Animating Flipbooks Under a MICROSCOPE πŸ”¬

Andymation
2 Mar 202414:42
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this creative endeavor, the artist pushes the boundaries of miniaturization by attempting to craft an even smaller flip book than their previous record. They face challenges such as the difficulty of drawing at a tiny scale and capturing high-resolution stop motion footage. After extensive research, they find a microscope lens that attaches to a mirrorless camera, which is perfect for their needs. Using a Fujifilm GFX 100S with a medium-format sensor, they successfully animate a tiny hot dog-eating character. Despite some imperfections and frustrations, the artist embraces the wobbliness, viewing it as a personal challenge and a testament to the limits of their craft.

Takeaways
  • 🎨 The creator is attempting to make a flip book smaller than any they've made before, aiming to be a third of the size of their previous smallest one.
  • πŸ” The new flip book's dimensions are intended to be roughly 12 mm x 5.6 mm, which presents significant challenges for drawing and viewing.
  • πŸ–ŒοΈ The artist faces questions about their ability to draw well at such a small scale and whether they can flip through the tiny flip book effectively.
  • πŸ’» A microscope is used for animation, and the creator encounters issues with connecting a camera to the eyepiece for high-resolution capture.
  • πŸ”¬ After researching microscopes and lens adapters, the creator finds a lens set from Lawa that attaches directly to a mirrorless camera, offering a magnification range of 10 to 50 times.
  • πŸ“· The Fujifilm gfx 100s camera with a medium-format sensor is chosen for its larger sensor, allowing for a more comfortable viewing area while working on the tiny flip book.
  • βœ‚οΈ The paper for the flip book is cut larger initially and then trimmed down after animation with an X-Acto blade.
  • πŸŽ₯ Onion skinning is enabled in the capture software, allowing the artist to see through to previous images, which is helpful but also shows the wobbliness of the lines.
  • πŸ˜… The artist acknowledges the difficulty of drawing straight lines at such a small scale and embraces the imperfections as part of the challenge.
  • πŸ”— Gluing the flip book pages together proves to be a tricky process, with initial attempts resulting in pages being out of order.
  • πŸ‘ Despite the challenges and frustrations, the artist completes the tiny flip book as a homage to their childhood and their first flip book creation.
Q & A
  • What was the initial size of the flip book the speaker had made before this attempt?

    -The initial size of the flip book was 12 mm x 5.6 mm.

  • What is the speaker's goal in terms of the size of the new flip book they are attempting to create?

    -The speaker aims to create a flip book that is about a third of the size of their previous one, making it significantly smaller and more challenging to draw.

  • What challenges does the speaker anticipate when drawing the new flip book at a smaller scale?

    -The speaker anticipates challenges such as difficulty in drawing well at such a small scale and the practicality of flipping through the tiny flip book.

  • How does the speaker plan to capture a high-resolution stop motion version of the flip book as they draw?

    -The speaker plans to connect their camera to the eyepiece of a microscope to capture the high-resolution stop motion version.

  • What was the issue with the first microscope the speaker tried to use?

    -The issue was that due to the way the light is split between the eyepieces, it wouldn't give perfect focus across the entire field of view.

  • What type of lens set did the speaker discover that met their requirements?

    -The speaker discovered a microscope lens set from Lawa that attaches directly to a mirrorless camera, with an image magnification range of 10 times to 50 times.

  • Why did the speaker choose the Fujifilm gfx 100s camera?

    -The speaker chose the Fujifilm gfx 100s because it has a medium-format sensor, which is larger and allows for a more comfortable viewing area for creating the tiny flip book.

  • How does the speaker plan to deal with the difficulty of drawing straight lines at such a small scale?

    -The speaker plans to be very light with their pencil and not put much weight on it at all, accepting some imperfections in the lines due to the scale of the drawing.

  • What is the animation theme of the new tiny flip book the speaker is creating?

    -The animation theme is a homage to the speaker's childhood flip book, featuring a little guy eating a hot dog and then belching flames.

  • What problem occurred when the speaker tried to glue the flip book pages together?

    -The problem was that some of the pages got glued out of order, so the speaker had to cut off the glued end, restack, and reglue the pages.

  • How does the speaker overcome the challenge of the tiny size of the flip book when flipping through it?

    -The speaker uses steel weights called bench blocks to create a 90Β° corner to support the tiny pages as they are stacked up delicately.

Outlines
00:00
🎨 Challenging Miniature Flip Book Creation

The creator discusses their ambition to break their own record by making an even smaller flip book than their previous 12 mm x 5.6 mm one. They plan to animate under a microscope and face challenges such as the difficulty of drawing at such a small scale and capturing high-resolution stop motion footage. After researching microscopes and lens adapters, they find a solution with a lens set from Lawa that attaches directly to a mirrorless camera, offering a magnification range of 10 times to 50 times. They also decide on a new camera, the Fujifilm gfx 100s, with a medium-format sensor for better visibility while creating the tiny flip book.

05:02
πŸ–ŒοΈ The Art of Drawing at a Micro Scale

The artist delves into the intricacies of drawing at a micro scale, expressing their appreciation for the imperfections and wobbliness that come with the challenge. They describe the process of getting used to drawing with a pen at an awkward angle and the difficulty of maintaining precision. The artist uses onion skinning in their capture software to see through to previous images, aiding in the animation process. Despite the struggle to draw straight lines, they persist, inspired by their great grandfather's advice on the importance of starting and ending well.

10:09
πŸ“š Gluing and Finalizing the Mini Flip Books

The creator faces a frustrating experience while gluing the pages of the flip book together, as they find the pages difficult to align perfectly. They attempt to use Elmer's Glue, but it leads to a mistake in the page order. Switching to super glue, they successfully bind the pages, albeit with caution. The artist then trims the excess paper to make the flip book even smaller. They also mention creating an even smaller flip book with a simpler animation, reflecting on the difficulty of the task and the need to accept imperfections in their work.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘flip book
A flip book is a small booklet with a series of illustrations or animations that, when flipped through rapidly, create the illusion of motion. In the video, the creator is attempting to make an extremely small flip book, pushing the limits of their artistic skills and the capabilities of their equipment.
πŸ’‘microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small to be visible to the naked eye. In the context of the video, the creator uses a microscope to animate at a very small scale, which is crucial for making their miniature flip book.
πŸ’‘perfectionist
A perfectionist is someone who strives for the highest possible quality and is not satisfied with anything less than the best. In the video, the creator identifies as a perfectionist, which drives them to seek the best possible equipment and results in their flip book creation.
πŸ’‘Lens adapter
A lens adapter is a device that allows a camera lens to be attached to a camera body that it was not originally designed for. In the video, the creator researches microscopes and lens adapters to find a solution that enables them to connect their camera to the microscope for high-resolution capture.
πŸ’‘medium-format sensor
A medium-format sensor refers to a type of image sensor found in cameras that is larger than the typical full-frame or APS-C sensors. This larger size allows for higher resolution and better image quality. In the video, the creator chooses a camera with a medium-format sensor to accommodate the small scale of their flip book animation.
πŸ’‘onion skinning
Onion skinning is a feature in animation software that allows you to see multiple layers or frames at once, giving a sense of motion and helping with the continuity of drawings. In the video, the creator uses onion skinning to assist in drawingθΏžθ΄―ηš„ animations for their flip book.
πŸ’‘X-Acto blade
An X-Acto blade is a type of precision cutting tool used for various cutting tasks, often in crafting or model making. In the video, the creator plans to use an X-Acto blade to trim down the flip book to its final, smaller size after completing the animation.
πŸ’‘bench blocks
Bench blocks, also known as steel weights, are used as supports or clamps in various crafting and woodworking applications. In the video, the creator uses bench blocks to hold the pages of the flip book in place while gluing them together.
πŸ’‘Elmer's Glue
Elmer's Glue is a well-known brand of adhesive products, often used in crafting and DIY projects. In the video, the creator uses Elmer's Glue to bind the pages of the flip book together, allowing for the creation of a cohesive and functional booklet.
πŸ’‘pencil monster
The pencil monster is a character or motif mentioned in the video, likely a reference to a personal or nostalgic element from the creator's past. It serves as a creative inspiration for the flip book's content, symbolizing the personal touch and individuality the creator brings to their work.
πŸ’‘challenge
In the context of the video, a challenge refers to the creator's pursuit to push their skills and equipment to the limit by making an incredibly small flip book. It represents the drive to overcome obstacles and achieve a difficult goal.
Highlights

The creator is attempting to make the smallest flip book ever, breaking their own record.

The previous smallest flip book was 12 mm x 5.6 mm, and the new one aims to be a third of that size.

The challenge involves drawing at a much smaller scale and potentially flipping through the tiny flip book.

The creator faces initial problems with drawing on a small platform and capturing high-resolution stop motion.

Microscopes with built-in cameras were not ideal due to imperfect focus when splitting light between eyepieces.

A significant discovery was made with a lens set from Lawa that attaches directly to a mirrorless camera.

The lens set has an image magnification range of 10 times to 50 times, allowing for detailed work on a full-frame sensor.

The creator opts for a Fujifilm GFX 100S camera with a medium-format sensor for better viewing area.

The process of animating under a microscope lens is described, including the use of spray adhesive and trimming the paper.

The creator pays homage to a childhood flip book with a tiny animation of a hot dog being eaten and a subsequent belch.

The difficulty of drawing straight lines at such a small scale is highlighted, with the creator embracing the imperfections.

The creator uses onion skinning in their capture software to see through to previous images while drawing.

The creator's challenge is to balance their perfectionism with the practical limitations of the task.

The creator pushes the limit by attempting an even smaller flip book with a simpler animation.

Frustration sets in as the creator struggles to draw straight lines due to muscle fatigue and twitchiness.

The creator reflects on the importance of starting and ending well, a lesson from their great-grandfather.

The process of gluing the flip book pages together and the initial mistake of gluing them out of order is shared.

After correcting the gluing mistake, the creator trims the flip book to its final, smaller size.

The final results of both flip books are presented, showcasing the creator's perseverance and creativity.

Transcripts
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