1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Movie-making In VisIt
Brad Whitlock
DEPCom
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Movie-making has proven to be one of the greatest challenges for VisIt users because of the inherent complexity involved. The movie-making process, which includes: setting up intricate visualizations, processing very large datasets, adding special effects, and encoding final movies, has been encapsulated into the movie template. Movie templates hide the complexity of creating high-end movies, making it possible for many more VisIt users to create their own movies.
Introduction
Many VisIt users do not have the time or energy to become experts in all of the areas required to make a movie.
Movie-making requires knowledge of:
VisIt
Python scripting
Image processing tools
Movie encoding tools
A more automated way of producing a movie must be created so the average VisIt user can create complex movies.
VisIt Movie Generation Script
Movie Template Scripting Object
VisIt
Image
processing
Movie
encoders
Movie templates are XML files that contain the movie design, including: metadata, viewports, and image sequence definitions. The Movie wizard reads the movie template and creates appropriate user interface pages that let users customize the movie template. The results are written out as a new XML file that is used as input to VisIt’s command line Movie Generation Script.
Design
Easy wizard-style interface
Provides stock movie templates
Records, edits, saves movie templates
Allows custom user interfaces
Inserts effects (rotations, transitions, etc.)
Makes movies with multiple viewports
Use movie template from command line
Allows user-provided Python scripting
XML
Scripting
User Interface
Movie template
VisIt Movie wizard
Diagram of how movie templates are recorded and used in VisIt
Input
Output
Movie templates and Movie wizard
VisIt now encapsulates intricate visualizations and special effects into a movie template. Movie templates hide the complexity of making a movie by allowing the user to assemble complex movies from simple elements. Movie templates are recorded and edited using the Movie wizard in VisIt.
Movie template selection, Viewport setup, Image sequence creation and viewport mapping.
VisIt users can create new types of movies or movies based on stock movie templates. The Movie wizard lets users choose how visualizations are used and permits elements such as image transitions to be added to the movie template. Each movie element provides a page in the Movie wizard so the user can perform customizations.
Command line movie generation (visit –movie)
Summary
VisIt now provides a flexible, easy-to-use movie-making interface that enables creation of high-end movies.
Hides details of Python scripting, image processing, and movie encoding
Extensible and allows users to record new templates
Allows users to assemble simple elements into complex movies
This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-Eng-48.
UCRL-POST