movie

Create animation sequences and movies

Synopsis

gmt movie mainscript -Ccanvas -Nprefix -Tnframes|timefile[+pwidth][+sfirst][+w] [ -A[+l[n]][+sstride] ] [ -Ddisplayrate ] [ -Fformat[+ooptions]] [ -Gfill] [ -Hfactor] [ -Iincludefile ] [ -Llabelinfo ] [ -M[frame],[format] ] [ -Q[s] ] [ -Sbbackgroundscript ] [ -Sfforegroundscript ] [ -V[level] ] [ -Z ] [ -Wworkdir ] [ -x[[-]n] ] [ --PAR=value ]

Note: No space is allowed between the option flag and the associated arguments.

Description

The movie module can generate GMT animation sequences using a single-plot script that is repeated for all frames, with some variation using specific frame variables. The module simplifies (and hides) most of the steps normally needed to set up a full-blown animation job. Instead, the user can focus on composing the main frame plot and let the parallel execution of frames and assembly of images into a movie take place in the background. Individual frames are converted from PostScript plots to lossless, transparent PNG images and optionally assembled into an animation (this last step requires external tools that must be present in your path; see Technical Details below). For opaque PNG images, simply specify a background color via -G.

Required Arguments

mainscript

Name of a stand-alone GMT modern mode script that makes the frame-dependent plot. The script may access frame variables, such as frame number and others, and may be written using the Bourne shell (.sh), the Bourne again shell (.bash), the csh (.csh) or DOS batch language (.bat). The script language is inferred from the file extension and we build hidden movie scripts using the same language. Parameters that can be accessed are discussed below.

-Ccanvassize

Specify the canvas size used when composing the movie frames. You can choose from a set of preset formats or specify a custom layout. The named 16:9 ratio formats have a canvas dimension of 24 x 13.5 cm or 9.6 x 5.4 inch and are (with pixel dimensions given in parenthesis): 4320p (7680 x 4320), 2160p (3840 x 2160), 1080p (1920 x 1080), 720p (1280 x 720), 540p (960 x 540), 480p (854 x 480), 360p (640 x 360), and 240p (426 x 240). We also accept 8k or uhd-2 to mean 4320p, 4k or uhd to mean 2160p, and hd to mean 1080p. The recognized 4:3 ratio formats have a canvas dimension of 24 x 18 cm or 9.6 x 7.2 inch and are (with pixel dimensions given in parenthesis): uxga (1600 x 1200), sxga+ (1400 x 1050), xga (1024 x 768), svga (800 x 600), and dvd (640 x 480). Note: Your PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT setting determines if movie sets you up to work with the SI or US canvas dimensions. Instead of a named format you can request a custom format directly by giving width[unit]xheight[unit]xdpu, where dpu is the dots-per-unit pixel density (pixel density is set automatically for the named formats).

-Nprefix

Determines the name of the final movie file and a sub-directory with frame images (but see -W). Note: If the subdirectory exist then we exit immediately. You are therefore required to remove any old directory by that name first. This is done to prevent the accidental loss of valuable data.

-Tnframes|timefile[+pwidth][+sfirst][+w]

Either specify how many image frames to make or supply a file with a set of parameters, one record (i.e., row) per frame. The values in the columns will be available to the mainscript as named variables MOVIE_COL0, MOVIE_COL1, etc., while any trailing text can be accessed via the variable MOVIE_TEXT. Append +w to split the trailing string into individual words that can be accessed via variables MOVIE_WORD0, MOVIE_WORD1, etc. The number of records equals the number of frames. Note that the background script is allowed to create timefile, hence we check for its existence both before and after the background script has completed. Normally, the frame numbering starts at 0; you can change this by appending a different starting frame number via +sfirst. Note: All frames are still included; this modifier only affects the numbering of the given frames. Finally, +p can be used to set the tag width of the format used in naming frames. For instance, name_000010.png has a tag width of 6. By default, this is automatically set but if you are splitting large jobs across several computers then you must use the same tag width for all names.

Optional Arguments

-A[+l[n]][+sstride]

Build an animated GIF file. You may specify if the movie should play more than once (i.e., loop) via +l and if so append how many times to repeat [infinite]. If a video product is also selected (-F) then you can limit the frames being used to make the GIF file. Append +sstride to only use every stride frame, with stride being one of a fixed set of strides: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500.

-Ddisplayrate

Set the display frame rate in frames per seconds for the final animation [24].

-Fformat[+ooptions]

Set the format of the final video product. Repeatable. Choose either mp4 (MPEG-4 movie) or webm (WebM movie). You may optionally add additional ffmpeg encoding settings for this format via the +o modifier (in quotes if more than one word). If none is chosen then no PNGs will be created at all; this requires -M.

-Gfill (more …)

Set the canvas color or fill before plotting commences [none].

-Hfactor

Given the finite dots-per-unit used to rasterize PostScript frames to PNGs, the quantizing of features to discrete pixel will lead to rounding. Some of this is mitigated by the anti-aliasing settings. However, changes from frame to frame is outside the control of the individual frame rasterization and we find that, in particular, moving text may appear jittery when seen in the final animation. You can mitigate this effect by selecting a scale factor that, in effect, temporarily increases the effective dots-per-unit by factor, rasterizes the frame, then downsamples the image by the same factor at the end. The larger the factor, the smoother the transitions. Because processing time increases with factor we suggest you try values in the 2-5 range. Note that images can also suffer from quantizing when the original data have much higher resolution than your final frame pixel dimensions. The -H option may then be used to smooth the result to avoid aliasing [no downsampling]. This effect is called sub-pixel rendering <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subpixel_rendering>.

-Iincludefile

Insert the contents of includefile into the movie_init.sh script that is accessed by all movie scripts. This mechanism is used to add information (typically constant variable assignments) that the mainscript and any optional -S scripts rely on.

-Llabelinfo

Automatic labeling of individual frames. Repeatable up to 32 labels. Places the chosen label at the frame perimeter: e selects the elapsed time in seconds as the label; append +sscale to set the length in seconds of each frame [Default is 1/framerate], f selects the running frame number as the label, ccol uses the value in column number col of timefile as label (first column is 0), while tcol uses word number col from the trailing text in timefile (requires -T…+w; first word is 0). Note: If you use -Lc with an absolute time column, then the format of the timestamp will depend on the two default settings FORMAT_DATE_MAP and FORMAT_CLOCK_MAP. By default, both date and time are displayed (with a space between); set one of the settings to “-” to skip that component. Append +cdx[/dy] for the clearance between label and bounding box; only used if +g or +p are set. Append units c|i|p or % of the font size [15%]. Append +f to use a specific font [FONT_TAG]. Append +g to fill the label bounding box with fill color [no fill]. Use +jrefpoint to specify where the label should be plotted [TL]. Append +odx[/dy] to offset label in direction implied by justify. Append units c|i|p or % of the font size [20% of font size]. Append +p to draw the outline of the bounding box using selected pen [no outline]. Append +t to provide a format statement to be used with the label item selected [no special formatting]. If -Lt is used then the format statement must contain a %s-like format, else it may have an integer (%d) or floating point (%e, %f, %g) format specification.

-M[frame],[format]

In addition to making the animation sequence, select a single master frame [0] for a cover page. The master frame will be written to the current directory with name prefix.format, where format can one of the graphics extensions from the allowable graphics formats [pdf].

-Q[s]

Debugging: Leave all files and directories we create behind for inspection. Alternatively, append s to only build the movie scripts but not perform any execution. One exception involves the optional background script derived from -Sb which is always executed since it may produce data needed when building the movie scripts.

-Sbbackgroundscript

The optional GMT modern mode backgroundscript (written in the same scripting language as mainscript) can be used for one or two purposes: (1) It may create files (such as timefile) that will be needed by mainscript to make the movie, and (2) It may make a static background plot that should form the background for all frames. If a plot is generated the script must make sure it uses the same positioning (i.e., -X -Y) as the main script so that the layered plot will stack correctly (unless you actually want a different offset).

-Sfforegroundscript

The optional GMT modern mode foregroundscript (written in the same scripting language as mainscript) can be used to make a static foreground plot that should be overlain on all frames. Make sure the script uses the same positioning (i.e., -X -Y) as the main script so that the layers will stack correctly.

-V[level] (more …)

Select verbosity level [c].

-Wworkdir

By default, all temporary files and frame PNG file are built in the subdirectory prefix set via -N. You can override that selection by giving another workdir as a relative or full directory path.

-Z

Erase the entire prefix directory after assembling the final movie [Default leaves directory with all images; the script files, parameter files, and layer PostScript files are all removed (but see -Q)].

-x[[-]n]

Limit the number of cores used when making the individual frames. By default we try to use all available cores. Append n to only use n cores (if too large it will be truncated to the maximum cores available). Finally, give a negative n to select (all - n) cores (or at least 1 if n equals or exceeds all). The parallel processing does not depend on OpenMP.

-^ or just -

Print a short message about the syntax of the command, then exits (NOTE: on Windows just use -).

-+ or just +

Print an extensive usage (help) message, including the explanation of any module-specific option (but not the GMT common options), then exits.

-? or no arguments

Print a complete usage (help) message, including the explanation of all options, then exits.

--PAR=value

Temporarily override a GMT default setting; repeatable. See gmt.conf for parameters.

Parameters

Several parameters are automatically assigned and can be used when composing mainscript and the optional backgroundscript and foregroundscript scripts. There are two sets of parameters: Those that are constants and those that change with the frame number. The constants are accessible by all the scripts: MOVIE_WIDTH: The width of the canvas, MOVIE_HEIGHT: The height of the canvas, MOVIE_DPU: The current dots-per-unit, MOVIE_RATE: The current number of frames per second, MOVIE_NFRAMES: The total number of frames. Also, if -I was used then any static parameters listed there will be available to all the scripts as well. In addition, the mainscript also has access to parameters that vary with the frame counter: MOVIE_FRAME: The current frame number (an integer, e.g., 136), MOVIE_TAG: The formatted frame number (a string, e.g., 000136), and MOVIE_NAME: The name prefix for the current frame (i.e., prefix_MOVIE_TAG), Furthermore, if a timefile was given then variables MOVIE_COL0, MOVIE_COL1, etc. are also set, yielding one variable per column in timefile. If timefile has trailing text then that text can be accessed via the variable MOVIE_TEXT, and if word-splitting was requested by -T+w then the trailing text is also split into individual word parameters MOVIE_WORD0, MOVIE_WORD1, etc.

Data Files

The movie scripts will be able to find any files present in the starting directory when movie was initiated, as well as any new files produced by mainscript or the optional scripts set via -S. No path specification is needed to access these files. Other files may require full paths unless their directories were already included in the DIR_DATA setting.

Your Canvas

As you can see from -C, unless you specified a custom format you are given a canvas size that is either 24 x 13.5 cm (16:9) or 24 x 18 cm (4:3). If your PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT setting is inch then the custom canvas sizes are just slightly (1.6%) larger than the corresponding SI sizes (9.6 x 5.4” or 9.6 x 7.2”); this has no effect on the size of the movie frames but allow us to use good sizes that work well with the dpu chosen. You should compose your plots using the given canvas size, and movie will make proper conversions of the canvas to image pixel dimensions. It is your responsibility to use -X -Y to allow for suitable margins and any positioning of items on the canvas. To minimize processing time it is recommended that any static part of the movie be considered either a static background (to be made once by backgroundscript) and/or a static foreground (to be made once by foregroundscript); movie will then assemble these layers per frame. Also, any computation of static data files to be used in the loop over frames can be produced by backgroundscript. Any data or variables that depend on the frame number must be computed or set by mainscript or provided via the parameters as discussed above.

Technical Details

The movie module creates several hidden script files that are used in the generation of the images (here we have left the file extension off since it depends on the scripting language used): movie_init (initializes variables related to canvas size and dots-per-unit, and includes the contents of the optional includefile), movie_preflight (optional since it derives from -Sb and computes needed data files and possibly a background layer), movie_postflight (optional since it derives from -Sf and builds a foreground layer), movie_frame (accepts a frame counter argument and builds the frame image), and movie_cleanup (removes temporary files at the end of the run). For each frame there is a separate movie_params_###### script that provides frame-specific variables (e.g., frame number and anything given via -T). The pre- and post-flight scripts have access to the information in movie_init while the frame script in addition has access to the frame- specific parameter file. Using the -Q option will just produce these scripts which you can then examine.

The conversion of PNG frames to an animated GIF (-Fgif) relies on GraphicsMagick. Thus, gm must be accessible via your standard search path. Likewise, the conversion of PNG frames to an MP4 (-Fmp4) or WebM (-Fwebm) movie relies on FFmpeg.

Hints for Movie Makers

Composing movies is relatively simple but you have to think in terms of variables. Examine the examples we have described. Then, start by making a single plot script (your mainscript) and identify which things should change with time (i.e., with the frame number). Create variables for these values. If they are among the listed parameters that movie creates then use those names. Unless you only require the frame number you will need to make a file that you can pass to -T. This file should then have all the values you need, per frame (i.e., row), with values across all the columns you need. If you need to assign various fixed variables that do not change with time then your mainscript will look shorter and cleaner if you offload those assignments to a separate includefile (-I). To test your movie, start by using options -Fnone -Q -M to ensure your master frame page looks correct. This page shows you one frame of your movie (you can select which frame via the -M arguments). Fix any issues with your use of variables and options until this works. You can then try to remove -Q. We recommend you make a very short (i.e., -T) and small (i.e., -C) movie so you don’t have to wait very long to see the result. Once things are working you can beef up number of frames and movie quality.

Color Table Usage

Because movie launches individual frame plots as separate sessions running in parallel, we cannot utilize the current CPT (i.e., the last CPT created directly by makecpt or grd2cpt, or indirectly by grdimage or grdview). Instead, you must create CPTs using explicit files and pass those names to the modules that require CPT information. In modern mode, this means you need to use the -H option in makecpt or grd2cpt in order to redirect their output to named files.

Examples

To make an animated GIF movie based on the script globe.sh, which simply spins a globe using the frame number to serve as the view longitude, using a custom square 600x600 pixel canvas and 360 frames, and place a frame counter in the top left corner, try:

gmt movie globe.sh -Nglobe -T360 -Agif -C6ix6ix100 -Lf

Here, the globe.sh bash script simply plots a map with coast but uses the frame number variable as the center longitude:

gmt begin
   gmt coast -Rg -JG${MOVIE_FRAME}/20/${MOVIE_WIDTH} -Gmaroon -Sturquoise -Bg -X0 -Y0
gmt end

As the automatic frame loop is executed the different frames will be produced with different longitudes. The equivalent DOS batch script setup would be:

gmt movie globe.bat -Nglobe -T360 -Agif -C6ix6ix100 -Lf

Now, the globe.bat DOS script is simply:

gmt begin
   gmt coast -Rg -JG%MOVIE_FRAME%/20/%MOVIE_WIDTH% -Gmaroon -Sturquoise -Bg -X0 -Y0
gmt end

i.e., the syntax of how variables are used vary according to the scripting language. At the end of the execution we find the animated GIF globe.gif and a directory (called globe) that contains all 360 PNG images. Note that there is no information in the globe scripts that reflects the name of the plot, the canvas size, the dimensions of the rasterized PostScript, and so on. That information is hidden from the user; the actual movie scripts that execute are derived from the user-provided scripts and supply the extra machinery. The movie module automatically manages the parallel execution loop over all frames using all available cores.

Longer Examples

To explore more elaborate movies, see the Animations examples under our Gallery.

Other Movie Formats

As configured, movie only offers the MP4 and WebM formats for movies. The conversion is performed by the tool FFmpeg, which has more codecs and processing options than there are children in China. If you wish to run ffmpeg with other options, select mp4 and run movie with long verbose (-Vl). At the end it will print the ffmpeg command used. You can copy, paste, and modify this command to select other codecs, bit-rates, and arguments. You can also use the PNG sequence as input to tools such as QuickTime Pro, iMovie, MovieMaker, and similar commercial programs to make a movie that way.

Manipulating Multiple Movies

If you are making a series of similar movies, you can use ffmpeg to paste and stitch them into a single movie. Assume we have four movies called movie_1.mp4, movie_2.mp4, movie_3.mp4, and movie_4.mp4, and you wish to combine them into a 2x2 panel showing the four movies simultaneously. You would first combine movies (1,2) and (3,4) horizontally, then combine the two resulting strips vertically:

ffmpeg -i movie_1.mp4 -i movie_2.mp4 -filter_complex hstack=inputs=2 top.mp4
ffmpeg -i movie_3.mp4 -i movie_4.mp4 -filter_complex hstack=inputs=2 bottom.mp4
ffmpeg -i top.mp4 -i bottom.mp4 -filter_complex vstack=inputs=2 four_movies.mp4

For more information on such manipulations, see the FFmpeg documentation.

See Also

gmt, events, psconvert