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Bob,

I love zoetropes, but so often when I see one presented in a science  
center, I am disappointed.  In their heyday, these devices where the  
next big thing -- there was a crackle of excitement in the air -- it  
was the dawn of moving pictures! -- and the inventive geniuses at work  
patiently perfected their operation one detail at a time.  The results  
were at their best eye-popping -- it is amazing how effective (and  
affective!) such a simple device can be when it is well designed.  But  
without attention to details you get the blurred, dim, low contrast  
image so sadly typical of the "modern" zoetrope.

The details most often overlooked are not difficult to do right, if  
you think them through from basic principles.  The outside of the drum  
should be flat black -- any other color will be mixed in with your  
image and lower its contrast (I have seen some drums painted white!).   
The slits should be as narrow as practical, to avoid motion blur -  
like a fast shutter on a camera.- But a narrow slit doesn't let much  
light in -- so a good zoetrope will have optimal lighting built in, or  
else be carefully spot lit (no light should fall on the outside of the  
drum, even if it is painted black).  The slits should be thin as well,  
like the blades of a shutter, to open and close quickly -- you can  
bevel the inside edges of the slits to thin them.  Lastly, the images  
used should be high contrast.  Or, instead of images, objects that can  
be posed against a white background work well -- none better than a  
troop of Gumbys, for another connection to pioneering animation.

It not hard to build a great zoetrope -- that's why I find it so  
disappointing to see poor ones on display.  So shop carefully!

All the best,

Tom Nielsen
The Exhibit Guys


On Jul 26, 2010, at 8:38 AM, Bob Raiselis wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> We have a nice draw-your-own zoetrope exhibit, and are considering  
> getting a pre-built Zoetrope exhibit to go along with it. Anyone  
> have a lead on someone making zoetropes that will hold up in a  
> science museum setting?
>
> thanks.
>
> Bob Raiselis
> Montshire Museum
>
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All the best,
Tom




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