How to Make a Stop Motion Animation with a Set and Green Screen Background

Many of today's professional and amateur filmmakers use a green screen to make stop motion animation. By removing the green screen in postproduction, a filmmaker may add any background they choose. Use these steps to better understand how to make your own stop motion animation using a green screen background.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Green screen material
• Filming space
• Stop motion figures
• Camera
• Editing software

1. Find an area to film the stop motion animation. An empty room or corner of a room can serve as a temporary soundstage.

2. Purchase green screen material from a photo house or reputable photography equipment supplier. Cheaply made materials tear and become wrinkled quickly. Buy a quality piece of green screen material.

3. Hang the green screen material according to the supplier's instructions. Remove all wrinkles and seams. Light the material evenly and brightly.

4. Arrange the subject in front of the green screen and film the portion of the stop motion animation according to the script or storyboard. Rearrange subjects one frame at a time to produce the desired stop motion effect.

5. Edit the film using a software program that allows for green screen or chromakeying effects. Adobe Premiere is a common program that professional filmmakers use to produce stop motion animation.

6. Tweak the final product to remove the green screen behind the subject and add the desired background. Record the filmed stop motion subject against the newly added background and save the project.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the camera's onboard software to better judge the lighting on the green screen.
• Start with a small set and subject to get the hang of editing and filming before moving on to larger projects.