Clay Animation Frame Rates. A Frame is individual still image. rates are a measurement of time on how long each individual picture is shown before the next one is displayed. The two elements of frame and rates make up FPS (frames per second), which is how many individual frames are shown in one second of time. Fast change between images creates a smooth image. The length each image is displayed makes up the rate element. Slow change between images creates a jerky image. A large change between frame mages creates a jerky image. The visual change between each frame still image makes up the frames. A small change between frame images creates a smooth image 15 frames per second. Standards based on format used. Motion Picture Film 24 fps. Video NTSC 30 fps. Video Pal 25 fps. The correct Frame rate for a clay animation project depends on what quality is desired and how much time is available to the animator. If 30fps is the desired frame rate the animation motion will be smooth looking between frames but may take hours of time to animate 30 frames to view only one second of the project. If 5 fps is the desired frame rate the animation motion will not be smooth looking but it will not take that long to animate a character 5 frames to view one second of the project. What is normally used is a balance between the to extremes, which is 15fps second. 15fps is a balance between the time it takes to animate and smoothness of motion. If unsure what rate my be the best to use try testing out different frames rates by shooting a test second of animation before starting a project to see what may be the best rate to use for an individual project. Here are Examples of frame rates with small change between each image. The Frames are identical for this example. They are just displayed at the example rates. 1 fps, 15 fps, 30 fps. http://www.clayanimator.com