In my own creative work, I’ve produced flipbooks, zoetrope strips and praxinoscope disks as a way to generate images and ideas. But these and other pre-cinema approaches are also really great teaching tools. They are a low stakes way to try out ideas and learn basic animation principles. As objects, they are in some ways more accessible than single channel linear animated film or video.
![](https://sites.evergreen.edu/ruthhayes/wp-content/uploads/sites/465/2019/04/PraxWebKarlee-300x207-300x207.jpg)
Turntable Praxinoscope with Intaglio Disk by Karlee
In Drawing Outside the Lines, my co-faculty, Lisa Sweet, and I asked students to combine two antiquated technologies in their image-making by creating copperplate etched disks for praxinoscopes they made from repurposed record turntables.
After workshops in creating disks, drawing 6 frame animation cycles and repurposing turntables, the students executed the following assignments:
Praxinoscope I (aka, half-moon)
Assigned: Mon., week 1
Drawing/mock-up due Thurs., week 2 in critique
Between week 2 and Tues. week 7, develop an intaglio plate, make 10 impressions in variety of ‘state print’ half-moon praxinoscopes on full size paper (i.e. paper that will accommodate a complete sphere praxinoscope image) employing a wide range of colors, values, transparencies in your use of ink. These prints will be used in an on-going collaborative – and somewhat contingent – process of developing full praxinoscopes through over-printing.
Print fest! Tues. week 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Select five praxinoscopes by peers to complete by printing the other half of the sphere. Prints/ink must be dry by Tues. week 8.
Second printing assigned: Tues. week 8
Select three praxinoscopes to over-print. Prints/ink must be dry by Tues. week 9.
Last printing assigned: Tues. week 9
Select two praxinoscopes by peers to over-print. Prints must be dried flat in the editioning racks and ink must be dry by Tues. week 10.
Praxinoscope II (aka, full-moon)
Assigned: Mon. week 5
Drawing/mock-up due Thurs. week 6
Final flat printed praxinoscopes due Tues. week 10
These praxinoscopes will permit you an opportunity to make a final independent praxinoscope of your own design. (these also afford you the opportunity to establish a print exchange, in which every student receives a portfolio of praxinoscopes representing the work of everyone in the program!)
To see some wonderful pictures of the Praxinoscope Project show, go to the Photoland site and scroll down about a third of a page.