Clay Cameras and Capture Devices. Process: Set up the shot with the camera and clay subject. Place the video camera into record mode, then put the camera into pause. Take the camera off of pause for an instant and then place the camera back on pause. Adjust the clay subject then again take the camera off of pause for an instant again and then place the camera back on pause. Continue this procedure over and over until all the needed shots are captured. When the video is played back the subject will be animated. Most video cameras once in pause mode will shut down after five minutes if they are not placed into the record mode again. This gives the animator about five minutes between each adjustment of the clay subject. Also record a few seconds of video before animating the subject so the camera can get up to the proper tape speed and record a start control track first. Benefits: Instant results - no need for developing. Can have a lower cost based on format used. Drawbacks: Poor Quality - Frames can get distorted due to the starting and stopping of the tape between each captured image. Depending on the camera the captured image between adjustments in the subject may vary in time length. Large number of formats with varying qualities and price, such as VHS, SVHS, Hi-8, Beta, Beta SP, Digital Beta, etc. Process: Plug the USB Camera into the USB port on the computer. Run the video capture software program that came with the camera or similar software capture program. Once hooked up correctly and running the video signal from the camera can now be seen on the computer screen. The clay subject can now be captured as digital images on the computer. Grab a still image of the clay subject, adjust the clay subject then grab another still image. Continue this procedure over and over until all the needed shots are captured. Save the captured sequence on the computers hard drive as a video file. Play back the video file of the now animated clay subject. Benefits: Very Low cost. Easy to hookup and use Drawbacks: Quality low if using USB 1.1 camera with USB 1.1 port on the computer. Use a USB 2.0 camera with a USB 2.0 capture port on the computer increase the quality of the image captured. USB cameras also have a limited number of features. Most USB cameras are missing such items as iris control and the ability to zoom in and out. Process: Take a digital still picture of the clay subject, adjust the clay subject then take another picture. Continue this procedure over and over until all the needed shots are captured. Transfer all the shots taken by the digital still camera to a computer. Then use an editor software package to place the shots in sequence, the subject is now animated Benefits: Can have low cost. Very Portable, subject can be animated anywhere. Drawbacks: Quality varies tremendously based on camera used. digital still picture cameras. Process: Hook up a video camera to the computer using a computer video capture device such as a PCI video capture card, or USB video adapter capture box. A video capture software program will also be needed. Once hooked up correctly and running, the video signal from the camera can now be seen on the computer screen. The clay subject can now be captured as digital images on the computer. Grab a still image of the clay subject, adjust the clay subject then grab another still image. Continue this procedure over and over until all the needed shots are captured. Save the captured sequence on the computers had drive as a video file. Play back the video file of the now animated clay subject. Benefits: Low cost, complete capture kits that include all needed items are sold bundled together. Drawbacks: Price and Quality vary. Can be complicated to hook up. hi-8 video camera 8mm video camera Computer with USB Camera method Usb webcam usb video camera Digital still camera with computer. Process: Set up the shot with the movie camera and clay subject. Shoot one frame of film of the clay subject, adjust the clay subject then take another shot. Continue this procedure over and over until all the needed shots are captured. The motion picture movie camera method started the clay animation process. It is still used today by major movie studios to make clay animated films. Benefits: Great Quality images Drawbacks: High price for film stock and high price for developing shot film. Time delay between developing shot material and being able to view it. Video camera method Video camera and computer method PCI video capture card USB video adapter capture box USB video adapter capture cable. There are several methods for capturing clay character images for animation. The main capture methods include Motion Picture movie camera, Video camera, Computer or Digital Still Camera. There can also be a combination of more than one capture method Motion picture movie camera method. http://www.clayanimator.com