Years ago I created an animation with Povray.

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0o0fgmyYYk

Now with a faster PC and a much better version of Povray I like to create the
same movie in Full HD ( 1920 x 1080 )

For older versions op Povray I used a Pre_Frame_Command to generate an insert
file for Povray.

like:

Pre_Frame_Command   = \raytrace\cbx\tools\makeobj.exe
\raytrace\cbx\inifiles\movies\camfol\camfol %n

In fact I call my Borland Pascal program makeobj.exe with 2 parameters:

1) the path and name of a number of files to create the animation.
2) the frame number for the animation.

With Povray 3.7 it doesn't work anymore:

Ik looks like the program MAKEOBJ.EXE is executed, but without the parameters.

If I call a batch file and redirect the output of MAKEOBJ.EXE to a file I see a
file-not found error.

And If I call a batch file with parameters it (sometimes) crashes Povray.

If I open a command prompt and copy the command line it works fine!

Now I remember that there was a note somewhere that in an earlier release the
Pre_Frame_Command did not work.

Is there a workaround for this problem?

- Olaf -

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"Satadorus" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> Years ago I created an animation with Povray.
>
> See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0o0fgmyYYk


I remember watching this on Youtube, and I was very impressed!
I especially like the accurate involute gear profiles, and the manner in which
you "machine" and assemble all of the parts using CSG and animation.

I'd love to learn some of the skills you have   :O
How many lines of code do you have, and how long did it take you to write it
all?   How long does it take to render all the frames (How many are there?!!)

Thanks!

Post a reply to this message

"Bald Eagle" <cre### [at] netscapenet> wrote:
> "Satadorus" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> > Years ago I created an animation with Povray.
> >
> > See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0o0fgmyYYk
>
>
> I remember watching this on Youtube, and I was very impressed!
> I especially like the accurate involute gear profiles, and the manner in which
> you "machine" and assemble all of the parts using CSG and animation.
>
> I'd love to learn some of the skills you have   :O
> How many lines of code do you have, and how long did it take you to write it
> all?   How long does it take to render all the frames (How many are there?!!)
>
> Thanks!

Hi,

The code is not that big.
I wrote a kind of script to animate the parts:

1) declared each basic part in a macro
2) wrote a file that shows which parts are shown and how long and how they move
and their appearance.
3) used a Borland Pascal 7 program to assemble and insert file for each frame.
This program was called once for every frame with the name of the object ( like
"piston" or "conrod" ) and the frame number.

The animation runs at 30 FPS for 6 min and 4 sec. A total of 10920 frames.

It took weeks to run on a 2001 PC using and older version of Povray.
I just left it running when I was sleeping or away for the weekend. Luckily
Povray does not crash!

- Olaf -

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