2D Animation app `Nime' : please pre-alpha-alpha test it

[Genjix]

Hello,

you don't know how excited I am to be finally releasing this project to the community

Example Video: http://genjix.robloach.net/nime.avi
Example Video (XVid/mpeg4): http://genjix.robloach.net/nime1.avi
Example Video (MP42): http://genjix.robloach.net/nime2.avi
Example Video (DivX3): http://genjix.robloach.net/nime4.avi

http://genjix.robloach.net/nime.tar.bz2
http://genjix.robloach.net/nime.tar.gz
http://genjix.robloach.net/nime.zip

(The last 3 videos should be playable using the DivX player bundle http://www.divx.com/divx/play/download/)

Nime is a 2D animation application for Linux (not yet ported to windows, although it shouldn't be too hard work). This program is mainly concerned with animating cel's - NOT drawing them. You could day this program is built for animating anime (hence the name).
This is in response to the poor quality and unavailability of OpenSource 2D animation programs.

Currently all I know of are KToon and F4L (both in alpha/beta), and as far as I know neither of them has the concept of grouping objects into tree's and no `camera'.
Objects are grouped in layers and the same transforms you can apply to an object you can apply to a layer. So basically you end up with a tree. If you need a global camera just move the root node around and it acts like a camera. Scaling a layer, scales its objects around the screen center (zooming in and out - but scaling an object does so at its center).

KToon's and F4L movement's are limited to keyframes for a whole scene (as opposed to per object and layer in my program), and seem more suited to designing computer drawn frames (as opposed to animating ready drawn frames that could be drawn using a mix of scanner, inkscape and gimp).

Currently supported is translating, scaling, rotating and alpha blending your cels, with linear interpolation (inbetweens) for those as well.

As an example:

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<scene>
	<!--not yet implemented-->
	<!--<library></library>-->

	<layers>
		<layer name="camera">
			<!-- static centered background -->
			<object name="absolute background">
				<image name="" src="data/absbg.png" />
				<keyframes>
					<keyframe n="1">
						<move x="400" y="300" />
					</keyframe>
				</keyframes>
			</object>
			
			
			<object name="moving rotating changing object">
				<image name="1" src="data/object_frame1.jpg" />
				<image name="2" src="data/object_frame2.jpg" />
				
				<keyframes>
					<keyframe n="1">
						<move x="0" y="100" start="1" />
						<rotate angle="90" start="1" />
						<opacity value="2" start="1" />
					</keyframe>
					
					<keyframe n="50">
						<move x="1000" y="0" />
						<switch image="2" />
					</keyframe>
					
					<keyframe n="100">
						<move x="0" y="800" stop="1" />
						<rotate angle="180" stop="1" />
					</keyframe>
				</keyframes>
			</object>
			
			<!-- nested layers -->
			<layer name="crowd">
				<!-- two objects -->
				<object name="crystals">
					<image name="matthew" src="data/crystals.png" />
				</object>
				<object name="tree">
					<image name="jacob" src="data/tree.png" />
				</object>
			</layer>

			<!-- zoom this layer out starting at frame 1 to 100 -->
			<keyframes>
				<keyframe n="1">
					<scale factor="1" start="1" />
				</keyframe>
				
				<keyframe n="100">
					<scale factor="0.5" />
				</keyframe>
			</keyframes>
		</layer>
	</layers>

	<options>
		<screensize width="800" height="600" />
		<loopdelay delay="0" />		<!-- loop delay time for preview animation -->
		<save-as path="/tmp/img_" />	<!-- where to output frame images -->
		<output file="output.avi" />	<!-- ouput avi file -->
		<automatic-encoding />		<!-- perform automatic compiling of images into avi -->
	</options>
</scene>

As you can see keyframe info can be applied to objects (leaf or node in tree talk) or layers (branch in tree talk). So a squadron of flying ships can be animated on one layer (with delta translation differences caused by animation in the objects position).

To build it you need:
SDL
SDL_image
SDL_gfx
python
boost (boost_python)
Optional:
mplayer (mencoder)
ImageMagick (convert)
(above 2 packages are needed for rendering an avi)
gimp-gap (alternatively if you want to manually encode the avi by hand - consult README)

This is a very crucial time... I need everyone I can get. At this point in time I am working on a gui configuration tool and amongst programmers I also need artists who can help me create some truly wonderful looking animations that will generate enough interest to get the project going.

email: genjix at gmail doat com

Please tell me what you think!

[amne]

Moved from Multimedia to Unsupported Software.

[babo]

well I think this is great news

I'd like to do as much animation as is possible in linux. ktoon is closest now. I also tryed gimp-gap which I like couse I get pressure sensetivity of wacom and I also used cinepaint a bit.

I am emerging boost now and will try it later. I am willing to to contribute animations. I just need to have nime working.

[babo]

I get this error when I try to run ./configure

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rasta nime # ./configure 
using python path /usr/include/python2.4
rm: cannot remove `/tmp/out.so': No such file or directory
boost python path not found!
please open up this file and change BOOST_PYTHON_OPT (for boost python's parent include directory and boost python's linker options e.g BOOST_PYTHON_LIB="-I/path/to/ -lboost_python"
!!!! only use the parent directory for the boost include (i.e -I/usr/include NOT -I/usr/include/boost) !!!!
EXAMPLE: BOOST_PYTHON_OPT="-I/usr/include -lboost_python"
rasta nime # 

I emerged boost. Should I emerge something else?

and I am starting an ebuild:

# Copyright 1999-2005 Gentoo Foundation
# Distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License v2
# $Header: $

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DESCRIPTION="2D animation software"
HOMEPAGE="http://genjix.robloach.net/"
SRC_URI="http://genjix.robloach.net/${PN}.tar.gz"

LICENSE="GPL-2"
SLOT="0"
KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
IUSE=""

DEPEND="media-libs/libsdl
        media-libs/sdl-image
        media-libs/sdl-gfx
        dev-lang/python
        dev-libs/boost"

src_compile() {
    cd work/nime
    ./configure || die "configure failed"
    make || die "make failed"
}

src_install() {
    dobin ${P}/work/nime/nime || die "dobin failed"
    dodoc README
}

It's far from perfect or even working but it's a start.

[pussi]

I'd like to do as much animation as is possible in linux. ktoon is closest now. I also tryed gimp-gap which I like couse I get pressure sensetivity of wacom and I also used cinepaint a bit.

Have you heard of Synfig? I didn't try it yet but it looks really promising. There are ebuilds at bugs.gentoo.org too.

EDIT: Here's links for the ebuilds: synfig synfig-studio ETL

And sorry for off topic :(

[Genjix]

babo:
tell me where the headers for your boost install are

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 $ ls /usr/include/boost

also do

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  $ ls /usr/lib | grep boost | grep python

you should get /usr/lib/libboost_python.so in the list.

lets say you have boost headers install in /some/path/boost and the boost python library file is called boost-python (in /usr/lib)
then open up the configure file and change and change

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#!/bin/sh

PYTHON_INCLUDE=""
BOOST_PYTHON_OPT="-I/some/path -lboost-python"    # change this line
SDL_OPT=""
SDL_IMAGE_OPT=""
SDL_GFX_OPT=""

(capital i for include path and lowercase L for library file)

[babo]

ok, both ls-s give me correct values, so I entered:

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BOOST_PYTHON_OPT=" -I/usr/include/ -llibboost_python"

and I get this error:

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rasta nime # ./configure 
using python path /usr/include/python2.4
./configure: line 29: [: -I/usr/include/: binary operator expected
using SDL options "-lSDL"
using SDL_image options "-lSDL_image"
using SDL_gfx options "-lSDL_gfx"
rasta nime #

[Genjix]

extremely sorry, but it was a small error on my part... uploaded fixed version.

the the lib part isn't neccessary in linker options.

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  BOOST_PYTHON_OPT=" -I/usr/include/ -lboost_python"

but I find this extremely strange since boost is exactly same location and names as on my system yet the configure stage is find...

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  $ echo "#include <boost/python.hpp>" > /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp
  $ echo "BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE {  }" >> /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp
  $ g++ -shared /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp -I/usr/include/python2.4 -lboost_python -o /tmp/out.so
     /usr/lib/gcc/i686-pc-linux-gnu/3.4.4/../../../../i686-pc-linux-gnu/bin/ld: warning: creating a DT_TEXTREL in object.
  $

if you copy and paste that into your konsole you should get that same output... do you.

Thank you babo , a gui tool is nearing alpha and should be ready for alpha testing soon.

[babo]

this is what I get:

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$ echo "#include <boost/python.hpp>" > /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp
$ echo "BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE {  }" >> /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp
$ g++ -shared /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp -I/usr/include/python2.4 -lboost_python -o /tmp/out.so
/tmp/main_boostpython.cpp:2: error: invalid function declaration
$

I should mention I am running amd64.

[Genjix]

ok, good. now if you try

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$ echo "#include <boost/python.hpp>" > /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp 
$ echo "BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE(out) {  }" >> /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp 
$ g++ -shared /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp -I/usr/include/python2.4 -lboost_python -o /tmp/out.so 

it will definetly work (I know the include path is correct).

The new uploaded version should compensate with the ./configure step now... so try that out quickly.

Thanks

[babo]

this is what I get with boostpython.cpp test

still get this if I don't change anything:

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$ echo "#include <boost/python.hpp>" > /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp
$ echo "BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE(out) {  }" >> /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp
$ g++ -shared /tmp/main_boostpython.cpp -I/usr/include/python2.4 -lboost_python -o /tmp/out.so
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu/3.4.4/../../../../x86_64-pc-linux-gnu/bin/ld: /tmp/ccm3Ga3e.o: relocation R_X86_64_32 against `init_module_out()' can not be used when making a shared object; recompile with -fPIC
/tmp/ccm3Ga3e.o: could not read symbols: Bad value
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
$

and still don't get ./configure to work, the error is like before the new versions vere uploaded

[Genjix]

hmm, no idea... seems extremely strange. The new gui release is coming soon, but it will also be using boost-python
try...

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BOOST_PYTHON_OPT="-lboost_python -I/usr/include/python2.4 -fPIC"

if that doesn't work I have no idea. I think this is probably my cue to be switching to autotools as opposed to custom configure files

[babo]

still don't get it on amd64, but I just got back my old x86 laptop and it compiles whithout problem there.

[Genjix]

Hi again,

just thought I'd post a picture of how development is getting on with the gui tool
http://tinypic.com/fwpyjo.png

• o ignore the stupid slider at the bottom of the screen, I will
  eventually add a way of visualising which frames have keyframes and
  which do not involve that Delete Keyframes and Add keyframes buttons.
  Therefore scrolling the slider along every frame to see where your
  keyframes are will be uneccessary.
  Do you think it would be ok to do this as a list of the keyframes on
  the right hand side and keep the slider and you can be right click the list entries
  for insert&add , delete operations)?
  
  o Not everything is visible atm in the object properties panel (top
  left), like rotation, current image, scale and the objects name (might
  make this when you double click the objects tree entry in the tree
  view (bottom left))
  
  o I've decided to go with seperating objects and images - i.e theres a
  global list of images which you give names and objects can reference
  those loaded images by their names (handles) as opposed to having an
  internal list of images (allows objects to 'share' images and only
  load them in once). This will enable me later on to have some kind of
  'image panel' where you can drag and drop images onto the current
  image text field or something similar - I'm aiming to completely get
  rid of text input as much as needed in the future, so you no longer
  have to reference the images by a name.