EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate EnSight 6.x Advanced Training Part 2 Instructors: Mike Krogh, Anders Grimsrud

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Agenda Frames Cut & Split operations Keyframe Animation vs. Flipbook Animation Additional Animation topics Batch EnSight Gold Future Development Animation Problem

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frames Used for: –moving parts relative to each other –specifying a reference point for tools –creating periodic reference frames A frame MUST be defined (origin and orientation) before it is transformed –consider turning off perspective during this step –most common mistake: transform then define

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frames (cont.) Transformations are about a frame’s origin and orientation. Parts are assigned to one, and only one, frame. While extremely powerful, perhaps the most difficult operation in EnSight (hang in there).

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frame Definition Y X Y X

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frame Definition (cont.) Y X Y X

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frame Mode Create a new frame Assign parts to a frame Frame visibility Triad color Triad line thickness Triad labeling Computation symmetry Coordinate system Frame location Global triad visibility Transform / Definition Delete selected frame

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frame Dialogs

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Cut and Split Only parts defined on the EnSight server can be split. Parts not defined on the server: –particles, profiles, vector arrows, and contours. Split operations create two new parts: –one part for “inside” the cutting tool –one part for “outside” the cutting tool

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Cut and Split (cont.) Plane, cylinder, cone, sphere, and revolution tools can all be used as the cutting surface. If you cut and split a part composed of 3D elements, you will get new parts composed of 3D elements. –May wish to use combination of ‘3D border/2D full’, extract part, then ‘cut and split’….

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate

Animation Flipbook –easy to use for simple animations transient problems, animated cutting planes and isosurfaces, mode shapes Keyframe –feature rich mode –can be combined with flipbook EnSight was designed for engineering animations!

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Keyframe Animation Transient Data Independent Viewports Can play flipbooks Can view animated particle traces Can output directly to animation controllers Can output to disk files Can issue command language at keyframes for “storyboarding” Primitive compared to professional animation systems No spline movement or acceleration control No control over light source No realism features: –complex lighting, models, shadows, reflective maps, textures, etc.

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Keyframe (cont.) EnSight uses a modified keyframe approach to animation –why –limitations Global transforms Local transforms Look At/From Transforms are per viewport Transient data will play over specified range Clips and isosurfaces can move via a delta value Rate is controlled by specifying the number of “in-between” frames

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Typical Animation Sequence Pre video stuff Introduction Title Slides –tell them what they’ll see Intro animation piece to show model Analysis pieces - possibly title slides in between to explain different pieces Conclusions / Credits

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Please repeat... Murphy’s law applies to every single animation! –Only 30 minutes ‘til the deadline and 1000 frames to go. The computer crashed plus the boss wants different colors and titles…and I don’t have a blank tape. xx

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate

Frame Rate Control Most difficult part to get right. Must know the target frame rate –NTSC, PAL, MPEG, etc.

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Frame Rate Control (assuming 30 fps) Define all of the keyframes Set up the animation to play only from the first to the second keyframes Set the number of sub frames between keyframes 1 and 2 to 300 Eliminate some of the parts, turn on feature angle, use bounding box, etc. Time how long it takes to play (T). Calculate F = T/10. (F is the number of ‘times’ slower the screen is compared to tape) Adjust sub frames from keyframe 1 to 2 until you like the rate on the screen Multiply the sub frames by the factor you found (F) to get proper number of frames for tape

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Color and Anti-aliasing Eliminate aliasing problems if possible –there is no anti-aliasing built into EnSight –use a scan converter –save images in large format and scale them down If recording to video, avoid fully saturated colors, especially red and blue. –adjust colors manually –use EnSight de-saturate function –record to disk files, and de-saturate with other software –85% saturation usually works well

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Color and AA (cont.) If recording to video: –avoid single width lines –avoid horizontal lines –make text large –black backgrounds seem to work best

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Note!

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Transient Data Combining transient data together with moving transformations can be confusing for the viewer. Try not to do this. You will seldom have enough simulated time steps. EnSight will interpolate linearly (except for geometry that changes over time). Total number of frames produced: –total frames = key frames + total # of sub frames –common mistake not to account for all frames when try to synchronize to number of simulated time steps

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Ramblings... When recording to video tape, use “holds” for transition points Animation is expensive! If you can, replay sequences, reverse them, etc. Title slides should hold for a minimum of 5-10 seconds Use large fonts If you use color legends, make sure font is large (consider using ‘Max’ and ‘Min’ for legend values) Don’t be afraid to zoom in The edges of frames are usually lost on video (.06 < x|y <.94) If your animation is short, consider doubling the frames

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Recording Real time off the screen –The “good enough” method –Frame rate will vary Using animation controllers –Expensive hardware –Complex hardware –EnSight talks to the popular ones Record to disk files –Use existing in-house recording procedures

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Animation CEI Create animation to disk files (SGI rgb) Scale to 720x480 resolution (use SGI izoom) ftp files to a PC Copy files to Perception Video Disk in PC Non-linear editing with Speed Razor Record to tape

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate MPEG Works on all Unix platforms and Mac Most likely broken on Microsoft systems (and getting worse) Convert MPEG to AVI (SGI mediaconvert) Quality vs. performance/compression –different MPEG encoding parameters

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate AVI Next release will have AVI output directly Predominantly viewable on Windows only Non-Compressed out of EnSight Use additional utility (supplied with EnSight) to recompress AVI file on your PC using PC’s CODECs.

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Batch Animation Uses software rendering (~12X slower than an IR equipped SGI Onyx 2) –Or try offscreen rendering Doesn’t tie up console Uses EnSight command files Syntax: ensight6 -batch -X -p myfile.cmd Only get output if command file causes it

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Batch Create command file through interactive use –use fewer subframes between keys –use reduced resolution data set command: delay_refresh ON/OFF minimize irrelevant operations in command file Call if you have problems Use EnSight or later

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate EnSight Gold EnSight with features for very large problems –parallel support in server (based on pthreads/sprocs) –fast data model –enhanced graphics (point clouds, isovolumes, transparency, etc.) –VR support

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Timings (for 10 time steps): 80 Million Cells12’33’’ 400 Million Cells35’30’’ 1.05 Billion cell dataset (single time step) ~30 minutes of which 16 minutes were I/O

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Stereo In multiple viewports Uses Crystal Eyes or NuVision glasses Full screen or in a window Lower vertical resolution (1/2) F12 key to enter/exit stereo F10/F11 to adjust stereo separation

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Some Command Line Options ‘-c’ start and connect automatically ‘-cm’ start and connect manually ‘-ar’ restore archive file ‘-iwd’ Ignore working directory in ensight.connect file ‘-font’ specify X window font to use ‘-ff’ use EnSight default fixed size font ‘-menuf’ specify menu font size ‘-range10’ use 10% palette ranges by default ‘-p’ play a command file ‘-gl’ faster line drawing performance on older SGI hardware ‘-no_start_screen’ start without EnSight bitmap at beginning ‘-ni’ don’t use color icons

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Archives Allow a complete restart from where left off Can issue from command line with ‘-ar’ Very fast compared to replaying a saved command file Usually not portable between EnSight releases

EnSight analyze, visualize, communicate Future Development Complex variables Tensors Partial updates over time –geometry and vars using different time sets –update only specified nodes/elements Graphics split from GUI Smart viewports Collaborative sessions Web enhancements Performance enhancements (// servers, monster)