timelapse how-to?
- Thread starter michaels
- Start date
spressomon
Expedition Leader
M D300 has an interval timer setting in the Menu. I'd be surprised if the D80 doesn't have the same. Have you looked?
mtnbike28
Expedition Leader
my workflow
Time Lapse Workflow
Nikon D200s and Photoshop
The Cameras:
The Nikon D200 has a built in intervalometer. Set it to shoot a picture at a rate you choose, and for how long. You can even set a start time.
Camera settings that I have found work better. I turn the in camera sharpening on, color space to sRGB, and the file size to normal jpeg. When shooting, I manual focus the lens, set a white balance (unless the camera is going for a couple of days) and prefer a slight bit of motion blur so the video is not “choppy” when played with tack sharp stop action 1/1000 images. I think Shutter Priority controls this well if manual exposure will not work. (That choice is based on length of the time lapse)
Shooting Choices:
I think the better looking time lapses have several views and focal lengths cut into one movie. I will set-up the two Nikons and then use my Canon on a tripod for a third view, just pushing the shutter every 30 seconds or minute. I can add a fourth camera on a tripod or Super Clamp, firing it with the #3 Canon and Pocket Wizards.
Making The Magic Happen:
1. The menu choice. 2. Select a Start time or Now
3. Select your interval. 4. How many shots, I just choose 999
5. Select On and BE SURE TO HIT THE ENTER BUTTON ON THE CAMERA!
Making the Movie: Using Photoshop CS4 Extended or CS5
1. Move all the images into a folder. If you go through and edit out bad frames (someone walks in front of the lens, etc) rename all the files in Photo Mechanic. Photoshop doesn’t like gaps in the file names.
2. In Photoshop, File > Open > and browse to your folder
3. Select the first picture in the folder > at the bottom of the box, check the Image Sequence box > click Open
4. Select a frame rate. I prefer 6/10/12 fps. This all depends on the subject, how many images you have and how long you want them to play.
For example. Say you set the camera to shoot a picture every 30 seconds for 6 hours. At the end of the hour you will have 720 frames. (120 frames per hour x 6 hours) If you choose 12 fps you will end up with 60 seconds of video with your 720 pictures.
5. You now have a movie opened in Photoshop, Go to Window > Animation if you want a playhead
6. File > Export > Render Video > Check your settings. I prefer h.264 for bringing it into Final Cut to put together the final.
Links for Reading
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-time-lapse-photography
http://timelapseforum.com/tutorials-f17.html
http://timescapes.org/phpBB3/index.php
Time Lapse Workflow
Nikon D200s and Photoshop
The Cameras:
The Nikon D200 has a built in intervalometer. Set it to shoot a picture at a rate you choose, and for how long. You can even set a start time.
Camera settings that I have found work better. I turn the in camera sharpening on, color space to sRGB, and the file size to normal jpeg. When shooting, I manual focus the lens, set a white balance (unless the camera is going for a couple of days) and prefer a slight bit of motion blur so the video is not “choppy” when played with tack sharp stop action 1/1000 images. I think Shutter Priority controls this well if manual exposure will not work. (That choice is based on length of the time lapse)
Shooting Choices:
I think the better looking time lapses have several views and focal lengths cut into one movie. I will set-up the two Nikons and then use my Canon on a tripod for a third view, just pushing the shutter every 30 seconds or minute. I can add a fourth camera on a tripod or Super Clamp, firing it with the #3 Canon and Pocket Wizards.
Making The Magic Happen:
1. The menu choice. 2. Select a Start time or Now
3. Select your interval. 4. How many shots, I just choose 999
5. Select On and BE SURE TO HIT THE ENTER BUTTON ON THE CAMERA!
Making the Movie: Using Photoshop CS4 Extended or CS5
1. Move all the images into a folder. If you go through and edit out bad frames (someone walks in front of the lens, etc) rename all the files in Photo Mechanic. Photoshop doesn’t like gaps in the file names.
2. In Photoshop, File > Open > and browse to your folder
3. Select the first picture in the folder > at the bottom of the box, check the Image Sequence box > click Open
4. Select a frame rate. I prefer 6/10/12 fps. This all depends on the subject, how many images you have and how long you want them to play.
For example. Say you set the camera to shoot a picture every 30 seconds for 6 hours. At the end of the hour you will have 720 frames. (120 frames per hour x 6 hours) If you choose 12 fps you will end up with 60 seconds of video with your 720 pictures.
5. You now have a movie opened in Photoshop, Go to Window > Animation if you want a playhead
6. File > Export > Render Video > Check your settings. I prefer h.264 for bringing it into Final Cut to put together the final.
Links for Reading
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-time-lapse-photography
http://timelapseforum.com/tutorials-f17.html
http://timescapes.org/phpBB3/index.php
mtnbike28
Expedition Leader
Thanks, I forgot...
I forget everyone doesn't have Photo Mechanic... ; )
I started using Bridge this month too... The renaming is only because PS sometimes didn't like out of sequence file names, but that step is not always necessary. Quick Time Pro is what I used till Leopard or Snow Leopard and QT Pro didn't play well together...
One final note, I just produce a timelapse using JPEG files from a Nikon d7000. Even on a big desktop, Photoshop couldn't render the video, so I had to batch re-size the files, but that is an easy step using actions.
I forget everyone doesn't have Photo Mechanic... ; )
I started using Bridge this month too... The renaming is only because PS sometimes didn't like out of sequence file names, but that step is not always necessary. Quick Time Pro is what I used till Leopard or Snow Leopard and QT Pro didn't play well together...
One final note, I just produce a timelapse using JPEG files from a Nikon d7000. Even on a big desktop, Photoshop couldn't render the video, so I had to batch re-size the files, but that is an easy step using actions.