How to Make a Zoetrope

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A zoetrope works similar to a flip book : if you move many images through a single spot fast enough, it creates the illusion of a single, animated image. Unlike a flip book, though, in which you flip through the pages quickly, a zoetrope rotates the images, which are viewed through a slit. These instructions will show you how to make your own little zoetrope animation .

Steps

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    This circular box and its lid could make two zoetropes, or you could make a thaumatrope with the other piece. [1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    The size of the hole should be should be a lot bigger than the diameter of your marble. Make sure the hole is centered on the bottom of the box. [2]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    Remove the tape from the bottom surface of the glass bead, as shown. There are various methods, but the idea is to make the box spin like a top.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    The paper strip should be the same length as the circumference of the circle (i.e. enough to go around without any gaps or overlapping). Remember, the box will be spinning, so you might want to make the pictures go in a loop (so that the last one is also similar to the first). [3]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    Make them the same distance apart as the pictures. Make the black paper strip smaller than the container. [4]
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    [5]
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Zoetrope
    Look through the slits in the black paper to the pictures on the opposite side, and spin the box on the marble, like a top.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you make the paper in the zoetrope?
    Verin
    Top Answerer
    You'd have to find and gather some fibrous plant (like water reeds for example), remove the outer skin to access the more fibrous insides and then soak it in water for a few hours. Next (assuming you don't care about colouring the paper) you'd arrange the fibers in the shape that you want your paper to be in, and then lay a large heavy object on top of it for a few hours to press it all together. You now have a brand new piece of paper (or you could just buy some from the store).
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  • Question
    Can you make any kind of character, even your own?
    Wynn Czajka
    Community Answer
    Of course! You don't have to be restricted to one character. Some characters can be hard to make many times, especially if they are very complex. Try to stick to simpler ones to make it easier.
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      Tips

      • You can use a tiny bit of tape to hold the animation strips in place, but try not to unbalance the assembly.
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      • If you don't have a marble to hand, a round topped pin pierced through the base of the lid makes a great alternative.
        Thanks
      • You can make many animations for one zoetrope. Just make a new paper strip and draw new pictures. Use the same spacing for the pictures as you used for the slits.
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      Things You'll Need

      • A circular paper box, such as a cheese package (With a top and bottom piece)
      • Stiff black paper or card
      • White paper (copy paper)
      • Marble
      • Wide masking tape
      • Marking pen
      • Pair of scissors
      • Retractable knife or craft knife

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.reframingphotography.com/content/animating-photographs
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHmSG1j7hXM
      3. ↑ http://www.reframingphotography.com/content/animating-photographs
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfAzr0GWknU
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfAzr0GWknU

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