By definition, the term "Claymation" refers to the use of stop-motion animation to create videos, usually with hand-made clay models or figures.

Unfortunately the software does not include any figures, clay or otherwise. You will need to provide your own characters or subject material.

The Claymation software is a stop-motion animation software. It allows you to capture individual frames from digital/video cameras and/or your computer and stream them into one single movie. It is not a video compositing or video editing program that enables the manipulation of images. For that feature you may want to check out high end, professional video or image editing programs.

The User Guide for Claymation Studio 2.0 is placed on your computer during the installation of the software.

If you are unable to locate the User Guide on your system, it can be downloaded from our website using the link below:
http://uk.honestech.com/main/UserGuides.asp

You can watch the video tutorial:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfsoDBvIVlA
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwvDsd4gwhA
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rgi-h2tz4Q

The Product Key is located on the back of the CD sleeve that the CD came in.

To register you must first install the program, then:

1. After installing the program, Double click on the honestech Claymation Studio 2.0 icon on your desktop.
2. Enter the product key (see the back of the CD envelope).
3. Click [Register Online] to register your product.
4. Enter the product key and other required information on the registration web page.
5. You will receive the Registration Key on the screen and via your email.
6. Open honestech Claymation Studio 2.0 and click [Help] (at the top of your screen, next to File and View) and select "Enter Registration key".
7. Enter your registration key to complete the product registration.

Operating system: Windows XP, Vista
Processor: Pentium IV 1.8GHz or equivalent
Memory: 128MB of RAM (256MB or higher recommended)
Free Hard Disk Space: 50MB for program installation
Other:
   Microsoft DirectX 9.0 or higher
   Windows Media Format SDK 9 or higher
   Windows Media Player 7 or higher
Image Input: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
Audio Input: MP3, WAV
Video Output: AVI, WMV, MPEG
Video Capture: Web Camera, DV-Camcorder
Audio Capture: Microphone, etc…

1. Insert the installation CD into your CD/DVD drive on your computer. The installation should start automatically.

   Note: If the installation does not start automatically, choose Run from the Windows Start menu. Then enter "d:\autorun" (assuming the installation CD is in D drive) in the run dialog box. You can also double-click on "Setup.exe" file on the installation CD to being the installation.

2. Then follow the on screen instructions from the installation wizard

   Note: To optimize performance of the product and your computer, defragmenting the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) prior to installing honestech Claymation Studio software is recommended. Also, if there is any security software on your PC that may block or interfere with the installation or removal of the software, please disable it or turn it off prior to installing or uninstalling the software.

You can uninstall honestech Claymation Studio 2.0 using its own uninstallation file or the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

To uninstall using the uninstallation file: from the task bar, go to Start >> All Programs >> honestech Claymation Studio 2.0 and click on Uninstall honestech Claymation Studio 2.0

To uninstall with Add or Remove Programs: from the task bar, go to Start >> Control Panel >> Add or Remove Programs. Select honestech Claymation Studio 2.0, and click the Change/Remove button.

A project file is a small reference file that points the program to your Claymation content (pictures, audio recordings, titles etc.), typically saved elsewhere on your computer. A project file will not contain your actual work, but instead indicates which files are needed and what work you have done within that particular project.

Claymation Studio can import directly from a video camera or web cam, but unfortunately not from a still digital camera.

To import your pictures into Claymation Studio from a still digital camera, you will first need to import/download the pictures to your computer hard drive from the camera - typically your Pictures folder will do.

Once you have imported/downloaded your pictures onto your computer, you can use the 'Import' function within the Claymation Studio to import your pictures into the program.

Unfortunately, we do not have a recommended list of camcorders to use with the Claymation software. Typically we simply recommend DV camcorders that use the standard DV25 videotape format and have a Firewire (IEEE 1394) output connection.

The Claymation Studio software requires a video stream or signal be sent from a video camera in order to capture images from it. If your camera does not send out a video stream or signal via a "Video Output" port then there is nothing for the Claymation software to capture an image from.

The video camera you are using may not be able to output a video stream because it records directly to a mini DVD disc or drive within the camera itself.

Unfortunately Rotoscope and Onionskin features are not available to use on pictures imported into the Claymation Studio program. To use those features you will need to record your projects using a webcam or camcorder.

The maximum video output resolution for Claymation is 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL)