Can I Use Processing to Make An MP4?

Processing.py
1

I have a program written in Python geometric algebra that produces animations as mp4s. It is quite crude and I’m looking for something better. The requirements are:

Geometric algebra
Ability to draw ellipses.
Can produce standard MP4s.

I’ll translate from Python to some other language if I must.

2

Welcome @PatrickPowers

You can do this with Processing’s Python mode –

  • for geometric algebra, there’s the PVector class;
  • for ellipses, there’s the ellipse() function;
  • for MP4s, I’d probably just use the saveFrame() function to generate an image of each frame, then combine them into a video (using FFmpeg or some video editing software).

Your Python script may require some adaption; you’re using the Processing environment, possibly the PVector class, and Processing’s Python mode has some differences (it’s using Jython).

p5 for Python is another (pure Python) option.

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3

There is even one in the menu tools for movie making

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4

Also relying on ffmpeg there is Hamoid’s VideoExport library you can install from the IDE

add_library('VideoExport')
recording = False

def setup():
    global video_export
    size(600, 600)
    noStroke()
    frameRate(30)

    println(u"Press 'r' to start recording")
    println(u"Press 'q' to quit and close recording file")

    video_export = VideoExport(this, "animation.mp4")
    video_export.setFrameRate(30)  # optional (reduce frame rate)
    frameRate(30)
    # Quality: 100. Audio very good: 256 / good: 192
    video_export.setQuality(70, 128)  # default de video & audio
    video_export.startMovie()


def draw():
    background(0)
    t = frameCount * 0.03
    sz = 100 + 50 * cos(t * 1.33) * cos(t * 1.84)
    ellipse(300 + 200 * cos(t * 1.13) * cos(t * 0.21),
            300 + 200 * cos(t * 1.71) * cos(t * 0.47),
            sz, sz)
    if recording:
        video_export.saveFrame()

def keyPressed():
    global recording
    if key == 'r' or key == 'R':
        recording = not recording
        println(u"Recording is {}".format(
            "ON" if video_export else "OFF"))

    if key == 'q' or key == 'Q':
        video_export.endMovie()
        exit()
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