SMMAdv - Importing images into the Video Window of an Existing Project

The following tutorial demonstates how to import images into an existing project of the Stop MotionMaker Advance Video Window:

It covers the following

• Importing a single BMP, JPEG and some TIFF type images to anywhere into a project.
• Importing or ripping batches of images from an AVI file (normally used to load a moving background).
• Importing BMP and JPEG images as a batch of any number to any part of a project.

Recommend that you only import from folders that hold only one image type (JPEG etc) to stop erroneous results.

Note:  The image size of the imported image will be automatically adjusted to fit with the currently set project image size.

1. Importing a Single JPEG Image. Open the application and by using the arrow keys, thumbnail slider or arrow buttons, display the image number were you are going to import the image to. The  image will be the next number and the existing further images will be automatically renumbered to suit.

2. Select ‘JPEG’ from the ‘IMPORT’ menu.  This process is identical for BMP or tiff images as well.

3. From the ‘Open’ dialog select the required image and then select ‘Open’.

4. The application will then ask if it is OK to import the select image file into the selected frame position.  In the example an image will be place inbetween frames 40 and the old frame 41 (will be re-numbered to 42).

5. The image will be now imported and shown in the thumbnail viewer.

1. Importing a Batch of Images from an AVI. If a moving background is required, or just a couple of frames ripped from a AVI file then the following tutorial will detail how this is done:

First Select from the ‘IMPORT’ menu ‘AVI’.

2. From the ‘AVI File Import Window’ select ‘Open Video’

3. From the ‘Open’ dialog select an AVI file and then select ‘OPEN’

4. The AVI video will now be shown.

5. Use the slider to decide what frames need to be imported.

• The ‘Start Frame’ is the first frame from the AVI video which will be imported.
• The ‘Frames to Import’ is how many frames from the Start Frame will be imported.
• The ‘Number From’ will be the frame number assigned to the first imported frames with the following frames being assigned an incrementally increasing number.
• You must also select where the frames will be imported to. Select one of the three checkboxes.

In this example we will be importing 30 frames starting from frame 75 of the AVI video and these will be numbered from 74.  This will basically add 30 frames to the current 73.

6. Select ‘Start Importing Frames’ and answere ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Start Converting Avi Frames?’.

The frames will now be imported, appear in the thumbnail viewer and added to the total frame count.

The image below shows the new frames as they have been added in this tutorial.

Importing a Batch of JPEG or BMP Images into an Existing Project.

This tutorial finishes by demonstrating how to import a batch of JPEG images into the middle of an existing project.

1. First select ‘Batch’ from the ‘IMPORT’ menu.

The ‘Frames to Import’ Panel will now be displayed, which displays the images in the currently set ‘Still Image Holding Directory’.  It also will give some data on the type of images in that directory and the number and image size of the source and target. The currently displayed image on the main Video Image window will define the position for the first imported frame and will be updated as it is changed (Defined as ‘First Imported Frame will become No’).

Use the slider in the ‘Frames to Import’ panel to decide what frames to import which will be manually set in the ‘From’ and ‘To’ edit boxes.

2. As the currently set directory does not hold the images we require for this demonstration, the directory path will be changed as shown below:

Select ‘Change DIR’ and navigate to the required directory/folder were the required images are held.

3.   Highlight the required directory and select OK.

4. Select ‘Yes’ to the ‘Change Folder’ question.

5. Select ‘Yes’ to the ‘Change Image Storage Paths’ question.

The application will now examine the images in the new folder and display the required data and new images in the ‘Frames to Import’ thumbnail viewer.  If there are no suitable image in the selected folder then a ‘#’ will be displayed next to the image information.

Note.  If more than one image type is in the folder the results may be erroneous.  Recommned that only one image type is ever placed in folders to be used for this purpose.

6. Now decide by using the slider which image are required to be imported, or just import them all by leaving the From/To settings at default.

7. In the tutorial we have decided to import images from 32 to 70 into a point begining at frame 102 into the main Video Window project.

As shown below 32 is therefore entered into the ‘From’ and 70 is entered in the ‘To’ edit boxes.

The main video window arrow button, thumbnail-slider or arrow keys are used to set the entry point which in this case frame 102.

8.   Now select the ‘Import’ button and the selected frames will be imported.

The frames have now been imported which is shown in the thumbnail viewer, main screen and total number of images.  The existing frames after frame 102 have also been automatically renamed to fit after the newly imported frames.

9. Select the close(X) button to close the ‘Frames to Import’ panel if required.

Tutorial completed.