Software's Ready!
I've wanted to have a way for people to easily make their own animation cards. I'm still hoping for an iPhone app--scheduled for release in the next 4 weeks--but I also wanted you to be able to work with photos from digital cameras or other kinds of phones. Now through the extraordinary skills of Maria Ermolaeva from caricaturesoft.com we have the software and its ready for you to use. Its available NOW for FREE as an online tool and will work with any browser that can use Flash.
Just go to: www.leafpdx.com/animator
The trick to Two Foto Animation is to have a believable gap between the movement in the two frames, for instance, someone waving or doing jumping jacks. It's great if the motion can be repetitive and starts and stops in the same place. Maria's software lets you modify 2 photos so they will fit the frame we provide. You can enlarge or reduce your pictures, add text and crop as you focus in on the action.
Rufus Butler Seder of eyethinkinc.com fame came to visit on Friday. Rufus is a friend who's brilliant at inventing animated toys. He took one look at my make-your-own card and instantly came up with a better solution. He suggested a two sided picture frame. Now you can print your photos; trim them with a scissors and slide them into the frame. Between Maria and Rufus it all adds up to a fantastic and easy way to make your own Two Foto Animations. Thanks too both of them and to everyone who's contribution has helped bring this project to life.
Best
Joe
ps Here's a step-by-step how to guide.
Thanks to Ella and of course Ed who took the photos for the movie below.
75
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Funding period
Apr 30, 2012 -
May 30, 2012
(30 days)
- 2 created · 4 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: leafpdx.com
Pledge $5 or more
2 backers
Our undying thanks and we'll send you our thaumatrope card for spinning in your hand featuring two thaumatropes: the soup lady and George Bush. Warning: this was produced in 2002 and is vaguely political. Shipping included to US and the world.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $25 or more
6 backers
The complete set of 12 optical tops. These tops and the spindles are printed on heavy coated cardstock. Fantastic designs from the last 200 years are featured as well as new designs that we've created. You can even make your own designs on the blank backs. Extra spindles are provided. Shipping to the US is included. (Canada please add $5; other countries please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $60 or more
41 backers
The wooden Animator toy as shown in the video. Built from cherry and walnut hardwoods with brass fittings, finished with organic flaxseed oil, includes 3 printed sample cards and 7 blank cards for you to make your own great movies. Includes shipping to the US. (Canada please add $5; other countries please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $140 or more
17 backers Limited (3 of 20 left)
Optical toy package: a Retroscope (a 36 flip movie viewer of a toy dinosaur crossing Times Square in NYC (as featured in the video) plus all the previous rewards. Includes shipping to the US. (Canada please add $15; other countries please add $25.)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
Comments
Creator Christopher Lowther on May 14, 2012
Hats off to both of you. What a wonderful optical toy. Love it.
Creator Helen Hiebert on May 14, 2012
Joe, how cool! I love getting these updates and reading your inspiring stories about how it is all coming together! And thanks for mentioning me in a previous update...