- software – 3DMax plug-in
- mechanical elements enabling construction of an armature
- four cameras for registering puppet’s movement
- system calibration tools

motion capture technology for stop motion animation
Technology
SMODO is a stop motion techonology that joins the classic puppet animation with the innovative technique of capturing motion through obtaining 3D coordinates. SMODO exploits possibilities of 3D and stop motion.

Method
SMODO allows you to work in a classic, stop motion technique and benefit from the possibilities the 3D brings. A special tracking system ensures the interception of the movement of animated puppets its transferred onto the digital 3D puppet model. Cleansing frames from analogue rigs or lighting faults is not needed any longer.
Flexibility is key
SMODO provides the possibility of changing the light, a part or the complete decoration, introducing any change in shots or in the shape or dress of a puppet, its mimics, and even, to some extent, its size and proportions already after the time-consuming and costly process of animation. SMODO aims at limiting computer modelling in favour of classic stop motion animation. SMODO is intended to lower the costs and time of shooting significantly but also to keep the most precious elements of puppet animation, i.e. handcraft, abundant details and specific puppet movements.
Working with SMODO
The work is divided into several stages. First an armature is constructed for the animation character. All the anatomical joints are marked with the plastic markers in different colors. When the analogue rig is done we move on to creating a rig in 3DMax environment. Once two rigs are joint a textured 3D model can be added.
After setting up the animation workplace and placing the cameras, calibration has to be performed. It is done through taking few photos of calibration units with system’s cameras. Afterwards the system is ready to work. From this moment, the animation is performed as if in the classic stop motion puppet animation. Animator controls the frame of a puppet and observes the movement in 3D environment holding the control over the process and being able to correct the animation accordingly.
Savings
SMODO helps you to save money. There’s no need toconstruct huge film sets since the scenic design can be built in 3D software. Great costs of servicing animation sets are also eliminated, i.e. the cost of lighting, stagehands, animators’ assistants, gaffers, etc. The process enables also the use of complex sceneries on a small scale, keeping costs low and eliminating the risk of missing artistic qualities.

Education
SMODO, planned to be sold together with complementary tools (tutorials, ready-made characters), responds well to the needs to the education market as regards creative technologies. This will allow for more attractive, quicker and more economical sharing of knowledge of animation and animation skills.
Design
SMODO fits into a medium size box that includes all basic elements allowing its use. The elements can be divided by four functionalities:

What does it offer?
- up to 25% budget savings
- stop motion feel combined with 3D animation quality
- broader possibilities of introducing changes and corrections
- small & cosy production environment


SMODO EDUBOX
- 4 cameras
- character skeleton ready for animation
- wiring
- calibrator
- cloth for measurement
- camera mounting brackets
Często zadawane pytania
Jeśli diody się nie świecą, sprawdź czy wszystkie kable są prawidłowo połączone oraz czy zasilanie kamer jest włączone. Po podłączeniu kamery SMODO do zasilania po 30 sek diody włączą się. Przy włączonej kamerze świecą się dwie diody przy gnieździe ethernet – zielona i żółta. Jeśli zielona dioda nie świeci się, sprawdź połączenia sieciowe między aparatem i komputerem oraz zasilanie.
System SMODO działa jedynie przy działających czterech kamerach. Sprawdź połączenia zasilania i sieciowe pomiędzy kamerą i komputerem. Jeśli połączenia są prawidłowe, zrestartuj komputer i kamery poprzez odłączenie i włączenie ich ponowne do sieci.
Jeśli kalibracja przebiegła zgodnie z instrukcją SMODO do kalibracji systemu, zrestartuj komputer i oprogramowanie, a następnie kamery SMODO poprzez włączenie i odłączenie kabla zasilania. Przeprowadź ponowną kalibrację zgodnie z zaleceniami. Jeśli problem nadal nie zostanie rozwiązany skontaktuj się z działem serwisu SMODO.
Nie, system kamer nie został uszkodzony tylko wyłączył się. Należy ponownie podłączyć kamery. Po około 15 sekundach kamery włączą się, a system będzie gotowy do dalszego działania.
Zrestartuj oprogramowanie i ponownie przeprowadź proces połączenia szkieletu lalki z postacią 3D. Jeśli problem nadal nie został rozwiązany, sprawdź czy odcinki między kulkami podstawowymi mają prawidłową długość, zgodną z zalecaną instrukcją długości prętów. Jeśli korzystasz z systemu edukacyjnego sprawdź, czy w trakcie próby łączenia postaci stały w odpowiedniej pozie.
Team
The SMODO team comprises of animation enthusiasts with a vast experience and highly educated researchers working actively in the academic environment. The team is eager to explore the field of stop motion technology and work to create ground for its future development. They are all totally engaged and working hard to provide the best possible tool that would help thousands of animators to explore new fields and possibilities of their work.

Grzegorz Wacławek
is a producer and an animated film director. He runs a animated film studio Animoon.
He is the initiator of the project.

Robert Sitnik
is a specialist from the field of 3D and 4D imagery , and 2D/3D/4D visual data processing for virtual enriched reality. He works as an associate professor at the Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics of the Warsaw University of Technology.

Maciej Karaszewski
is a specialist on 3D measurement techniques, photogrammetry and 3D data processing. He works at Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics of the Warsaw University of Technology.

Marcin Gosławski
he is responsible for the financial side of the project and its development.
Want to know more about SMODO?
Please, contact us via e-mail:
hello@smodo.co