Animation (sp. Claymation) editing software question

[Shiroiyuki]

I am currently creating my own claymation movie to use for one of my classes and later on (for a film festival). I am going to use a digital camera to take my stop motion frames, and use a fire wire to import those pictures (frames) into a computer (PC). Now my question is: Do any of you know a good (as in creditable....please don't tell me about shady programs that might not work, or...like...mess up my computer) animation/frame/movie/etc. editor that will allow me to piece together the images into a smooth animated sequence, add music/sound effects/voices, create title/credit frames, and save into a DVD format....that is also free? (Think Pinnacle, Premire, etc. only free...)Yes, I'm cheap and would rather not spend any money buying the software (especially when I'm paying a butt load already for the clay I'm using and the equipment necessary to film).

Now, if there are NO good programs available (or expensive programs with free trial periods--that will ALLOW me to save to DVD format without paying), I suppose any program you know of will do. I don't want to (believe me, I really don't want to) but if no other options are present....I supposed I'd be forced to spend money *sigh*.

Thank you all in advance!!!

[master terrence]

Jasc animation shop is good, but it doesn't do sound. This break animation down to frames, popular for avatars... doing full length movies will requier a shi'i load of RAM.

Windows media player comes standard on XP (I think). Virtual Dub (only for .AVI) is really good too and free. Just get the stable version, not the newest one, but not the oldest one either.

I'm sure adobe sells something, but Jasc (a corel product) is probably a lot cheaper.



BTW: for school projects, I use Movie Maker for image slideshows and bits of animation in between to put against music.

[Shiroiyuki]

Thank you, but I probably should have mentioned I refuse to use Movie Maker ^_^. I hate this program a lot--since a few years ago I spent DAYS editing a project for class just to find out that it wouldn't work when I got to school. I formatted (or..whatever it is called) and everything, but the program just didn't register at all.

[master terrence]

did you put it on a CD?

and BTW, you should always check to see if it'll work on a school comp days before you present :P.

[Fobb]

It's more of a video editing software, but I think you can put a messload of pics on easily, but then again, you'd have to trim each clip down to one frame...


Anyways, try Vegas 5.0.



Oops, yeah...you'd have to buy it...and it's expensive...much.


Bittorrent anyone? :0

[Jatz]

You can try Vegas for 30 days. http://www.download.com/Vegas/3000-2194_4-10601642.html?tag=lst-0-1 But can you burn to DVD? *shrugs* I guess you can download it and do a test before you get deep into the project.