NVIZ: creating mpeg from animation easily

[Markus Neteler]

Hi again,

those being interested in creating mpeg files by
NVIZ "animation panel" can use "mpeg_encode" for this
purpose.

1. start nviz
2. use the "animation panel" to create a film szene
3. calculate this images (full rendering)

-> this will result in a set of .rgb files.
NOTE: due to a small bug NVIZ has to be closed util you
      can access these files properly

5. Create the mpegparam.txt file like below:
Note:
 the value in [ ] between INPUT and END_INPUT must match the wildcard 
 exactly!! Otherwise "file not found"
 If you have more than 9 files use something like:
   test000*.rgb [00-99]
          ^-- one zero less

 [if I am wrong here pleae correct me]

 The number of files is unlimited. Use as much as possible...
 mpeg_encode calls the image format converter sgitopnm itself,
 so no further format conversion is required. If you create,
 say, 1000 files by NVIZ, you can generate the movie in one step
 after creating this parameter file!

----------- cut here----- mpegparam.txt------------------------------
# explanations: http://karel.tsuda.ac.jp/~nitta/mpeg_encode/face.param.html
OUTPUT test.mpg
INPUT_DIR .
INPUT
####### the value in [ ] must match the wildcard exactly!!
test0000*.rgb [0-9]
END_INPUT
BASE_FILE_FORMAT PNM
GOP_SIZE        99
INPUT_CONVERT   sgitopnm *
BSEARCH_ALG     CROSS2
PSEARCH_ALG     LOGARITHMIC
PIXEL           HALF
PATTERN         IBBPBBI
IQSCALE         8
PQSCALE         10
BQSCALE         25
RANGE           10
SLICES_PER_FRAME 1
REFERENCE_FRAME ORIGINAL
-------------- cut here ---------------------------------------------------

Concerning the parameters for the mpeg film please consult the manual.

6. call mpeg_encode:
     mpeg_encode mpegparam.txt
     
7. Finally look at it:
     mpeg_play test.mpg
  
8. Enjoy.

Many thanks go to Michel Wurtz who told me about this
mpeg_encode parameter file.

mpeg_encode can be found in internet.

Regards

 Markus Neteler