Single Shots and Video (HCM3D)

The steps of a simulation can be saved as individual images in JPG format and as animation in AVI format.

To create single shots or an entire video film of the simulation, identify a geometry for the simulation and activate in the settings dialogue window the Single shots or Generate video checkbox.

Select the directory to which you want to save the JPG files or the AVI file, respectively (default directory is the sub-directory \RAY in you HiCAD directory). Enter the base name with which you want the JPG files to begin, e.g. SIMULATION-. The images are numbered automatically and saved to the directory. Proceed likewise to specify a name for the AVI file.

Enter the number of motion steps for Single shots (for rotations, specify an appropriate value in degrees). This value determines the increments created for each motion. The higher the number, the more JPG files are created, and the smoother are the transitions of the single motions in the video film. Of course, more JPG files will also occupy more disk space.

If you want to create only one video film of the simulation (Generate video) without any single shots, HiCAD automatically creates the JPG files that are required for the AVI file.

Click OK to start the simulation. HiCAD then performs the simulation, creates the JPG files with the single shots if required, resp. starts the AVI generator.

When creating the video, the Videocodec dialogue window is displayed. Here you can select the codec for video compression and the compression quality. HiCAD lists all codecs installed on your computer. If you do not want to compress the video film, select Full single shots (uncompressed).

Please note:

To create the AVI file, HiCAD uses all the JPG files that exist in the source directory. Move or, if necessary, delete all files that are not required or do not belong to the same simulation before the operation.
The codecs are not supplied with HiCAD and must be installed separately.
The settings for individual frames and video generation can also be specified via the Extended function of the simulation menu.