SimMovieMaker Installation and Usage Guide

Installation Requirements

Prerequisites

• Python 3.7 or higher
• pip (Python package installer)

Required Libraries

• OpenCV (cv2)
• NumPy
• Pillow (PIL)
• tkinter (usually included with Python)

Installation Steps

1. Clone or download the code Save the SimMovieMaker.py file to your local machine.

2. Install required dependencies Open a terminal/command prompt and run:

   pip install opencv-python numpy pillow
   

3. Run the application Navigate to the directory containing SimMovieMaker.py and run:

   python SimMovieMaker.py
   

Basic Usage

Creating a Movie from Simulation Snapshots

1. Import Images

   • Click on File → Import Images to select individual image files
   • Click on File → Import Sequence to import a numbered sequence of images from a directory

2. Arrange Images

   • Select an image in the list and use the ↑/↓ buttons to change its position
   • Use Edit → Select All to select all images
   • Use Edit → Delete Selected to remove unwanted images

3. Preview

   • Navigate through images using the preview controls at the bottom
   • Click Preview Video to generate a temporary preview of your movie

4. Adjust Settings

   • Set the frames per second (FPS) in the Properties panel
   • Select output format (mp4, avi, mov)
   • Choose video codec (H264, MJPG, XVID)

5. Create Video

   • Click the Create Video button
   • Choose the output location and filename
   • Wait for the encoding process to complete

Advanced Features

Video Filters

Access filters through the Filters menu:

• Adjust Size: Crop, resize, or rotate images
• Adjust Colors: Modify brightness, contrast, or apply color effects
• Overlay: Add text, scale bars, or timestamps to your images

Batch Processing

For large simulation datasets, you can use the command-line interface:

python SimMovieMaker.py --input /path/to/images --output output.mp4 --fps 30 --pattern "frame_*.png"

Command-line parameters:

• --input, -i: Directory containing images or a text file with image paths
• --output, -o: Output video filename
• --fps: Frames per second (default: 30)
• --format: Output format (mp4, avi, mov)
• --codec: Video codec (H264, MJPG, XVID)
• --pattern: Filename pattern for image sequence

Project Management

• File → Save Project: Save your current work to continue later
• File → Open Project: Resume work on a previously saved project
• Tools → Export File List: Export a list of the current images
• Tools → Import File List: Import a previously exported list

Troubleshooting

• Video creation fails: Check that all images have the same dimensions
• Images don't appear in the preview: Verify that the file format is supported
• Poor video quality: Try adjusting the codec or quality settings

Need Help?

• Access the built-in documentation via Help → Documentation
• View information about the software via Help → About