My main set that I will be using in my Barry the Snail film has scenic grass in it. I noticed yestoday when I was doing a lip-sync test that the bristles on the grass moved the snail every time I adjusted it.

Does anyone know how I can make it not do this without destroying my set too much? I'd prefer it if I don't make holes in it because there will also be parts when they are moving as they talk.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V0t068RjnT0

Thanks if you can help,

Chocachoc

spray it with lacquer, or all purpose spray varnish, this will make the grass hard, so when you move your character along the grass will not move, The sheep in shaun the sheep are also lacquered on the fur so that the animators can move them without the fur moving on camera.

However, won't that make animating the snail moving along a tricky task?

A better thing to have done would to have used the scenic grass powder that your mix with water or something, as your puppets are so small, you notice the movement of the grass more with the mats.

Hmm... the varnish idea sounds quite good.

I'm going to stick with my grass and gravel that I have but what do you think nofby?

What you could use instead is some 'fabric stiffener'. It won't make the grass rock hard like varnish, but makes sure it dosen't move out of sheer accident, You can move it by a bit of force, but it should be perfect.

http://www.rainbowsilks.co.uk/ProductDetails.cfm?SubCatId=277&Code=BSQ&OneProduct=True&CFID=22698411&CFTOKEN=748b6e75e9445e83-B138C627-07C0-D577-021792C4E512FC91

always full of info is nofby... i might try that myself

hehe, its great for puppets clothes too so they don't twitch or move.

Ok, thanks Nofby!

Ill look in TESCO the next time I go :P.

Emmm, why not paste PVA glue over the top, this will make it hard! Looking forward to see the film!

Nofby, do you think I should put pva on it or fabric stiffener?

fabric stiffener- again for the reasons I stated above. You don't want your grass essentially galvanised by PVA glue or varnish, just more sturdy.

Ok. Thanks. My teacher suggested fabric starch. I think that is the same thing.

Yeah, go for it!

Cool... Ill ask my mum to get some from tesco the next time she goes.

heres 1 of my latest creations youll c the grass i use there i bought it from hobbycraft and it dosnt really move cause its quite flat http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/creations/view/2614

hope this helps

ive heard conty use the term 'boiling'for when you are animating with fur, so i guess you would use the same term for grass when it moves when you dont want it to

Yea, thats the term. For example in Willis O'Brians and Harryhausen's stopmotion 'KING KONG' the fur 'boiled' as the character moved about, the result of the animator handling the puppet.