After producing Stop MotionMaker, we had numerous requests for still more advanced functions, which would make the life of an animator just that bit easier. We have also changed the image file naming convention which is now ‘leading zero’ based to make it compatible with other software. This and the other new functions has required a complete rewrite of the application with no module untouched. The following is a quick explanation of some of the new features of Stop MotionMaker Advance. 

Recommended System Requirements

• Microsoft Windows XP and Vista  
• Mirosoft DirectX 8.0 or later
• 512 Mb of RAM /  Recommend 1 Gb if using large digital still images
• Compatible USB Webcam or IEEE 1394 (firewire) camera, or television camera and interface (analog capture card).  Recommend that a analog-to-digital (firewire) converter be used with the newer mini DV cameras that do not have a firewire video port.

The system can also be used without a video camera if required.

• For some Digital Still Camera (DSC) functions, a DSC that can export directly to a computers hard-drive
• P4 2.8G  or equivalent CPU

For your information: 360 full 720x576 jpg frames can occupy approximately 36Mb of Hard drive space in Stop MotionMaker Advance V1.84 .  For large projects it is recommended that an avi is generated at each 1000 frames and later merged in your choice of video editor (Windows XP ‘Movie maker’ works OK).

Stop MotionMaker Advance TRIAL cannot save and has other limitations from the full version.

EXTRA EXTRA  FEATURES

Stop MotionMaker Advance has all the features of   plus the following:                                           

STOP MOTION SPECIFIC CHROMAKEY SYSTEM

Note: To keep computer memory requirements realistic for the majority of users the system will reduce larger imported images to a maximum size of 2000 x 1100 for use within both the main and still image windows of the application. A larger capacity still image window 3456 x 2304 version can be produced upon request.

Can be used on video or large digital still images and the V1.83 version now has advance features to remove edge colour spill, feather and merge the chromakey edge plus other tools to give the professional look, which can costs thousands of dollars on other similar capability software.

The Images below were created with a digital still camera (Canon S2IS) and it’s free remote camera software (Canon Software used only to remotely Trigger the Digital Still Camera) and a USB webcam (logitec 4000 webcam).

Stop MotionMaker Advance can be used with any digital still camera, but the system works best with digital still cameras that can be remotely controlled to trigger the capture of an image and the uploading of that image to a directory onto a computer (most of the better Nikon and Canon Cameras are capable of this).  Stop MotionMaker Advance can then monitor that directory and when it detects the arrival of a frame, import the image automatically into the application and trigger the video frame capture from the Video Assist camera (normally a USB webcam) if also required.  The advantage of this system is that it is not reliant on the forever changing software development (SDK) requirements of new cameras.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE  V2.4.

• A new digital Pan/Zoom and crop image function that allows the user to ‘move’ around a large image or to crop a group of images taken with a high definition still camera. See the tutorial page for more information.

Letter Box function

• New to version 1.93 of Stop MotionMaker Advance is a ‘Letter Box’ function that can be used to make ‘Wide Screen’ type movies or to match a wide screen background as shown in the image below.  The image below demonstrates this by chromakeing a live image over a pre-recorded wide screen video background.  This would normally take alot of time in  post image processing.

Main image chromakey adjustment function. This enables the live video or captured image to be reduced and moved within the Chromakey image.

See the chromakey tutorials for video and Digital Still Camera (DSC) use, for more information.

See the tutorial page for more information on these features.

FRAME LUMINANCE AVERAGING

A function that was designed to reduce the image ‘flicker’ sometimes produced when taking frames with a Digital Still Images camera.   It basically first maps the average luminance of all current frames, tracking changes from frame to frame.  It then averages the frames as defined and maps a predicted track using a special algorithm.  When ‘Modify Frames’ is selected, it follows the predicted averaged track line and changes each frame to suit (see screen shot below were the red,green and blue lines are the raw frames and the white, yellow and purple lines are the predicted new luminance track ).   This function will not fix isolated luminance problems within a frame although this may be done in the upgraded ‘Re-touch’ tool by defining the area with a polygon and changing that area’s brightness.

Example - Before flicker reduction movie clip  Play

Example - After flicker reduction movie clip Play

NEW SOUND WINDOW WITH IMAGE OVERLAY TOOLS

New Sound Window with excellent sound synchronising functions where the sound can be played passed the current frame, so that it can be matched by ear if required and image overlays for replacement mouths and eye blink etc. The images can be captured or created from the main screen and then simply dragged and dropped into position when required.   The images are stored and can be used as often as needed. All editing is non distructive untill saved.

BATCHED CHROMAKEY FRAME PRODUCTION

This was one of the most asked for functions and can now be found in the ‘ChromaKey Background Window’.  The  task of compositing (chromakeying) and saving every captured frame in post production can be a painstaking process and is akin to taking every frame again. We agree and as we are using computers, once set up, why not ask them to do this repetitive task.  Obviously you would only batch a group of images that had the same chromakey setup and as can be seen below  this can be defined and processed in sections if required.

NEW DRIVE MONITOR FUNCTION

There is nothing worse than running out of hard drive space half way through a shoot, which can cause all sorts of problems with any application. The SMM Advance drive monitor continually monitors the selected drive, so that this problem can be solved before it turns into a disaster.

LOOP TO LIVE

We also had many requests for this function, but there were also animators that did not want it.   It is now a selectable option in the Video Source Setup Window (Select ‘Video Mode’). The time the live image is displayed while looping is also adjustable to the nearest millisecond. This function can be left running while animating and capturing video frames. 

NEW POLYGON AREA FUNCTIONS IN RE-TOUCH

The new polygon region defining tool in the Re-touch window gives more scope for image editing effects. (See screen shots below). It is also possible to fix some isolated brightness problems with this tool.

Untouched

Polygon area defined and brightness adjusted for demo effect only.

Polygon area defined and Horizontal blur applied for demo effect only.

The polygon area can either be defined free hand, or selected points as shown below.

NEW IMAGE ‘MERGE’ TOOL IN RE-TOUCH

This function will mix the shown and a selected image to be overlayed at an adjustable amount. It can be used for fading or ‘Matrix’ style motion blur effects.

VIEW CONTROLS

This window enables the program to be used by different levels of students in a teaching or home environment.  Therefore the one application can be used by students with different levels of proficiency in animation.   The window would normally be set by the teacher or parent. The settings are saved at program shutdown.

LIVE LUMINANCE METER

When selected, it displays the average luminancy of each displayed frame.  Handy for checking the lighting of a scene, especially when a break in shooting is taken. The last frame taken can be checked with the current live setup.

PAPER MODE

When a video camera is not connected, a simple ‘Paper’ mode can be selected to draw ‘flip’ images which can then be saved as a movie.  Onion skin and limited editing is available.   The last image can also be added to, so only the part to be changed/moved is required to be redrawn.

ADJUSTABLE BACKGROUND CHROMAKEY

This is similar to what is found in SMM, but now you can adjust the area that is effected by the key.  This is very handy if you have an area which is adversely effected by the key effect (see screenshot below).

FOREGROUND CHROMAKEY

This function enables a ‘matted’ image to be overlayed on a saved image. This image can also be reduced in size and moved within the image window.  As with all these functions, the changes are non-destructed until saved.

SIMPLE LIGHT SABER/LASER OVERLAY

This tool can be used to add simple light saber or laser effects to your images. (See the example screen shot below)

ADVANCE TIMELAPSE

More time-lapse controls than Stop MotionMaker, so that areas of the day can be disabled.  This can be used to shut down the timelapse through the night when it may not be desirable to take images.

RE-TOUCH TOOL

Can be used to draw and define areas to be changed in brightness or blurred. (Shown below is a screen shot of a shadow and some writing which has been added to an image).

ZOOM TOOL

This tool can be used to ‘zoom’ into any area in the computers window to help in image editing.

INTERESTED??????     Go to the trial page and download a copy which has a few limitations on the full version.