, still, web camera
- or 16mm camera to capture all the animation
- along with film
- a sturdy tripod suitable for the camera
- a projector is handy optional extra if available
Most schools these days have access to Webcams and free stop motion software such as Helium Frog or Anasazi ensure satisfying instant results. People at home may need to improvise.
Notes About Cameras for Stop Motion Animation
It is important that participans have access to a camera suitable to the task. A zoom lens and a reflex viewfinder are essential because participants in the project will be able to see through the lens on the camera to line up the animation.
It is also important that the camera has an auto exposure meter built in to save some money. If this is not available it is wise to buy a light meter to set the exposure on the camera manually. It is important that the camera also has single frame capabilities.
Materials Needed for Wire Armature Construction
There are other basic materials that will often be available around the school.
Over time develop a basic tool set:
- saws, screw drivers, wire cutters
- a drill, hammer and dry wall screws for puppets and sets
- expendables such as glues, epoxies, duct tape and clamps to hold materials together
- scrounge around for old tables to be used as work benches
Wire Armature Construction for Claymation
An armature is the skeleton underneath the clay, which supports the clay puppet you will build. The armature acts like a skeleton underneath the clay, which will allow the puppeteer to move the character in small increments for animation.
In the article Wire Armature Construction, Spess recommends:
- 1/16th inch aluminium armature wire
- 1/8 inch wooden dowel rods
- steel craft wire
- a scrap piece of wood
- two small wood screws
- a hot glue gun if you can get one
- a power drill
- a screwdriver
- a wire cutters
Spess describes how to create a puppet armature by twisting a spool of aluminium with a drill. He says this makes the wire twice as strong, and less likely to cause problems if one half the wire breaks during animation. After drawing the armature on paper, in the size of the character to be animated, the wire is bent into the shapes needed for the arms and legs. Usually it is made of two large "U" shaped pieces.
A Step by Step Guide to Creating Joints for Claymation Puppets
Once legs, the hip section, and a wire that runs from one hand, through the shoulders, to the other hand is joined together by a mid section, some sections which do not bend will need to be made so that arms and legs do not look like they are made from spaghetti. Think of the harder sections as joints. They can be fashioned from dowel wrapped onto the construction and tied with wire and hot glued for strength.
In his example, Spess spells out the method illustrated with images of the step by step process. In his images, plumbers epoxy putty has been used for the hard sections. If using this material, Spess recommends Apoxie Clay for hard areas as it is non toxic and has no harsh solvents.
The feet are cited as being the hardest part to create. They are often two loops for feet, which are then screwed to a block of wood. Another foot technique is to use thin aluminium blocks with holes, which have been drilled, to allow the armature wire ankles to be attached through a separate hole. He explains this process as a tie down. Although this process may sound daunting, Spess says it is about building up craftsmanship slowly. It can all be done with a few hand tools.
Dressing a Claymation Puppet with Clay
When applying clay to an armature:
- melt the clay onto the armature, adhere so that it will not fall off during animation
- this can be done with a torch, or double boiler to melt the clay
- once melted, drip it onto the armature until you have a thin coating of clay over every part of the armature
- wait for the clay to cool completely
- then apply your unmelted clay on top of this layer
Once this stage, which is sometimes frustrating for children, has been completed, the easier, more creative stage of sculpting begins.
- sculpt the inner parts of your character using scrap clay
- coat the outside of it with new clay
- use recycled clay for the inners and fresh clay for pure colours on the outer coat
Once an area is set up for animation and the equipment has been procured and mastered, what once seemed like a daunting task becomes manageable.
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