Outputting video/gif

Processing.py
1

Hi

I have an animation which run in Processing.py. How can I output a video of the, lets say, first n seconds of that animation? I would prefer a gif, but any format would do.

2

Hi avatrin!

well, i’m not very sure you can output video format of animation in processing, but you can save every frame you get and combine it into video or gif.
see: https://processing.org/reference/saveFrame_.html

for combining, i’m usually using ffmpeg
see: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24961127/how-to-create-a-video-from-images-with-ffmpeg

probably you will need frameCount to limit frames elapsed of the animation
https://processing.org/reference/frameCount.html

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3

The Video Export library essentially automates the steps @humayung has described.

You can install it via the library menu (Sketch > Import Library > Add Library). Then, you’ll need to download FFmpeg:
https://ffmpeg.org/download.html

Here’s some code to try out. When it runs, Processing will prompt you to locate/browse-to your ffmpeg executable:

add_library('VideoExport')

def setup():
    size(600, 600)
    global videoExport
    videoExport = VideoExport(this)
    videoExport.startMovie()

x = 0

def draw():
    global x
    background(0)
    rect(x, 10, 50, 50)
    videoExport.saveFrame()
    x += 1

def keyPressed():
  if (key == 'q'):
    videoExport.endMovie()
    exit()

For animated GIFs, it’s probably easiest to go the saveFrame() route, then compile the images into a GIF using whatever (i.e. https://ezgif.com/maker). There are also Python libraries for creating animated GIFs, should you wish to automate the process.

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