This instrument is known as the forerunner of movies and cartoons, it is an optical illusion, through a drum with a series of still images that, when activated, bring to life an animated sequence without the brain noticing the difference when passing from one image to another.
How to make a zoetrope?
If you want to have fun at home or find a interesting optical experiment , making a zoetrope is an excellent idea, this instrument can help you create new stories and tell them, with the effect of an animation; Therefore, below I will teach you how to do it with your own hands. and with few materials that are within reach.
The materials to be used;
To make this project, you will only need the following materials :
Black and white cardstock (or colors of your choice)
plasterboard
1 ruler
Scissors
cutter
Compass
hot silicone
pencil and eraser
Fine and thick markers
plastic flakes
Bedbugs
Step 1.- Mark a circle on the card and two others on the card
with the compass mark 3 circles of 15cm in diameter , the 1st in cardboard and the other two in black cardboard; to make them, just open the compass to half the desired size (for 15cm, half is 7.5cm)
Step 2.- Once traced you must cut them
Mark with the tip and trace the circles, after making them, cut them with scissors or a box cutter
Step 3.- Cut a long strip of cardboard to make the zoetrope drum
Make the shape of the zoetrope drum by marking a strip on the black construction paper. 14cm wide by 49 cm long, cut it with scissors or a cutter
Step 4.- Mark the tabs on the cardboard strip to secure the drum
After cutting, on it you must mark an edge where the cardboard will be fixed, this edge will be 1.5 cm wide, draw eyelashes 2 cm wide and then make a diagonal line through them
Step 5.- Cut the tabs in the shape of a triangle
Cut the tabs along the diagonal lines at the end they will be in the shape of a triangle (this will be the bottom edge)
Step 6.- It’s time to draw the zootropic windows
Mark a 1.5cm wide margin on the top edge and mark the width of the windows which will be 5cm by 5cm long, then draw a smaller window 0.5 cm long
Step 7.- Cut them with the cutter
Repeat this process until you reach the end of the strip and with the cutter cut the windows to 0.5 cm
Step 8.- Join the base of the drum with the cardboard strip that is the body of the zoetrope
Glue one of the black circles to the cardboard. (this will be the base) . Glue the strip of black construction paper to the base circle. using the tabbed edge, place a silicone dot on each one and sew until you reach the end
Step 9.- Stick the second base to the joint to cover and reinforce the first
To hide the flaps, glue the second cardboard circle on top of them; done that, the zoetrope drum will be ready
Step 10.- Assemble the zoetrope rotary system
For make the rotary system Cut a coin-sized circle of cardboard and place it on top of an upside-down plastic cup, then attach the cup to the drum using a thumbtack that goes through them.
Step 11.- Test the operation of the rotary system
Check if it rotates on its own axis, once done, we proceed to make the drawings for the animation
Step 12.- Cut a long strip of cardboard and divide it into different windows
Start by cutting a strip White cardboard 5.5 cm wide by 50 cm long and leave a 2 cm long edge to fix it; then draw 6 cm long windows on it
Step 13.- Draw the sequence of animations in each of these windows
Make the drawings that must be sequential then choose a theme (man dancing) in each window, draw the man doing a different movement, trace with pencil, then mark and paint with markers
Step 14.- Place the animations inside the zoetrope, ready!
Finally, fix the strip on the edges, so that it is in a circular shape and incorporate it into the drum that you made previously and that’s it. ! you can use your zoetrope just turn it around and enjoy the moving figures.
How to make a zoetrope in 3D?
The advancement of new technologies allowed this instrument to evolve towards the 3D world, the pixar zoetrope with real figures from Toy Story is well known and not only in the illustrations, but in this case it is thanks to the 3D printers that can print models drawn from scratch . Next, I will explain the steps to do it.
The materials to be used;
3D modeling program
3D printer
Step 1.- Choose if you want a simple or complex design
The easiest way to do this is simply design the animation and a rotating system for it, but you can increase the complexity by designing a structure like traditional zoetropes.
Step 2.- Outline the animations and the rotation system
You need to know how it will work in reality, for that, do sketches where animation transitions are reflected and how will roulette work
Step 3.- Draw all the necessary parts of the rotating system
that includes gears, levers and the base that will support you among other elements that can be included in the design of the zoetrope.
Step 4.- In the 3D modeling program, draw these sketches
Transfer the sketches for 3D modeling program for this it is important that you know how to use it, in case you cannot take a course for it or ask for help from an expert
Step 5.- Take into account the measures and forms that you have taken
Draw piece by piece in the program taking into account measurements and shapes, in this way when printing all the pieces will fit
Step 6.- Use a 3D printer to print the design
Finally, when the design is ready, save it in the corresponding format and print – or with the help of a 3D printer.
How to make a zoetrope for children?
You can follow the design of How to make a homemade zoetrope? Just change the glass for a funnel and the theme of the animation, as well as the color of the cardboard, has to be more fun, use cardboard in vibrant colors such as yellow and green or other colors to attract the attention of the little ones, you I explain the process.
The materials to be used;
To make this zoetrope for children, You will only need to have the following materials on hand :
colour cardboard
plasterboard
Funnel
marbles
1 ruler
Scissors
Cutter
Compass
hot silicone
pencil and eraser
Fine and thick colored markers
Step 1.- Trace three circles on cardboard and cardboard
with compass, draw 3 circles of 15 cm in diameter the 1st on the card and the other 2 on one of the cards; to make them, just open the compass to half the desired size (for 15cm, half is 7.5cm)
Step 2.- Mark the mouth of the funnel in the center of the circle and cut it
Mark with the point and make the circle, then measure the diameter of the mouth of the funnel; mark and cut a circle of this size on the center of the first 3 circles
Step 3.- Cut a strip of cardboard to form the body of the zoetrope
Machete zoetrope Drum Shape, marking a strip of the same cardboard 14cm wide by 49cm long, cut with scissors or a cutter
Step 4.- Trace the tabs where you will paste the body of the zoetrope
Right away, mark a border 1.5 cm wide also mark the tabs 2cm wide and make a diagonal line across them
Step 5.- Cut these tabs in the shape of a triangle
Cut the tabs along the diagonal lines at the end they will be in the shape of a triangle (this is the bottom edge)
Step 6.- Mark the windows where the animations go in the body of the zoetrope
draw a 1.5 cm wide margin from the top edge also mark the width of the windows which will be 5cm by 5cm long and mark smaller windows 0.5cm long
Step 7.- Cut out the animation windows
Repeat this process until you reach the end of the strip and with the cutter cut the windows to 0.5 cm
Step 8.- Attach the zoetrope body to its base
Glue one of the circles to the cardboard. (this will be the base). Stick the cardboard strip to the base circle from the edge with tabs, to do this place a dot of silicone on each one and make a edge to the end
Step 9.- Reinforce the base and cover the joints by placing another circle
To hide the tabs, glue the second cardboard circle About them; Once this is done, the zoetrope drum is ready.
Step 10.- Assemble the rotary system by fitting the zoetrope into the funnel
To make the rotating system, turn the funnel upside down and place the drum of the zoetrope at its tip through the circle that we cut in the middle, we place the balls and check that it rotates on its own axis
Step 11.- Cut another strip of cardboard and divide it into windows to make the animations
For the animation, start by cutting a strip of white cardstock 5.5cm wide by 50cm long, leaving a 2cm long border to join; right away, draw windows 6 cm long
Step 12.- Draw the sequence that corresponds to each window for the animation
Make the drawings, they must be sequential so you choose a topic that interests the child, in each window you must draw a different scene for example if it is a swimming fish, it must be in a different position each time
Step 13.- Finish joining the ends of the cardboard and place it inside the zoetrope
Finally, fix the strip at the edges, so that it is in a circular shape and embed it in the drum what did you do before Done!, and the children can have fun and have fun Playing
We have reached the end of this article, we hope that this information will be useful to you to make zoetropes homemade or 3D have fun with your own hands, finally, I want to invite you to continue enjoying our content in future posts, if you want to know how to make any project from scratch.
