Batch Import in Stop MotionMaker Advance V2.3

Version 2.3 of Stop MotionMaker Advance brings a new function to the Batch Import Panel.   This can be selected by selecting Import/Batch at the top of the main window.

The Panel below will be displayed which has the old batch image import functions and the new digital pan and zoom controls which can also be used to crop a batch of images as well

In this tutorial we will show how to do a simple pan from the top to the bottom of a large still image.  Note that a zoom and a different image for each move can also be done at the same time if required.

As shown below in the selected directory ‘D:\RingWorldImage’ there is a single jpg 1280 x 992 pixel image which is shown on the screen in a reduced state.   Overlayed on that image is a representation of the current video window which at this time is set to 720 x 576. 

Adjusting ‘Top Left X’ with a positive number will move the capture window to the right.  Negative will drive it left.

Adjusting ‘Top Left Y’ with a positive number will move the capture window down. Negative will drive it up.

Adjust the ‘Width’ larger will give the impression of zooming out in the ‘X’ direction, while reducing the number will give the impression of zooming in.   Note if the ‘Keep Image Ration’ is selected the Height will automatically adjust to keep the capture window ratio.

Adjusting the ‘Height’ larger will give the impression of zooming out in the ‘Y’ direction, while reducing the number will give the impression of zooming in.

In the image below you can see that we have set the capture window ‘Top Left X’ control to ‘250’ to move it to the centre of the imported image and we have left the ‘Top Left Y’ control to ‘0’ to leave the capture window at the top of the imported image ready for the pan down.

The ‘Start Frame’ has been set to ‘1‘ and the ‘Stop Frame’ set to ‘40’. Therefore 40 images will be created and sent to the Video Window working directory.

‘Increment Y’ has also been set to ‘5’ so that the capture box will be moved 5 pixels down the screen for each capture.   The ‘Increment X’ and ‘Increment Zoom’ could have also been set to move the box left or right and zoom in and out as well if required for each capture.

Once you are happy with your settings select ‘Start Batch’ to start the automated process.with the images shown is the film strip image panel.  Start Batch will change to ‘Stop Batch’ to allow the process to be stopped at any time.

Shown below is the position of the Capture box after 40 frames.  If this is not suitable and you wanted to pan to the bottom of the image then we can change the ‘Stop Frame’ to say ‘60’ (20 more frames) and select ‘Start Batch’ again to capture more frames and pan further down the image.

Select the ‘Play’ or ‘LOOP’  button in the main window to play through your pan at the selected frame rate (FPS = 15 shown).

Select ‘BMP to AVI’ to make a video out of your capture frames.