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The premier capture software for stop-motion animation, motion design and visual effects.
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Dragon Stop Motion camera control highlight.
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New in 2.2

3D Stereo ReviewView anaglyphs, set convergence or edge float, and adjust interocular distances.
3D Test ShotsTake 3D test shots and use the 3D review tools to evaluate them.
3D PlaybackPlay 3D sequences using anaglyphs or transparencies in color or black and white.
Export Stereo (3D) QuickTimeExport 3D sequences to QuickTime.
Improved DMX Keyframe EditingSelect multiple keyframes and drag them on the timeline to change timing.
Collapsible Cinematography ToolsCollapse tools like the Digital Densitometer or Camera Control when you're not using them.
Cinematography Image ExportExport still images the way they appear in the Cinematography window.

Project Management

Production/scene/take namingName your project based on the classic clapboard naming convention.
Manage multiple takes for a sceneCreate multiple takes within the same scene project. This carries over all of your camera settings, exposures, camera moves, notes, etc.
Customizable, printable X-Sheet (dope sheet)Manage the project from a dynamic exposure sheet that updates automatically as you add exposures, audio phonemes, camera moves, and change scene length.
Pop-up notesEnter notes that pop up when it's time to capture a frame.
Copy and rename scenes and takesDuplicate a scene or take from within Dragon Stop Motion.

Cinematography and Composition

Multiple exposures (sub-frames)Shoot multiple passes for each frame for effects like front light/backlight or stereo pairs.
Graphical camera controlAdjust your still camera's shutter speed, aperture, ISO with visual sliders.
Depth of field sliderAdjust shutter speed and aperture together to affect depth of field without adjusting exposure.
Exposure preview offsetAdjust live view exposure simulation to match final shot (Canon EOS only).
Save camera settings in sceneDragon Stop Motion saves your camera's settings and restores them when you re-open the scene.
ISO lockQuality control measure.
Exposure lockAdjust camera settings separately for each exposure.
Integrated test shot systemSave test shots separately and view them during any take of a scene.
Compare images from other scenesImport any images and view them at full resolution.
Clipping viewQuickly see if you are clipping in the highlights or bottoming in the blacks.
Digital densitometerCompare and match areas of exposure despite monitor inconsistencies.
Adjustable background gray valueAdjust the area around images in Cine widow to give your eyes a rest—or to suit the imagery.
Aspect ratio maskAdd a standard or custom aspect ratio mask and adjust opacity.
Separate mask and TV-safe overlayFrame for both 16:9 and 4:3 in one view.
Push-in maskAdd an adjustable push-in mask for checking TV-safe and framing for pre-planned push-ins.
Grid layerAdd a custom grid to help with horizon line-up and composition.
Advanced composition guidesEmulate ground-glass with single-screen setup of composition guides.

Capture

Camera supportFull integration with the most cameras. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, HDV, HDMI and more.
Folder watchingUse Dragon Stop Motion with many unsupported DSLRs, such as Sony and Minolta.
Capture black-outDarken your monitor while capturing to keep its glow from interfering with your lighting.
Auto-detect camerasAutomatically connect to cameras.
Automatic live view restPause live view after configurable period of inactivity to avoid overheating.
Video frame averagingAverage 2-60 frames to reduce video noise.
External shutter control optionCapture live view and then wait for external shutter release (for timing motion control shots).

Animation and Pre-Visualization Tools

Step to liveStep directly from captured frames to your live view.
Auto toggleToggle between live view and captured frames with adjustable speed.
ToggleOne keypress toggles between live and captured frames; then back again when released.
Nav-LineQuickly navigate your animation sequence, as well as select frames for playback or editing.
High-res playbackPlay back either your video assist frames or proxies of your full-resolution captures.
Short playPlay back the last twelve frames (configurable).
Grease pencilDraw paths and lines on screen to assist with animation.
OnionskinBlend the live view over any frame in your animation.
Difference modeUseful for re-lining up a shot if camera or set is bumped.
Lights prominent / darks prominentUseful when character is dark and background is light, or visa versa.
Rotoscope layerImport an image, Dragon Stop Motion Scene, or QuickTime movie as a line-up layer for easy double-pass line-ups, chroma key, or onion-skin.
Chromakey / greenscreenUse basic chroma key (green screen) pull for line up of effects shots.
Layer position/size/orientationAdjust rotoscope layer orientation, scale and position.
Play/loop markersMark in and out points for playback, looping, editing using Nav-Line.
User-assigned hot keysSimple interface for re-mapping the default keyboard commands.
Punch-In for AnimationUse Canon or Nikon live view magnification to punch-in to section of video assist image.
Auxiliary monitorSend main view to second monitor (video village).

Audio Tools

Edit audioUseful for precise line-up of dialogue, possibly with rotoscope events.
Scrub audioScrub audio, hear audio while stepping.
Track readingsEdit track reading phonetics and dialogue while stepping.
On-screen display of audio phoneticsHighlights the phonetics for the current frame, as well as the preceding and upcoming frames.

Editing

Cut/copy/paste framesUse the Nav-Line or X-Sheet to mark and edit frames.
Insert/overwrite framesPaste frames over existing frames or between them.
Reverse pastePaste frames in reverse order.
Undo editUndo your frame edits.

Motion Control and Automation

Automate lighting and external devicesWhen paired with DDMX-S2, control up to 99 channels of lighting, plus digital I/O.
Automate 3D shootingWhen paired with IOTA, you can configure multiple interocular distances and assign stereo positions to exposures.
Two-way remoteUse Arduino to create a two-way remote control. Control a 3D Stereo slider.
ScriptingAutomate local processes with integrated scripting.
External camera triggeringCreate special-effects passes with external camera triggering.
Camera move calculatorCalculate hand-cranked camera moves with ease in and ease out.

Time-lapse
IntervalSet interval in hours, minutes, seconds.
Start timeStart time-lapse at a future date/time.
End timeEnd time-lapse at a future date/time.
Total framesEnd time-lapse after specified number of frames are captured.
High precisionCapture within 0.1 second of interval with most cameras.

Export

Direct access to source RAW/JPG/TIFF filesYour camera's high-res source files are saved in an easily-accessible directory at all times.
Export to QuickTimeCreate a reference or self-contained movies with many export options.
Image sequence exportExport your frames in different image formats, customize naming, etc.
After EffectsImport image sequence directly from scene source location.
Final Cut ProCreate a reference QuickTime and import into your project.