DeskLamps Are Essential
The world of "Gumby," "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "The Corpse Bride" have all come alive through stop-motion animation. The miniature figures are placed on a set where filmmakers take frame-by-frame shots for every moment in the story. Make your stop-motion film look more professional with lighting that removes shadows, offers clarity and allows adjustments as needed. Setting up a stop-motion lighting set is like a live movie set except on a smaller scale.
Instructions
1. Analyze the set for your stop-motion production. Where are your main camera angles going to be from? Draw an overhead diagram that includes the camera position and large props.
2. Set up the first clamp-on light as the key light to the left of the camera. The light should point down on the subject at a 45-degree angle. Move the lighting rig back to cover more of the set if needed.
3. Set up the second clamp-on light as the fill light on the right side of the camera. This light should be placed farther back than the camera's position. Look for it to remove shadows on the faces of characters or in props like trees and buildings. Keep the light level with the set or move it up higher if it is too bright.
4. Set up the third light as a backlight in the opposite direction of the fill light, adding more dimension to the lighting and making the character jump out. Adjust the level of the backlight so there is no glare or bright white spots on the set and characters.
5. Hang the fourth light as a background light over the back of the background. Point it directly down to illuminate the backdrop and background objects. Keep this light dimly lit or move it higher to provide less light.
6. Clip wax paper over the front of a light to provide a dim filter, decreasing the intensity of the lights. Use bulbs with lower wattage so they do not shine as bright.
