Animations in MATLAB

Daniel Lab Hallway Salon

02-11-2011

https://courses.washington.edu/danielab/labwiki/index.php?title=Making_animations_in_MATLAB

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Easiest implementation:
FOR - loop creates updated figures
for each frame of the final movie
From Mathworks docs:

You can create animated sequences with MATLAB graphics in three different
ways:
■ Save a number of different pictures and play them back as a movie.
■ Continually erase and redraw the objects on the screen, making
incremental changes with each redraw.
■ Redefine the XData, YData, ZData, and/or CData plot object properties,
optionally linking them to data sources (workspace variables) and updating
the properties via calls to refreshdata.

I’ll show you the recipe that works for me, but
there are many ways to achieve animated bliss

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Example movie:

Friday, February 11, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011
 Digitized points (3D) of a hovering moth

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

draw axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

draw axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Creating an animation from a parametric equation: setting up the path
a dot should move along
%% create data for our animation: a dot moving along a path
% Our aim is to make a circle move around an image along a specified path.
% First, we'll create that path (xpos and ypos)

revolution_no = 5; % how often around the circle

ang_resolution = 40; % how many points (i.e. frames) per circle
da = 2*pi/ang_resolution; % delta angle

t = 0:da:revolution_no*2*pi; % time steps

% why not a spiral:

pathradius = linspace(0,10,length(t)); % path radius increases each dt
xpos = pathradius.*cos(t);
ypos = pathradius.*sin(t);

% show what we have so far:

figure(1);
subplot(1,3,1:2)
plot(t,xpos, '-k'); hold on;
plot(t,ypos, '-r');
set(gca, 'XLim', [0 max(t)]); box off;
xlabel('time steps'); ylabel('x (black) and y (red) pos')

subplot(1,3,3)
plot(xpos,ypos,'k'); axis equal; axis off;
title('The path our circle will move along');

% We now want to use these x-y coordinates to place a cirle on an image.

% Each iteration, we want the position to be updated so that it appears as
% if the circle moved around the specified path.
% In addition, we want the circle diameter to change as it goes along.

circlesize = linspace(0.2,2, length(t)); % circle size increases linearly

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Plotting a circle that follows our path equation

%% Test the moving circle

% We'll now plot a circle for each time steps, according to the path and
% size specifications above. I created a separate function to create the
% circle, called 'plotfilledcircle'.

axlim = 15;
figure;
for c = 1:length(t)
helper ph=plotfilledcircle(circlesize(c), [xpos(c) ypos(c)]);
function
% we need to set the axes to an appropriate limit, otherwise they'll
% resize to always show the full circle:
axis([-axlim axlim -axlim axlim]);
axis square;
% create a counter that updates each iteration:
titlestr = sprintf('Frame: %03d', c);
title(titlestr);

pause(0.05); % pause a bit to see animation

end

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Function to draw a circle
function ph = plotfilledcircle(circle_radius,circlecenter, fcol)
helper %
% plotfilledcircle(circle_radius,circlecenter, fcol)
function %
% Function to plot a filled circle with radius 'circle_radius'
% 'circlecenter' ... center location [0 0] is default
% 'fcol' is optional and defines the face color (black default)
%
% Armin H 2011

if nargin < 2
circlecenter = [0 0];
end
if nargin < 3
fcol = [0 0 0];
end

theta = linspace(0,2*pi,100); % 100 points between 0 and 2pi

x = circle_radius*cos(theta) + circlecenter(1);
y = circle_radius*sin(theta) + circlecenter(2);
ph = fill(x, y, 'k');

set(ph, 'FaceColor', fcol);

box off; axis equal;

end

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

draw axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack):
imwrite() function writes frames captured with frame2im() to a file

axlim = 15;
figure;
for c = 1:length(t)
fprintf('Frame: %03d\n', c); % display counter

ph=plotfilledcircle(circlesize(c), [xpos(c) ypos(c)]); % plot circle

axis off;
% we need to set the axes to an appropriate limit, otherwise they'll
% resize to always show the full circle:
axis([-axlim axlim -axlim axlim]);
axis square;

% We'll save this animation as a tiff stack, so we can load it

% back later for our grand finale
currentframe = frame2im(getframe(gcf)); % convert fig into image data
currentframe = im2bw(currentframe,0.4); % make it binary to save space
if c == 1
imwrite(currentframe, 'tiffstack.tiff', 'WriteMode', 'overwrite');
else
imwrite(currentframe, 'tiffstack.tiff', 'WriteMode', 'append');
end

pause(0.05); % pause a bit to see animation

end

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

draw axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Planning and creating a multi-axes figure

display frame
fill plot of circle from TIFF
stack

evolving graph of circle size

height evolving graph of circle position

y

width
x

ax_pos = [x y width height];

ax_handle = axes;
set(ax_handle, 'Units', 'pixels', 'Position', ax_pos);

or relative sizing: set(ax_handle, 'Units', 'normalized', 'Position', ax_pos);

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Planning and creating a multi-axes figure: collect positions in matrices

I like to set up fig_pos = [100 10 1024 768]; % position and size of the figure window

position variables fillplot_ax_pos = [80 320 400 400]; % position and size of fill plot
before entering the image_ax_pos = [580 320 400 400]; % image plot
sizedata_ax_pos = [50 170 1024-60 70]; % circle size graph
loop. posdata_ax_pos = [50 50 1024-60 100]; % circle position graph

Axes in the loop will

use these variables
to position
themselves on the
figure

fig_col = [1 1 1]; % figure background color

It’s also useful to text_col = [0 0 0]; % text color
declare often-used light_grey = [.4 .4 .4];
dark_grey = [.2 .2 .2];
colors at the onset nice_blue = [51/255 51/255 102/255];
light_red = [.6 .4 .4];

All this makes it easier to change the appearance of various elements

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

create axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Set up the FOR loop: my recipe
Before the loop: movieflag = 1;
moviefilename = 'tutorialmovie.avi';
Set up figure
% only if our flag is set to 1, will we open up a movie object:
window, use if movieflag == 1
‘Position’ aviobj = avifile(moviefilename, 'fps', 30, 'compression', 'none');
property to set end
size startframe = 1; endframe = 100;

Declare where all fh= figure('color', fig_col, 'name', 'Tutorial animation movie', ...
'Position', fig_pos);
the elements
(axes) should be for k = startframe:endframe

% MAKE THE FIGURE

flag that decides %
whether movie %
object is created if movieflag == 1
frame = getframe(gcf); % capture current figure
set to zero when aviobj = addframe(aviobj,frame); % append frame
end
setting up the if k < endframe
layout etc. clf; % clear figure except for very last frame
end
end
if set to one:
avifile function if movieflag == 1
sets up movie aviobj = close(aviobj);
end
object.

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Set up the FOR loop: my recipe

In the loop: movieflag = 1;

moviefilename = 'tutorialmovie.avi';
Draw your axes in % only if our flag is set to 1, will we open up a movie object:
the figure window if movieflag == 1
with data from aviobj = avifile(moviefilename, 'fps', 30, 'compression', 'none');
end
time step k
startframe = 1; endframe = 100;
if movieflag equals
fh= figure('color', fig_col, 'name', 'Tutorial animation movie', ...
one, capture the 'Position', fig_pos);
current figure with
for k = startframe:endframe
getframe()
% MAKE THE FIGURE
use addframe() to %
%
append frame to
the movie object if movieflag == 1
frame = getframe(gcf); % capture current figure
aviobj = addframe(aviobj,frame); % append frame
clear the figure end
with clf if you’re if k < endframe
not at the last clf; % clear figure except for very last frame
end
frame (seems to end
make stuff faster)
if movieflag == 1
aviobj = close(aviobj);
end

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Set up the FOR loop: my recipe

Out of the loop: movieflag = 1;

moviefilename = 'tutorialmovie.avi';
Close the movie % only if our flag is set to 1, will we open up a movie object:
object with if movieflag == 1
close(), if the flag aviobj = avifile(moviefilename, 'fps', 30, 'compression', 'none');
end
was set
startframe = 1; endframe = 100;

fh= figure('color', fig_col, 'name', 'Tutorial animation movie', ...

'Position', fig_pos);

for k = startframe:endframe

% MAKE THE FIGURE

%
%

if movieflag == 1
frame = getframe(gcf); % capture current figure
aviobj = addframe(aviobj,frame); % append frame
end
if k < endframe
clf; % clear figure except for very last frame
end
end

if movieflag == 1
aviobj = close(aviobj);
end

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

draw axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Set up axes for images and data graphs

As mentioned, I like to set up position and color variable at the onset

axes() command uses position information to place axes accordingly

handle_ax = axes;
set(handle_ax, 'Units', 'pixels', 'Position', handle_ax_pos);

p1h(1)=plot(xpos,ypos, '-.');
set(p1h(1), 'Color', light_grey, 'LineWidth', 2);
hold on;
p1h(2) = plot(.....
set(p1h(2), 'Color', light_red, 'LineWidth', 1);
hold off;

graphics handles allow fine-grained control over each element

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

set up axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Load sequential images from image file (TIFF stack example)

imread(ind) loads images from a file. Certain files (GIF, TIFF) can contain
multiple images in a stack. The ind tells the function which image it should
pull from the stack.
image_ax = axes;
set(image_ax, 'Units', 'pixels', 'Position', image_ax_pos);
try
img = imread('tiffstack.tiff', k); % load image of current index
catch ME1
% Get last segment of the error message identifier.
idSegLast = regexp(ME1.identifier, '(?<=:)\w+$', 'match');
disp(idSegLast);
error('Failed loading tiff image');
end
img = xor(1,img); % invert image to make it more exciting... XOR rules!
imagesc(img); colormap gray; axis off; axis image;

th=title('Inverted image from TIFF stack');

set(th, 'FontSize', 14);

imagesc(img) displays the image. colormap tells it what the numbers

contained in the img array “mean”.

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

set up axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

long and tedious code, see code listing

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Step-by-step example of how to create a multi-axes animation

Topic covered:

creating an animation from a parametric equation

saving the animation as an image sequence (TIFF stack)

planning and creating a multi-axes figure

set up the FOR loop

set up axes for images and data graphs

load sequential images from TIFF stack

update information for each frame

save figure content into AVI movie file

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Save figure content into AVI movie file

f = getframe(gcf) captures the current figure window in variable f

addframe(aviobj,f) adds frame f to the open movie object (aviobj)
.
.
.
if movieflag == 1
frame = getframe(gcf); % capture current figure
aviobj = addframe(aviobj,frame); % use addframe to append frame
end
if k < endframe
clf; % clear figure except for very last frame
end
end of the end % of the big loop
big movie loop fprintf('\nDone looping...\n');

if movieflag == 1
fprintf('Saving movie...\n\n');
aviobj = close(aviobj);
end

call close(aviobj) to close the movie object once we are

done with the big loop

Friday, February 11, 2011

 Compress movie with VirtualDub, Quicktime, or other movie editing software

Matlab can save already compressed files, but it seems faster

and easier to just save uncompressed videos, and do the
compression elsewhere

Compression rates are usually huge. E.g. for the tutorial

video:

Uncompressed: ca. 474 MB

XViD compressed: ca. 492 KB

Friday, February 11, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011