A flipbook is a small stack of picture sheets that show animation when you flick through them. You can easily make your own animation with a flipbook; all you will need is the right materials and a little time to sit down and draw whatever you imagine. Regardless of whether you decide to make the flipbook by hand or convert a video into a flipbook over the Internet, you'll have a custom animation in no time.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Draw Your Own Flip Book
Step 1. Get a small, thick stack of paper to make the flipbook
You can use a notebook or a sticky note pad. Also, you can create your own stack with glue, staples, or a paper clip. Find a piece of paper that is about 3 x 5 inches (8 x 13 cm). If you want, you can use a slightly smaller or larger paper.
Use a lightweight paper so you can turn the sheets easily
Step 2. Draw a pencil picture on the last sheet of the stack
This image will be the first sequence of the animation, so draw whatever you want the starting point to be. Do this in the lower right corner of the sheet so that it can be seen when you flick through the sheets.
Make the drawing in pencil to be able to erase the mistakes you make. Go over the strokes in ink when you have finished the animation
Step 3. Draw the same image on the penultimate sheet, but change it a bit
Draw the image in the same place on the page as the first one. This will be the second sequence of the animation, so you should make a small modification to it in relation to the first.
For example, if the animation you want to make is a stick figure waving, you must first draw the doll with its hands sideways on the last page. On the penultimate page, you must draw the same doll, in the same place on the page, but with one of the hands raised slightly
Step 4. Keep drawing slightly modified images on each subsequent sheet
Draw the next image or sequence on the page just above the previous drawing. All these images with minor modifications will form the animation as you quickly flip through the flipchart sheets.
- For example, to continue with the stick doll animation, you must continue to draw the doll on each subsequent page, but the hand will need to slowly move upward in each image.
- When the hand is fully raised, you should start drawing the doll by lowering the hand to the starting place. The final animation will show the doll waving and then lowering it.
Step 5. Add color to the animation to make it look more sophisticated
Use markers or colored pencils to fill in the pictures. Use the same colors in all sequences so that the animation looks smooth and continuous when you flick through the flip pages.
Step 6. Make more elaborate drawings to create a more complex flipbook
When you've mastered the basics, you can stop making stick pictures and start drawing interesting characters and scenes with dimension. Use shadow and perspective to make animations look more realistic.
The background shadows must be consistent. If you draw a moving object that casts a shadow, such as a bouncing ball, you must move the shadow along with the object
Step 7. Quickly flip through the flipchart to see the finished animation
Place your thumb on the bottom right edge of the stack and slowly pull up to turn each sheet of the book. Flip through the sheets fast enough that the animation can look smooth, but not so fast that you accidentally skip some pages of the sequence.
If the sheets slip a lot, secure the top edge with a clip or staple
Method 2 of 2: Make a Flipbook from a Video
Step 1. Choose a video that you want to turn into a flipbook
You can choose any video: an excerpt from your wedding, a birthday party, an outing with your friends, etc. The longer the video, the larger the flipbook.
For best results, use a video that is 15-30 seconds long
Step 2. Upload the video to a flip book maker website
Search the Internet for "video flip-book maker" or "turn a video into a flip-book." You will find several sites, such as http://www.flipclips.com/ and http://www.myflipps.com/, where you can design a custom flipbook with your own video.
Typically, each flipbook costs $ 15-30, depending on its size
Step 3. Customize the flipbook
Follow the instructions on the site where you want to make the flipbook. Create the cover and choose the size you prefer. Choose the points in the video where the flipbook will start and end.
Please note that the price of the flipbook may increase depending on customizations
Step 4. Request the flipbook
On many websites, you can buy flipbooks in bulk or by bundle, so choose the option that works best for you. If you want to give them out as gifts or souvenirs (for example, at a wedding), order them in bulk to save money.
Step 5. Wait for the flipbook to be delivered to you
You may have to wait up to 4 weeks for it to be delivered. When you receive it, quickly turn the pages to see the video turned into an animation. If you ordered multiple flipbooks, share them with your friends and family as beautiful souvenirs.