Thursday, October 20, 2011

Cinemagraphs

I've had a couple people ask how I did the current header, so here's a (quick) recipe:

Vintage photo, w/pieces painted over in photoshop, so they won't interrupt the animation.
Which one is creepier?  You decide.

I filmed my 17-yr old sister sitting very still & doing Creepy Eyes.  Import .mov into after effects.
Animate a mask around the eyes as they blink.  (Add a little feather to the edges)
Desaturate, superimpose over the top of the vintage pic.
Render as gif

Ta dumm
Here is an in-depth tutorial.  If you don't know after effects, you can do it in just in photoshop, too.

My first attempt, with my older sis & her new baby.
 Is it nice to have a lot of sisters?  Why yes.  Yes it is.

So far these are my first and only tries at cinemagraphs, but the looping & composing was surprising easy (took maybe 90 minutes or so.)  I think if I do more of this stuff it would have to be a collaboration, as I'm not a great photographer.  But boy it sure was fun.

One day I'll figure out how to make them as gorgeous as this. 
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12 comments:

  1. Heather DixonOctober 20, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Also: if anyone knows how to make the gifs have less grain, tell me plz

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  2. Tom DixonOctober 20, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    very nice!

    I think gifs are restricted to 256 distinct colors, so you may not have many options.

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  3. JulieOctober 20, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Heather, you truly are amazing!

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  4. UnknownOctober 20, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    I've never heard of cinemagraphs before. They're really cool! Yours are great and you're right, the ones on the other site are beautiful!

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  5. Kevin KeeleOctober 20, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    This is so cool! I'm in awe. Awe!

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  6. Jeff CallOctober 20, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    Very cool! For gifs with less grain, try the advice offered here: http://sketchadventure.blogspot.com/2011/07/moving-comics.html

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  7. Aaron LudwigOctober 21, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    That's cool.

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  8. AbbyOctober 21, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    If you don't come talk at Orem High School, you will never see Hannah Thompson again...

    just kidding...

    Though it would be nice :D

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  9. superguyOctober 22, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Heather I hate to spoil your fun but that has a bit of weeping angel flavor to it. :D

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  10. The AndimatorOctober 23, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    Ironically, my employer wants me to create one of these for a client's website--thank you for posting this--saves me some time searching how to do these!!

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  11. Heather DixonOctober 23, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    @ Jeff - Awesome! I think that's just what I needed to see.

    @Andimator - How funny--my work is talking about having us make some too! It's nice to be on the cutting edge of trends :D :D

    @Leo - I'd probably need to see her bound and gagged...

    @Superguy - OMIGOSH...I HAVE TO DO ONE NOW O____O

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  12. AbbyOctober 23, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Fine!!! I will!!!! BWAHAHAHA!!!!!

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