Equipment and Setup for Paper Stop-motion Animation

What equipment should you use for paper stop-motion animation? What sort of lighting setup should you have? Are there special lenses you need for stop-motion animation? In my opinion, lighting is the priority. Here I'll share what I've been using for years with you all. Is it the nest setup out there? Heavens no! But it works for me, so hopefully you can get a few ideas on what you need if you're trying to build your own paper stop-motion setup.
👉 More animations from Paper Brain paperbrain.net
WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN PAPER STOP MOTION ANIMATION? I've made some videos to help get you started :
👉 How to animate a paper cut-out character • How to Animate a Paper...
👉 Some equipment suggestions for paper stop-motion animation • Equipment and Setup fo...
👉 More paper stop-motion tutorials • Paper Stop-Motion Tuto...
I've got some talented interns working with me now, so PLEASE go check out their work!!
Francesca Valuto / franimation_
Amanda Stockley / amandawithacameragram
Phoebe Rusch / evillstarr
Linh Phung / linhphung_animation
Grace Ogwo www.gracecogwo...
Isaac Fuentes / ikf_art
Kelsey Depenhart / kelseys_story
Claire Cohen / claireee_co
Ruth Berkowitz / moonjumper64
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Paper Brain is an animation production company located in the greater Houston, Texas area. We work with artists, networks, and companies across the USA to make commercials, educational content, and children’s programming. From hand-drawn to stop-motion animation, Paper Brain specializes in hand-crafted animation techniques. But we’re well-versed in digital media as well, often combining motion graphics, rotoscoping, and videography to create a seamless collages of different styles that share both the authenticity of hand-crafted animation with the infinite possibilities of cutting-edge digital technologies. www.paperbrain...
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[@paperchunk]

Thank you so much for this! This helps out amateurs like myself immensely. 👍🙏🏻🔥

[@PaperBrain]

Glad you found it helpful @paperchunk. Thanks for suggesting the video idea!

[@RossOzarka]

I use a photography copy stand I bought from a photo store, attached to a DSLR slider to I can easily reposition the camera, or do tracking shots (I mostly do live action with my puppets). I also put polarizing gels on my lights and a polarizing filter on my lens... if you twist the filter you can completely cut out the reflections on the glass, or on shiny things you're animating. I started using a light table with a green or blue gel on it for my chroma keying, no cast shadows, it gives a bit of light wrap though so it's only useful in certain situations. Keying paper puppets is really easy, when I'm using green paper I don't even bother to light the greenscreen. I also just bought a robotic arm to do my animation for me!

[@PaperBrain]

That sounds like a rad setup! I’ve got a light table that I use for product shots, but I’ve never used a green gel for chroma keying. I thought about trying that, but couldn’t find the right color green gel to cover it. Would love to know where you get yours!

Nice setup! In order to avoid optical distortion I use a macro 50mm lens, e.g. the classic nikkor 55mm 2.8 micro. Macro lenses are "flat field", they are suitable for capturing two-dimensional surfaces like paintings and copy stuff in Repro Photography.

[@PaperBrain]

That’s a great tip to avoid distortion! If I go lens shopping again I’ll consider this!!

[@sophiemoconnell]

Here's a challenge for you... can you do it with a phone?

[@PaperBrain]

You can cook with a phone! The record player and TV stop-motions on my demo reel were done with an old-ass iPhone! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6aoXp6npNF6nLs