Your phone is a stop motion camera
You don't need a special stop motion camera. Use your phone, tablet or webcam: fix it in place, lock the light, and shoot frame by frame with onion skin, free.
Prop your phone or tablet so it can't move (a stack of books works), set up your scene, and shoot one frame at a time.
Set up your phone as a stop motion camera
- 01Fix the phone in place: a phone stand, a small tripod, or the phone leaning on a stack of books, taped down if it slides.
- 02Point it at your scene from the side or from above. Shooting from above suits paper cut-outs and drawings.
- 03Light the scene with a lamp, away from windows, so the light stays the same for every frame.
- 04Open the studio and take your first frame. The light and focus lock where your browser allows it, so frames match.
- 05Don't touch the phone between frames. Use the timer to shoot hands-free.
Why a phone works
Stop motion needs a camera that stays still and takes the same picture every time. A phone camera does that well, and its screen shows the onion skin, the faint last frame, right over the live picture.
A dedicated camera gives more control over lenses and exposure, which matters for professional work. For short films, school projects and social clips, the phone you have is enough.
Steady camera, steady light
- Every movement of the camera shows up as a jump in the film. Tape the stand down, and don't lean on the table.
- Daylight changes minute by minute and causes flicker. Close the curtains and use a lamp.
- Auto exposure brightens and darkens frames as your hand comes and goes. The studio locks it after the first frame on browsers that allow it; otherwise keep your hand out of the picture when you shoot.
- Use the back camera on a phone: it's sharper than the front one.
Webcams, laptops and Chromebooks
A laptop or Chromebook camera works too: set it facing your scene, or use a USB webcam on a small stand pointed down at the table. The studio runs in Chrome with nothing to install.
Questions
What's the best camera for stop motion?
For most people, the phone they already have, fixed on a stand. What matters most is that the camera doesn't move and the light doesn't change between frames.
Can I use a webcam?
Yes. Open the studio in Chrome on your computer and it uses the webcam. A webcam on a small stand pointed down at the table is a classic setup for paper and clay.
Can I use photos I took with my camera app?
Yes. Choose Make a film from photos and pick them; they're put in order by file name.
Why do my frames look brighter and darker?
The camera is adjusting its exposure. Use steady lamp light, keep your hands and shadow out of the picture when you shoot, and let the studio lock the light after the first frame where your browser supports it.
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. The camera, your frames and the videos you make all stay in your browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us or stored on a server.