Moving a Still Photo- PLOTAGRAPH Review

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falling water

Moving a still photo, and make some parts of it animates was a dream of designers and artist for many years until the amazing PLOTAGRAPH Pro came into action. It is an incredible new photography tool that can take any still image and animate it into a beautiful looping GIF or video file. Unlike other Cinemagraphs software, that produces videos and GIF files also, but they use a video footage and require specific video production which adds considerably to the costs. With Plotagraph pro, no need to shoot a video or capture multiple frames, a single JPEG is all that application needs.

The below GIF is one of the still images that I’ve made with just a few clicks via Plotagraph.

animated gif

 

Also, you may check this video on my YouTube channel, it has more examples.

Using Plotagraph depends on what image you have selected for animation, and then how you decide at which direction the motion should flow and at what speed. Once that’s been established, you then use a series of points to plot out the animation, while also indicating what parts of the composition should remain stable and not animated. Adjust the speed, aspect ratio, color hues, and that’s it, here’s your plotagraph.

To me, however, what’s most impressive about plotagraphs is the underlying tech. almost unbelievable, really, as the program renders the images with such precision, and delicacy, resulting in a nice synthesis of the two divergent elements.

Plotagraph quick review

The interface of the software is clear and very easy to understand

interface

The main menus are shown below

PLOTAGRAPH menus

How to create an animation

The idea of animating still photos has two characteristics:

  • The moving parts are defined by drawing an arrow with a certain length to represent the speed and the direction of movement.
  • The non-moving parts are defined by adding anchor points.

Here is a photo that shows the final moving mesh and the anchor points.

 

The following video will explain to you how to make an animation in a simple way.

Finally, I hope you know now more about animating a still photo and I believe this software will unlock new options for your creation and imagination.

Below are my recent GIFs (please be patient! You may have to wait for a while till the loading of the photos is completed)

river & clouds

girl drinking from falling water

cup of coffee

falling water

river & clouds

landscape with moving clouds

river & clouds

 

moving clouds

rotating wheel

cigratte burning

fire

 

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the article if you have any questions just post below & I will be happy to answer you.

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3 Comments

  • Great and well detailed information, I have never come across any platform that teaches how to move a still photo in such simple terms as you have explained, This is the first time also I am getting to know about Plotagraph ,such a great tool. I will try to get the tool and practice what I have learnt here. 

  • Great and in-depth review on moving a still photo. This is something I totally have no idea about and was so glad I found your post. I love all your GIFs! You make the photos feel so alive and it feels so peaceful just looking at them. I can’t wait to learn more about this and I appreciate the fact that your provide such great tutorials which includes videos for better visualization. Thanks a lot for sharing your passion and helping people like me!

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