Plotagraphs are moving photographs edited in a photo animation software called Plotagraph Pro. This is an interesting online photography tool that can turn any still image into an animation called a Plotagraph. This can be either an animated GIF or a video file. You don’t need to capture multiple frames or shoot any video. A single JPEG is all that is needed for this Web-app. Plotagraphs are different from Cinemagraphs which start from video footage.

Troy Plota is the creator of Plotagraphs. He is both photographer and artist. Troy created them as a simple alternatives to the more labor intensive Cinemagraph. On his website Troy says “Plotagraphs are free from the constraints of video which makes Billions of images available to bring to life at a fraction of the price of any other process.”

Plotagraphs can be exported as an animated GIF, MP4, or MOV file. While there are limitations imposed by the single JPEG as source, there are also many possibilities. To see many more full-size examples, see Troy’s Instagram Page. Brands like Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Airbnb are already using Plotagraphs.

Plotagraphs

They can be used in any form of digital advertising from websites to mobile, billboard, digital displays wherever digital images are used. Just as Cinemagraphs are making a mark in digital advertising, the company believes this will help photographers monetize their animated images in an increasingly crowded field. It is worth noting that Cinemagraphs can now be purchased as stock footage on sites like:

https://www.shutterstock.com
https://www.pond5.com
and https://www.gallereplay.com

Advantages:

Speed and convenience.
It does not require photography or videography. It can be created from any existing jpg.

Disadvantages:

Cost and some lack of flexibility.
Pricey at $300/year. You can create Cinemagraphs for free if you have a video camera, tripod and Photoshop.

This could be another profit center for video producers.