Create Stunning Cartoons with FlipaClip - Easy Video Tutorial

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Importing and Setting Up FlipaClip
3. Recording and Importing Live Action Video
4. Drawing and Animating Over the Video
5. Tips for Speeding Up Workflow
6. Editing Multiple Frames at Once
7. Adjusting Frames Per Second
8. Completing the Animation
9. Tips for Professional Animators
10. Conclusion

Introduction

Have You ever wanted to animate over video footage? Perhaps you want to use video footage for studying or referencing animation. In this tutorial, we will learn how to import and animate over live action video footage using FlipaClip. FlipaClip is a user-friendly app that is easily available to most people and is completely free (with some optional features requiring payment). If you haven't watched my intro video on how to animate in FlipaClip, I recommend watching it before continuing with this tutorial. With that said, let's dive into the process of importing and animating over live action video footage using FlipaClip.

Importing and Setting Up FlipaClip

To begin, open the FlipaClip app on your device. Create a new FlipaClip project by selecting the "+" icon. Give your animation a name and choose the appropriate canvas size Based on your recorded video. If your video is vertical, select the "Tick Tock" format. If your video was recorded in a wider format, such as a white screen, select "YouTube 1080" or the appropriate format. Set the frames per second (fps) based on the fps of your recorded video. For example, if your video is at 30 fps, select 30 fps to start with. You can always adjust this later. Once you have selected the settings, create the project.

Recording and Importing Live Action Video

Now, it's time to Record your live action video footage. Use your device's camera to record the desired footage. Don't worry if recording yourself feels awkward; it's normal. Remember, you are the only one who will see the video. Once you have recorded the video, open FlipaClip and import the video by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. Select "Add Video" and choose the video you recorded. Before importing the video, you can use the handles on the left and right to trim the video to the desired length. Once you are satisfied, click "Check" to import the video into FlipaClip.

Drawing and Animating Over the Video

After importing the video, you will Notice it playing in FlipaClip. To draw and animate over the video, create a new layer by clicking the plus icon on the layer panel. If you want to remove any layers, swipe from the middle of the screen to reveal the lock, copy, and delete buttons. Press "Delete" to delete the selected layer. On the new layer, you can draw over the video. Add effects or animate using different frames. This method allows you to animate effects on top of a video.

Tips for Speeding Up Workflow

Animating every frame of the video can be time-consuming, especially for longer videos. To speed up your workflow, try the following tips:

1. Lower the opacity of the video layer: This allows you to see what you are drawing more clearly. Click on the layers panel, select the video layer, and drag the opacity slider down to around 25%. Lock the layer to avoid accidentally drawing on it.

2. Edit multiple frames at once: Click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Frames Viewer." This view allows you to edit multiple frames simultaneously. Select every other frame and delete them to reduce the number of frames you need to animate.

3. Adjust the frames per second: After deleting every other frame, change the frames per second in the project settings. Halve the original frames per second to maintain the correct speed. For example, if the original video was 30 fps, set the new fps to 15.

Editing Multiple Frames at Once

To edit multiple frames simultaneously, click the three dots in the top right corner and select "Frames Viewer." This view allows you to select and edit multiple frames at once. For example, you can easily delete every other frame by selecting them and clicking the trash can icon. Once you have finished editing, click the "X" in the top left corner to return to the animation.

Adjusting Frames Per Second

To adjust the frames per second after deleting every other frame, click the three dots in the top right corner, select "Project Settings," and change the frames per second accordingly. Remember to halve the frames per second to maintain the correct speed. Click "Save Changes" and play the animation to ensure it is at the desired speed.

Completing the Animation

Once you have optimized your workflow and adjusted the frames per second, you can Continue animating. Create a new layer and Trace your live action video footage frame by frame until the animation is complete. This process requires time and patience, but the end result will be worth it. Don't be discouraged and take breaks if needed. Completing the animation will give you a Sense of accomplishment and improved animation skills.

Tips for Professional Animators

Importing video into FlipaClip can be beneficial for professional animators as well. You can use it to study and analyze different types of animation, such as mapping out arcs on ballet dancers or studying specific animation techniques. Take AdVantage of FlipaClip's features to enhance your professional animation projects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, animating over live action video footage in FlipaClip allows you to bring a new dimension to your animations. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can import, trace, and animate over video footage with ease. Remember to optimize your workflow, edit multiple frames at once, and adjust the frames per second to speed up the process. With patience and practice, you can create impressive animations using live action video as a reference. So go ahead, unleash your creativity, and have fun animating!

Note: The tutorial Mentioned that the animation took an hour and 15 minutes to complete. The time required may vary depending on the complexity of the animation and individual skill level.