Microsoft Knowledge Base

HOWTO: Converting SOFTIMAGE 3D Frames to a Quick Time Movie File
Last reviewed: March 18, 1997
Article ID: Q165366
The information in this article applies to:
  • Softimage 3D for IRIX, version 3.51

SUMMARY

To convert SOFTIMAGE 3D frames to a Quick Time movie file, you must first convert your frames to the SGI format, then use the SGI utility moviemaker to create the Quick Time movie file. With IRIX version 5.3 and up, you have the option to render movie files in SGI and Quick Time movie format. There are different compression schemes and you should be advised to perform some tests to find the one that fits its requirements.

MORE INFORMATION

You can also write a simple shell script to automate the process. The following is an example of one that you can use and modify to its needs. However, knowledge of C shell script writing is required.

#!/bin/csh -f

if ($#argv == 0) goto usage

set softname=$1 shift

while ($#argv > 0) 

        if ("$1" !~ \-*) break
        switch ("$1")
      case "-o":
         set output
         shift
         set postname=$1
         breaksw
                case "-s":
                        set sequence
                        shift
                        set start=$1
                        shift
                        set end=$1
         shift
         set step=$1
                        breaksw
      case "-e":
         set extension
         shift
         set ext=$1
         breaksw
      case "-n":
         set number
         shift
         set nmb=$1
                        breaksw
                case "-S":
         set size
         shift
         set xsize=$1
         shift
         set ysize=$1
         breaksw
      case "-h":
         set halfsize
         breaksw
      case "-q":
         set quartersize
         breaksw
      case "-v":
                        set verb
                        breaksw
                default:
                        goto usage
                        breaksw
        endsw
        shift
end
### PRE-PROCESS CHECK ###

if ($?sequence) then else 

   goto usage
endif

if ($?extension) then else 

   set ext=pic
endif

if (-e $softname.$start.$ext) then else 

   echo -n "\007"
   inform File not found, please verify.
   exit 0
endif

if ($?number) then else 

   set nmb=$start
endif

if ($?output) then 

   if (-e $postname.000$nmb.sgi || -e $postname.00$nmb.sgi || -e
$postname.0$nmb.sgi || -e $postname.$nmb.sgi) then 
      echo -n "Output file already exist, overwrite? (yes/no)[no] : "
      set answer=$<
      if ($answer == "y" || $answer == "yes") then
      else
         exit 0
      endif
   endif
else 
   set postname=$softname
endif

### BEGINNING OF SCRIPT LOOP ###

if ($?verb) then else 

   echo "Preparing sequence for SGI movie file conversion, please wait..."
endif

while ($start <= $end) 

   if (-e $softname.$start.$ext) then
      if ($nmb < 10) set pad=000
      if ($nmb >= 10 && $nmb < 100) set pad=00
      if ($nmb >= 100 && $nmb < 1000) set pad=0
      if ($nmb >= 1000) set pad
      if ($?size) then
         if ($ext == "pic") then
            scale $softname.$start/usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP -S $xsize $ysize
         else
            ${ext}2soft $softname.$start /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP
            scale /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP -S $xsize $ysize
         endif
      else if ($?halfsize) then
         if ($ext == "pic") then
            scale $softname.$start /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP -S 360 243
                        else
            ${ext}2soft $softname.$start /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP
            scale /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP -S 360 243
         endif
      else if ($?quartersize) then
         if ($ext == "pic") then
            scale $softname.$start /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP -S 180 121
                        else
            ${ext}2soft $softname.$start /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP
            scale /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP -S 180 121
         endif
      endif
      if ($?verb) echo "Converting to $postname.$pad$nmb.sgi."
      if ($?size || $?halfsize || $?quartersize) then
         soft2sgi /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP $postname.$pad$nmb
      else
         if ($ext == "pic") then
            soft2sgi $softname.$start $postname.$pad$nmb
                        else if ($ext == "tga") then
            fromtarga $softname.$start.tga $postname.$pad$nmb.sgi
         else if ($ext == "als") then
            fromalias $softname.$start $postname.$pad$nmb.sgi
         else
            from$ext $softname.$start.$ext $postname.$pad$nmb.sgi
         endif
      endif
      if (-e /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP.pic) then
         /sbin/rm /usr/tmp/SOFT_TMP.pic
      endif
   else
      echo "File $softname.$start.$ext not found... SKIPPED.";goto SKIP
   endif
   @ nmb++
   SKIP:
   @ start += $step
end

if (-e /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP.$ext) then 

   /sbin/rm /usr/tmp/SCALE_TMP.$ext
endif

echo "\nSequence $postname ready for SGI movie file conversion.\n"

loop1: echo -n "Convert now? (y/n): " set answer1=$< if ($answer1 == "y") then 

        loop2:
        echo -n "Compression schemes; none mvc1 mvc2 rle rle24 jpeg : "
        set answer2=$<
        if ($answer2 == "none") then
        else if ($answer2 == "mvc1") then
        else if ($answer2 == "mvc2") then
        else if ($answer2 == "rle") then
        else if ($answer2 == "rle24") then
        else if ($answer2 == "jpeg") then
        else
                goto loop2
        endif
   loop3:
   echo -n "Playback option; loop swing once : "
   set answer3=$<
   if ($answer3 == "loop") then
   else if ($answer3 == "swing") then
   else if ($answer3 == "once") then
   else
      goto loop3
   endif
        echo -n "Specify frame rate (ex.: 10, 15, 30...): "
        set answer4=$<
   loop5:
        echo -n "Resize output movie file? (y/n): "
        set answer5=$<
        if ($answer5 == y) then
                echo -n "Specify x size: "
                set answer6=$<
                echo -n "Specify y size: "
                set answer7=$<
                echo -n "Name of output movie file (without extension): "
                set answer8=$<
      echo
                makemovie -c $answer2 -l $answer3 -r $answer4 -s
$answer6,$answer7 -o $answer8.mv $postname.????.sgi 
        else if ($answer5 == "n") then
                echo -n "Name of output movie file (without extension): "
                set answer6=$<
      echo
                makemovie -c $answer2 -l $answer3 -r $answer4 -o
$answer6.mv $postname.????.sgi 
        else
                goto loop5
        endif
else if ($answer1 == "n") then 
        exit 0
else
        goto loop1
endif exit 0

usage: echo "\nsoft2movie V3.0 (1996)" echo "Written by Sylvain Labrosse, SOFTIMAGE Service Bureau.\n" echo "This C shell script prepares a sequence for conversion to SGI movie file" echo "format.\n" echo "Usage:_[1m soft2movie <input file> <-s <start> <end> <step>>_[0m" 

echo "                  [-e <extension>] [-o <output file>] [-n <output
start>]" 
echo "                  [-S <xsize> <ysize>] [-h] [-q] [-v]\n"
echo "       <input file>: input sequence filename."
echo "               <-s>: <start> input sequence starting frame."
echo "                     <end> input sequence ending frame."
echo "                     <step> input sequence stepping factor.\n"
echo "Options: e input file extension. The default is SOFTIMAGE .pic file format." 
echo "   o specifies a different output filename from the input one."
echo "   n specifies a different starting number for the output sequence."
echo "   S scales images to x and y value."
echo "   h scales images to half the video resolution (360x243)."
echo "   q scales images to one quarter of the video resolution (180x121)."
echo "   v turns on the verbose mode.\n"
echo " Note: When conversion is finished, this script will ask you if you want to" echo " proceed with the final conversion into movie format. Note that your" echo " system can limit the amount of frames to be processed. If so, it is" echo " preferable to do the conversion in sections and link them after.\n" exit 0

REFERENCES

If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this article, contact support@softimage.com by e-mail.

Keywords : kbgraphic si si3d
Version : 3.51
Platform : IRIX
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: March 18, 1997
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.