---
key: mechanic/phone-camera--family-capture-time
type: mechanic
id: phone-camera--family-capture-time
lang: en
title: Capture timing and recording modes
summary: >-
  Pressing the shutter or starting recording creates an event. Stop Motion
  Studio builds motion from a sequence of individually captured frames.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-camera--family-capture-time/
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-camera--family-capture-time.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-camera--family-capture-time.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Phone camera interactions
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-c121374ae20b1406
  - source-f24dc0ecd8ddfac5
sources:
  - id: source-c121374ae20b1406
    title: 'Apple AVFoundation: Camera Capture and Control'
    url: 'https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/capture-setup'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-f24dc0ecd8ddfac5
    title: Stop Motion Studio
    url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?uo=4'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: phone-camera
    id: family-capture-time
    title: Phone camera interactions
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-camera/#family-capture-time'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Capture timing and recording modes
    description: >-
      Pressing the shutter or starting recording creates an event. Stop Motion
      Studio builds motion from a sequence of individually captured frames.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/input-stop-motion-1.webp
      width: 720
      height: 405
      game: Stop Motion Studio
      sourceUrl: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?uo=4'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/0e/b7/cb/0eb7cbe4-ad03-f3dd-beeb-bea88b4f104b/73d281b5-668b-47ef-8846-ca1621a35e30_5_5_2.png/720x1560bb.jpg
      credit: 'CATEATER, LLC'
      rights: >-
        Imagery © CATEATER, LLC. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all
        rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: 'Stop Motion Studio: the shutter adds a frame to the animation'
      alt: 'Stop Motion Studio: the shutter adds a frame to the animation'
      markers:
        - x: 92
          'y': 50
          label: The red button captures the next frame of the scene
    tips:
      - Confirm capture and account for delay between the command and the image.
    examples:
      - title: Stop Motion Studio
        url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?uo=4'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/phone-camera
---
# Capture timing and recording modes

id: phone-camera--family-capture-time
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/phone-camera--family-capture-time
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-camera--family-capture-time/

Pressing the shutter or starting recording creates an event. Stop Motion Studio builds motion from a sequence of individually captured frames.

## At a glance

![Stop Motion Studio: the shutter adds a frame to the animation](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/input-stop-motion-1.webp)

[Stop Motion Studio](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?uo=4) · Imagery © CATEATER, LLC. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The red button captures the next frame of the scene

- Confirm capture and account for delay between the command and the image.

- [Stop Motion Studio](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?uo=4)

## How it works

An event is the receipt of an image or a segment of video. The picture can be checked by an algorithm or used as a result of creativity. Capture frequency and latency vary by device.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-capture-time-variants"></a>

- A photograph as an action. Action: Press the shutter to freeze the state and make a game move. Application: Photo attack, collecting evidence, trading card. Technologies: Camera capture. <a id="variant-cam-009"></a>
- Decisive moment. Action: Take a frame while the target is in a short acceptable state. Application: Reporting, photo hunting, rhythmic shooting. Technologies: Camera capture; Recognition or machine learning model. <a id="variant-cam-010"></a>
- Serial shooting. Action: Take several shots and choose a successful one within the limit. Application: Catching a quick event, comparison of takes, editorial game. Technologies: Camera capture. <a id="variant-cam-011"></a>
- Observation excerpt. Action: Record continuously the specified time; the gap resets progress. Application: Behavioral research, detective surveillance, video task. Technologies: Camera capture; Recognition or machine learning model. <a id="variant-cam-012"></a>
- Delayed self-timer. Action: Start the timer and have time to assemble a composition or take a pose. Application: Group tasks, cooperative, staged photography. Technologies: Camera capture. <a id="variant-cam-013"></a>
- Event shutter. Action: The camera automatically captures an object's input, gesture or change. Application: Camera trap, automation, cause-and-effect experiments. Technologies: Camera capture; Recognition or machine learning model. <a id="variant-cam-014"></a>
- Stop-motion animation. Action: Move real objects between separate pictures. Application: Stop-motion, bringing toys to life, teaching animation. Technologies: Camera capture. <a id="variant-cam-015"></a>
- Changing the time scale. Action: Record the process and play it back quickly or slowly. Application: Observation of transformations, trick analysis, editing puzzle. Technologies: Camera capture; Device capabilities. <a id="variant-cam-016"></a>

## Context and limits

Games, learning, creativity and interactive applications. Author's systematization of game rules based on proven technical capabilities. Examples are application ideas and not statements of released products.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Apple AVFoundation: Camera Capture and Control](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/capture-setup) (id: source-c121374ae20b1406)
- [Stop Motion Studio](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?uo=4) (id: source-f24dc0ecd8ddfac5)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors