Stop Motion Studio Review
Getting Started
Getting started with Stop Motion Studio is as simple as going to the App Store or Google Play Store and downloading the app. There’s no sign-up or login required, just straight into a welcome screen that lets you create a new movie. In a day and age when you have to hand over your personal details for everything, I was glad to not have to deal with any of that faff here.
Features
The Stop Motion Studio app feature set begins with the image creation tools. It’s possible to capture images using the app’s camera interface or import them from your photo library. If you choose the former, the app provides onion skinning functionality so you can keep movements in line with your plans.
Guide lines can also be created and added on top of the camera view to better frame shots. I would say the camera capture tools are simple enough for anyone to use yet sufficiently advanced to make capturing complex shots a breeze.
Stop Motion Studio provides frame-by-frame editing, which puts maximum creative control in the hands of the user. Graphics can be colour adjusted and text formatted using a set of typical ‘type’ properties. Additionally, audio can be added on top of specific frames or over the entire video length.
User Experience
Stop Motion Studio is a joy to use from beginning to end. For something so complex, it’s amazing how they’ve managed to keep the interface so clean and uncluttered. Most of this has been achieved by only displaying on screen the tools that are required for each section of the workflow. This is most notable in the frame edit phase, which launches a new window.
The capturing of photos is effortless with buttons overlaid on top of the camera feed rather than taking up unnecessary room. This enables the feed to be maximised rather than reduced in an attempt to accommodate the interface.
I was particularly grateful for a seamless creation and editing process between my iPhone and Mac. There are some adjustments that are easier to carry out on a bigger screen and Stop Motion Studio appreciates that. Projects can be transferred between devices using AirDrop, Dropbox or iCloud.
Price
Stop Motion Studio is available with both free and premium plans. The former limits features while the latter opens up everything. So while it is free to download on iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome and Fire devices, and usable for basic animation and concepting, if you want to get more involved ‘Premium’ version costs $5.99 / £5.99. I would say the cost is well worth it.
Who’s it for?
Stop Motion Studio is for creatives who want to generate stop-motion content. Access to more advanced features will require a premium subscription but if you’re happy with creating content rather than relying on adding pre-made items from the Studio library, then you should have everything you need.
Conclusion
Stop Motion Studio is a fantastic app for creating stop-motion videos. It’s easy to use, feature-rich, and provides a great user experience. While it may not be the most advanced stop-motion app available, it’s an excellent choice for those who want to get started with stop-motion animation without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Stop Motion Studio free?
A: Yes, the app is free to download, but it has limited features. You can upgrade to the premium version for $5.99 / £5.99.
Q: Can I use Stop Motion Studio on multiple devices?
A: Yes, you can transfer projects between devices using AirDrop, Dropbox or iCloud.
Q: Is Stop Motion Studio available on all platforms?
A: Yes, it is available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome and Fire devices.
Q: Can I add advanced media to my stop-motion videos?
A: No, the free version of Stop Motion Studio does not allow for advanced media to be added to your videos. You need to upgrade to the premium version to access these features.
