<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
	<title type="html"><![CDATA[Forums - Bricks in Motion - Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
	<link rel="self" href="http://bricksinmotion.com/forums/feed/atom/topic/6900/"/>
	<updated>2010-07-04T19:40:58Z</updated>
	<generator>PunBB</generator>
	<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/topic/6900/tips-for-people-using-a-digital-camera-and-not-a-webcam/</id>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150773/#p150773"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[[quote=BrickyBlog]But remember most digital cameras can be used with capture software. :)[/quote]
I mentioned it in other tips. Acknowledge that :D]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[ENghogBlocks]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1950/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-04T19:40:58Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150773/#p150773</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150753/#p150753"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[But remember most digital cameras can be used with capture software. :)]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[BrickyBlog]]></name>
				<email><![CDATA[bdbaus@brickyblog.com]]></email>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1882/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-04T18:51:10Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150753/#p150753</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150665/#p150665"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[[quote=BertL]Just remember that some digital cameras have a remote control.[/quote]
True my friend. I'll edit the topic and put some cams have remote controls.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[ENghogBlocks]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1950/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-04T15:17:40Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150665/#p150665</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150576/#p150576"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Just remember that some digital cameras have a remote control.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[BertL]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/194/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-04T02:24:05Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150576/#p150576</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150509/#p150509"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[[quote=FilipeJMonteiro]Pretty useful stuff you got here, nice work. Yeah, the timer feature is a fantastic tool because, every time you click the little button, the camera is, inevitably, going to lean itself, just a bit.

Kudos on everything else, dude.[/quote]
 Thanks Bro. Yeah the shutter button is a real pain.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[ENghogBlocks]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1950/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-03T22:49:10Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150509/#p150509</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150503/#p150503"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[Pretty useful stuff you got here, nice work. Yeah, the timer feature is a fantastic tool because, every time you click the little button, the camera is, inevitably, going to lean itself, just a bit.

Kudos on everything else, dude.]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[FilipeJMonteiro]]></name>
				<email><![CDATA[filipejrsmonteiro@gmail.com]]></email>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1871/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-03T22:36:35Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150503/#p150503</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Tips For People Using A Digital Camera and Not a Webcam]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150483/#p150483"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[[u][color=#002EB8]Tips For People Not Using WebCams :) [/color][/u]

   Not many people can afford or have access to recommended webcams such as Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 or 4000. Even though the following webcams and many others are suggested, some fellow brickfilmers can obtain these expensive devices. So non-webcam users probably use a digital camera or a video camcorder. A phone's camera application is out of the question. Anyways, digital cameras are being used as a subsitution for the webcams. I'll show you some tips for using digital cameras.

[u][color=#A3A3A3]Intro[/color][/u]

     I am one of those digital camera users. I use it because it was the only available thing i had which wouldn't cost me another dime. I previously purchased for a trip to Disney World. (It was every kids dream :yes:) It is a Sony CyberShot DSC-S750. First time I made a lego stop motion test with it. The Video was terrible. :mad:. So much flickering, the set was moving, the lighting kept changing, cameramoved to much, and I started to die :(. Until, I went on the internet and learned bad ass tips and learned a few tips by myself. My camera had too much auto settings on it. I couldn't put it on manual settings because it wasn't possible. All I could do was change the settings. That's all I had to do. Change the settings. My digital camera had default settings on there. So I tweaked the settings and had great results but the camera wasn't the only factor. The set, the lighting, and even the clothes you are wearing affected everything. So here are the tips I promised.

[color=#0000FF]Camera Settings[/color]


[color=#00CC00][b]-[/b]Auto Focus[/color]
     If you can have manual focus on your dig. cam, your all good, but most cameras have Auto Focus (AF). Don't be fooled by the word "auto"
next to the word focus. This auto focus can be, as you say, controlled :jaw:. Basically, on my camera, there is a menu butoon. I click on it and go to focus. So, Menu/Focus. The focus menu looks like a hand with a "F" on it. I personally say to put it on center focus because it focuses on the objects in the center and close to it. You could do blur effects either if the blurred object is in front or behind.

[color=#00CC00][b]-[/b]White Balance[/color]
      White Balance, in brickfilms, should stay constant at all times. Or else the frames will look totally different. Go to Menu/WB. There are presets to the white balance. Like cloudy, daylight, etc. Since in brickfilm sets you use lamps, I suggest using incandescent and fluorescent settings. Depends on what kind of light bulb your lamp is using. I use incandescent settings because my of my lamp.  These presets and a lamp with paper taped on the lamp. More on ligthing will be discussed by none other than [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5BaA-7a1R8/]xxxFancyPantsxxx Click Here[/url]

[color=#00CC00][b]-[/b]International Standards Organisation (ISO)[/color]
        ISO is a setting on your camera that is the standard measure of light sensitivity for your imaging medium. I don't know much about it, but when I tested the ISO by taking 2 pictures with high and low ISO of my lego set. The high ISO picture looked okay but grainy. When I took the next frame, it look different from the previous frame. So, I recommend to set your ISO to as low as possible. So, go to Menu/ISO and set it to 100. This will make the camera less sensitive towards light and better results for your shots.

[color=#00CC00][b]-[/b]Exposure Value (EV)[/color]
            Exposure Value is probably similar to ISO. But EV controls the measure of light intensity. It denotes all combinations of camera shutter speed and relative aperture that give the same exposure. I suggest to put it as low as possible. I don't know why, but when I set to as low as possible, the shots don't look to shiny and the minifigs were seen clear. I went to Menu/EV. Sometimes it shows a square with a plus and minus sign diagonal to each other with a line between them. I set it to as low as possible. Or maybe -2.0.

[color=#00CC00][b]-[/b]Macro[/color]
           Macro (symbolized as a flower) is a very useful tool in lego films with digital cameras. I believe the macro mode makes it able to take pictures of your minifigs close up. Good for showing your character talking. It just gives the realistic effect in brickfilms. Themacro mode is probably not located in your menu settings. There is usually a specific button for it. That's how important it is :yes: Make sure it is on atall times. Remember, it is a rose shaped flower.

[u][color=#0000CC][b]-[/b]Other Tips[/color][/u]

1. Use the settings above.
2. Tape down your set. Make sure it isn't movable. Use might putty (R.I.P Billy Mays :( ). Use gum or illegal material for all I care. Just keep that set still.
3. Use a tripod to firmly take still shots.
4. If have a remote control to take pictures without using the shutter button, use it. It reduces the movement of the camera and gives more still images. Also if your camera has that rare feature to act as a webcam, use it to connect to the computer and use MonkeyJam etc.
5. To make trusted, constant camera shots, I use the self-timer setting. I set it to the lessest time to be set or 2 seconds. I set the timer, move my minfigs, and take the picture. Makes sure not to move tripod, set, lamps, or drop your shadow in there to be funny. It's not. :mad:
After you take the picture, animate your minifig, then turn on the self-timer, and take a picture. And no funny business during the timer. Finally, repeat the process. Your frames will stay constant. *Results May Vary
6. Use no more than 3 lamps for lighting. Cover all with paper to reduce light flicker.
7. If you have a memory card on your camera, you can transfer it to the computer by USB or if you have a photosmart printer, insert it in a slot.

[u][color=#A3A3A3]Outro[/color][/u]

       Pretty much it. I shared all my tricks and tips to animate smoothly and efficiently. Hope your animations turn out great. DOn't forget to leave a comment on the bottom explaining your thoughts about the tips, questions, corrections, suggestions, or dumb things. (Heck, it's a forum.) Also a reminder. I'm in need of a voice actor for my new vid. [url=http://www.bricksinmotion.com/forums/topic/6856/need-voice-actor-to-play-head-quarters/]More Info Here[/url]]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[ENghogBlocks]]></name>
				<uri>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/user/1950/</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2010-07-03T21:45:49Z</updated>
			<id>https://bricksinmotion.com/forums/post/150483/#p150483</id>
		</entry>
</feed>
