Claymation is a popular project for classes. Students
enjoy story boarding and carefully constructing their characters
and scenery. Their active role in the conversion of still images
to actual animation has been somewhat limited due to the license
restrictions of the software.
Flash can be used as an alternative for this process. Since it
is licensed for use in all of our schools, students can use it
to create the animation without being restricted to one computer.
The instructions in this activity are for a movie that is 640
x 480. Therefore you must convert the images to this size and
place them all in one folder before beginning this activity.
Place all of the photos you have taken in one folder on your
computer.
Open a new document in Flash.
Change the dimensions of the Flash stage by clicking the Size
area of the Property Inspector below the stage. The size should
be the same as your photos i.e., 640 (width) x 480 (height).
Enter the desired width and height then click OK.
From the File menu choose Save and save your
claymation Flash movie.
From the File menu choose Import to
Library.
When the Import to Library window appears
choose the folder containing your claymation
photos.
When the list of the files appears, press
and hold the shift key on the keyboard. With the
shift key down use your mouse to choose the
first and last file in the collection. When all
of the files are highlighted click Open.
Choose Library from the Window menu or press
the F11 key.
The Library of all of your imported
claymation photos will appear. You can view the
photos click clicking on them once in the
Library window.
Now you will create a title screen for your
movie.
Choose the Text tool from the toolbox.
Choose the font, colour, size and alignment
for your title from the Property Inspector below
the stage.
With the text tool selected click and drag
your mouse to create a text box on the stage.
Release the mouse button when the text box is
the desired size.
Use the keyboard to enter the title. When
you have finished entering the title you can use
the arrow tool if you want to reposition or
resize the text box on the stage.
Click and choose frame 20 from the
timeline above the stage. Choose Blank Keyframe
from the Insert menu or press the F7 key.
Choose Layer from the Modify menu.
Enter "Title" as the name for the layer when the
Layer Properties window appears. Click OK.
Insert a new layer into the movie by
clicking the Insert Layer button in the bottom
left corner of the timeline or choose Layer from
the Insert menu.
Choose Layer from the Modify menu. Enter "Animation"
as the name for the layer when the Layer Properties window appears.
Click OK.
Click and choose frame 20 of the animation layer from the
timeline.
Choose Blank Keyframe from the Insert menu or press the F7
key. to create a blank keyframe for the first photo of your
claymation in frame 20 of the animation layer.
Click and drag the first photo from you library onto the middle
of the stage
Set the Alignment to To Stage, choose Modify --> Align
--> To Stage. Make sure there is a check mark next to To
Stage in the Align menu.
Choose Modify --> Align --> Center Vertical.
Choose Modify --> Align --> Center Horizontal.
Click and choose frame 25 of the animation layer from the
timeline.
Choose Blank Keyframe from the Insert menu or press the F7
key. to create a blank keyframe for the second photo of your
claymation in frame 25 of the animation layer.
Click and drag the second photo from you library onto the
middle of the stage
Choose Modify --> Align --> Center Vertical.
Choose Modify --> Align --> Center Horizontal.
Click and choose frame 30 of the animation layer from the
timeline.
Choose Blank Keyframe from the Insert menu or press the F7
key. to create a blank keyframe for third third photo of your
claymation in frame 30 of the animation layer.
Click and drag the third photo from you library onto the middle
of the stage
Choose Modify --> Align --> Center Vertical.
Choose Modify --> Align --> Center Horizontal.
Insert the remainder of the photos from the library in the
same manner making sure they are 5 frames apart.
Save your movie.
To see the movie choose Test Movie from the Control menu.
In order to use your movie you must export it.
Choose Export Movie from the File menu.
You have many options when exporting the movie. You can access
these options by clicking on Format at the bottom of the Export
Movie window.
If you want to place it on a webpage you can choose Flash
Movie. Name the movie and choose the location on your computer
where you want to save it. Click Save then click OK.
If you want to use it in HyperStudio, choose QuickTime Video.
When the QuickTime Movie options appear change the size if it
is not the same as the size you entered in the Property Inspector
of you Flash Movie. Then click OK.
Sound effects and credits are some of
the other features you can add when you are
creating the Flash claymation
