Make an Armature

Watch this great stop motion animation tutorial to learn how to make a wire armature for a stop motion puppet. Also, learn some tips on adding clay to the armature and animating the puppet.

Stop motion animation can actually be created at home. Build an armature out of wire and epoxy. Follow along with the step by step directions in this instructional video and learn how to build an armature. Watch this video and start shooting some stop motion animation. Part 1 ...more

Learn how to use 16" gage aluminum wire to make stop motion puppet armatures. It is very easy to do, and wire works great for anyone just starting out. You can also see how to make basic wood feet using tie downs.

Mouths are so expressive, which can be tricky to animate. A simple way to capture the movement is to craft several mouths to alternate. Watch this video animation tutorial and learn how to make replacement mouths for stop motion animation armature puppets. Part 1 of 2 - How to ...more

This video demonstration series shows the process of creating an armature for stop motion animation, claymation specifically, out of aluminum foil and polymer clay. Armatures need to be flexible to withstand the positioning and repositioning required to make stop motion animat ...more

This video animation tutorial demonstrates a technique for creating a fabric-like effect out of clay for stop motion figures, or armatures. Instead of smooth clay, try to give a more authentic finish to clay that will be used to create clothing. This technique will also create ...more

See how to create armatures using the Adobe Flash CS4 Bone tool. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular Flash-development platform or a seasoned web developer looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application ...more

Watch this video to learn how to make an armature for a fairy doll using a very easy formula with no math and a simple procedure.

Learn how to make a stop motion armature with end nuts and 20 gauge wire.

This video shows you how to setup a tattoo machine to do lining and shading. Make sure the armature bar and front spring has about a 4mm gap. Once that is on, set it to about a 30-degree angle. Next with the contact spring you need to set the armature bar and the tool should b ...more

This short construction tutorial video shows how to build a small, simple stage from scratch specifically for animating a claymation or stop motion animation project. Construct the ideal world for your claymation characters or stop motion animation armatures and puppets. All y ...more

Watch this fine art video tutorial to learn how to illustrate with markers and colored pencils. "This video shows my process for making an illustration (non tradigital). I use illustration markers (usually prismacolor) and color pencils (usually prisma once again) and a wax b ...more

Here is a video tutorial that offers basic tips on crafting a simple claymation character using everyday, household objects. Soften a single chunk of material and pull your claymation character's limbs and head from it. Insert a toothpick (or armature) to stabilize the body an ...more

In this ceramics video series, learn how to make terracotta clay sculptures from ceramics art expert Chitrotpola Mukherjee. Chitrotpola will teach you all about making clay sculptures including how to make multiple clay molds using dies, how to bake clay before glazing, how t ...more

This video animation tutorial demonstrates the process of sculpting a human face out of polymer clay as part of an armature for stop motion animation. The demonstrator begins by molding a piece of polymer clay into the general shape of a human skull and neck, and impresses the ...more

Armatures basically stand up on their own, but while animating, the balance might become uneven and precarious. An easy way to keep the puppet standing is to give the armature large feet. Watch this video animation tutorial and learn how to build an armature puppet that will s ...more

If you don't have a bearing puller available and need to remove an armature bearing, you're in luck! You can actually use a cheap vise available at any hardware store remove an armature bearing if you don't have the bearing puller or if there is not enough space between the be ...more

Flash CS4’s new inverse kinematics tools allow users to create and arrange symbols in a collection called an Armature. These armatures contain bones that have relationships with other elements which can be animated. Users can create and control their own dancing puppet. You co ...more

Removing a miter saw armature bearing on a DeWalt miter saw armature can be a bit tricky if because even if you have a bearing puller, you probably won't have enough space to get it in the armature to be able to get it out. You will get a great tip on how you can use a vise to ...more

You're probably wondering why in the world you would throw an aluminum can into an oven to bake, but differently shaped aluminum cans are actually a polymer clay hobbyist's best friend when it comes to shaping clay and making the shape stay. Whether you're making the body of ...more

Watch this video to learn how to make a 3D stop motion animation using playdoh and a wire armature. You must have some knowledge of stop motion animation and Movie Maker software to make an animation. This is easy to do and just takes some creativity.

In this puppetry tutorial, learn how to fix a broken stop motion animation armature that suffered massive limb loss. This how to video is done by an amateur for amateurs who need help repairing their damaged armature. Instead of rebuilding from scratch, watch this video and fi ...more

The final humanizing step in building a claymation armature is the crowning step, the head of hair. As hair moves independent of the body, and is not a solid unit, it can be especially tricky to sculpt out of clay and to attach properly. Watch this video animation tutorial and ...more

Learn ferrocement tying techniques. This video explains two different ways for attaching welded wire mesh and lath to rebar armatures.

This video animation tutorial shows how to take a raw claymation figure and apply a costume onto it, as well as pose it in a scene. In this particular video, the demonstrator creates a wrap-around dress out of a sheet of clay and position it onto the armature. Also shown, is t ...more

This video animation tutorial demonstrates the process of moving a clay armature into poses for stop motion animation. It can be a challenge to instill expression into an inanimate object, but therein lies the skill of a talented animator. Watch this instructional video and le ...more

in this Blender tutorial you will learn how to paint weights on your armatures (also known as rigs or bone systems) and rig the arms of a model.

Knowing how a tool works is different than knowing how a tool works and what makes it work. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to remove a Porter calbe router armature. It may seem like an easy job, but it can be a difficult project for anyone to complete so take your time, ...more

This video tutorial shows you how to make an eighteen inch armature, just out of some basic hardware. You will need some 3/4 inch pipe and a length of heavy gauge wire, as well as some wire cutters and pliers. Construct an armature out heavy gauge wire. Click through to watch ...more

Remember how when you were a kid you used to make bedsheet tents and act out Godzilla scenes with your toys, pretending to put on a movie? You can totally do that for a living - though, admittedly, you're going to have to step up your puppets a notch. Check out this tutorial ...more

In this Blender lesson you will learn how create and use armature (arms or jointed objects).

This tutorial goes over creating shape keys (or shapekeys) within Blender and goes on to apply drivers to the shape keys so that the armature can control the them. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seas ...more

In this DIY guide from the folks at the eReplacementParts, we learn how to disassemble a Porter 4630 cable drywall gun and replace the armature. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the technique in about two minutes. For all of the de ...more

Sculpting hands in polymer clay can be difficult. Clays like Prosculpt and Sculpey can be brittle when used to make hands without armatures. A mix of Puppen Fimo, Cernit and Fimo Mix Quick has proved to be strong thus far. Watch this video sculpting tutorial and learn how to m ...more

Eeverst isn’t for armatures. If you have the ambition of climbing Mt. Everest you will have to do a lot of preparations including physical fitness work, travel arrangements, not to mention putting aside thousands of dollars to make your dream a reality. You may not be able to ...more