Technology & Innovation - Issue 12

Are you looking for new additions to your school’s camera kit? Is animation on your priority list? Well, if you’re looking for a solution that’s high in both quality and versatility, look no further... Technically, the included HUE HD Pro is a great USB camera in its own right, with a reassuringly sturdy construction that should prove durable for classroom use. Its strong, yet flexible neck makes it well- suited for use by pupils – as does the option to use it with the stable base powered via a USB cable. Pupils then don’t need to hold the camera to take pictures or create tracking shots. There’s also the option of plugging it in without the base, straight into a desktop or laptop’s USB port to use the camera as a classroom visualiser. The HUE Animation Studio Pro certainly performs well in traditional classroom applications, then – but when it’s used for the purposes of animation, that’s when the strengths of this package can be fully appreciated. The camera’s ergonomics and ease of use opens up the possibilities of stop motion film-making across a vast age range. The flexibility of its positioning and movement makes it a good fit for many other types of media, in a variety of ways – from filming visuals placed on a flat surface from above, to capturing 3D objects from different angles, or even in conjunction with a green screen. More advanced film-makers can explore its time lapse modes and different playback speeds, or even turn the camera upside down for a better angle and flip the image in the camera menu. The quick setup guide does a good job of walking teachers through the camera’s various uses and functions, further aided by the intuitive controls on the camera itself, particularly the focus ring and video feed indicator. The onscreen controls and ‘project setting’ options should make it easy for pupils to independently edit their creations, and even delete certain scenes frame-by-frame, if necessary. It’s also easy to add external music and sound effects, either using HUE’s own bank of sounds or by recording your own. What really sets this camera apart from others I’ve used in the past is its suitability for different ages and abilities. Having taught clay animation to younger pupils, for example, I know how difficult it is to keep track of how your clay has been positioned in earlier frames. The included Stop Motion Studio software features an ‘onion skin’ feature, so that every time you move the clay, the camera will render a fixed ‘ghost’ image of how the object was positioned, enabling pupils to easily line up their new image with where the old image was, thus A super-smart, versatile camera addition to your school’s tech toolkit... A T A G L ANCE ED T E CH £59.95 + VAT; see huehd.com/pro-animation for more information High quality, durable hardware Easily accessible software Useful additional resources Highly flexible …you want a piece of film-making kit capable of handling all the classroom tasks you could throw at it. V E RD I C T UPGRADE I F . . . HUE Animation Studio Pro ensuring that the final animation remains smooth. The accompanying software even provides access to effects such as rotoscoping and pixelation, making it an amazing all-rounder for any animation curriculum, topped off with the ability to record, save and conveniently export your creations to a variety of platforms. • A flexible and easy to use animation camera • Helpful instructions and manual • Easy to set up and control • Pupil-friendly interface • Adaptable for different ages and skill ranges REVIEWED BY: RUTH AST LEY R E V I E W 64 teachwire.net