Manual
MUAN is an important tool to construct frame-by-frame animations. Through a video camera accomplished to the computer, MUAN receives the images that will be compose the animation. The basic principle of creating an animation with MUAN starts with the user capturing images. The incomming image from camera (that can be captured) is viewed in the Image Panel. Once a lot of images have been captured, generating an animation, user is able to play or edit it. Finally, the animation might be saved in any of the available formats and it can be loaded by the user when desired.
The image below shows the user interface of MUAN_OS. It is composed by consiste de 5 windows:
Click on an element to see its description.
AVAILABLE OPERATIONS
Menu System
Menu File
Menu View
Menu Animation
Menu Help
ELEMENTS DESCRIPTION
Menu Window
This is the main window of the application and it has the operation menu. The application terminates when this window is closed.
Capture Window
his window contains the Image Panel where images and animations are shown.
Important: The window title bar shows the name and path of the current file.
Tooltip: When the filename has an * it means that the file are not saved with the latest updates.
Information Window
This window shows informations about the current animation: current capture number, current capture duration, current frame position, total captures number, total frames number.
It can be visible or not according to the View - Information Window choice menu.
Main Toolbar
It contains elements for manipulation, edition and visualization of the current animation such as tools that allow capture images, set duration of frames, work within frame range, flip and view animation in loop and/or fullscreen.
It can be visible or not according to View - Toolbars - Main Toolbar choice menu.
Navigation Toolbar
Allows navigation over animation frames: going to first, previous, next or last frame or playing/pause animation.
It can be visible or not according to View - Toolbars - Main Toolbar choice menu.
MENU VIEW
Full Screen
Shows the Image Panel covering the whole screen. To restore the normal view, press ESC.
Shortcut: ALT+ENTER
MENU FILE
New
Creates a new "empty" animation (having only the First Frame), closing the current one.
Shortcut: CTRL+N
Tooltip: Before close the current animation, application asks to save it if it isn't.
Load
Loads an animation or image (ras or jpg) already saved in computer.
Shortcut: CTRL+G
Important: The file loaded will be inserted in the current position of the animation in use.
Insert
Inserts a file (animation or image) in the current animation.
Shortcut: CTRL+I
Important: The animation or image selected will be inserted at the current frame position.
Save
Saves the current animation in AVI video format.
Shortcut: CTRL+S
Important: MUAN stores information about the frame duration in the file saved. So, this information can be used when loading the file. For more details about this, read "Preferences - Load Mode".
Save As
Saves the current file with a different name.
Shortcut: SHIFT+CTRL+S
Important: MUAN stores information about the frame duration in the file saved. So, this information can be used when loading the file. For more details about this, read "Preferences - Load Mode".
Export
Exports the current animation to a new format. Available formats:
- mpg: saves the animation in mpeg1 format.
- avi: saves the animation in avi dv1 format.
- jpg: saves all animation frames in jpeg files in the specified directory. In this case, the filenames will be generated using the name specified as the prefix and a numeric sequence.
Shortcut: CTRL+E
Important: In the Export Dialog, inform the filename with the desired extension (format). E.g.: test.mpg defines that the file will be saved in mpeg1 format.
Import Images
Inserts in the current animation all jpg images from a directory using alfa-numeric filename sequence.
Shortcut: CTRL+M
MENU ANIMATION
Capture
Capture the current image received from camera and insert it in the animation at the next position from the current.
Shortcut: \
Play
Start playing the animation.
Shortcut: CTRL+ENTER
Important: The application will be set in Memory Mode automatically.
Stop
Stop playing the animation.
Shortcut: PAUSE
Important: This functionality only applies if the application is playing an animation.
Go to - First Frame
Go to the first captured image of animation and show it in Image Panel.
Shortcut: HOME
Important: The application will be set in Memory Mode automatically.
Go to - Previous Frame
Back to the previous captured image of animation and show it in Image Panel.
Shortcut: <
Important: The application will be set in Memory Mode automatically.
Go to Next Frame
Increments the current frame's position by 1.
Shortcut: >
Important: The application will be set in Memory Mode automatically.
Go to - Last Frame
Go to the last captured image of animation and show it in Image Panel.
Shortcut: END
Important: The application will be set in Memory Mode automatically.
Go to - Capture Number
Asks the user for a new current position in the animation and refreshes image panel.
Important: The application will be set in Memory Mode automatically.
Remove
Removes the current frame, but only applies if application is in Memory Mode and the user confirms the operation. An animation always has at least one frame. So, when removing a frame that is the last one, automatically the First Frame will be inserted in the animation.
Shortcut: DELETE
Important: In the Confirm Dialog, the key ENTER will confirm the operation and the key ESC will cancel it, independent of the button in focus. The button in focus can be executed using the space bar on the keyboard.
Clear
Removes all frames of the animation, asking to confirm the operation.
Shortcut: SHIFT+DELETE
Important: In the Confirm Dialog, the key ENTER will confirm the operation and the key ESC will cancel it, independent of the button in focus. The button in focus can be executed using the space bar on the keyboard.
Image Panel
Central panel of MUAN where images are shown. It functions in two modes:
- Memory - Shows stored images (created animation).
- Camera - Shows images comming from the camera in real time. In this mode, the label CAMERA can be seen in the left superior corner of the panel.
Frame Duration Edit Text
In Camera mode, defines the duration of the frame that will be captured. As exemple, defining 2 in the Frame Duration Edit Text means that the next frame to be captured will take the time of 2 frames when playing the animation.
In Memory mode, changes the duration of the current frame (shown in the Image Panel). To do this, type the desired value and then type ENTER.
Range Button
When is turned on, defines a sequence of frames that are used at Play or Delete operation. The beginning and the end of this range must be specified in the Begin and End Fields, respectively.
Shortcut: CTRL+R
Begin Edit Text
Defines the beginning position when using Range. When is left empty it means that the first frame will be used as the beginning of the range.
Tip: In Memory Mode, uses the Begin Button to select the current frame as the beginning of the range.
End Edit Text
Defines the end position when using Range. When is left empty it means that the last frame will be used as the end of the range.
Tip: In Memory Mode, uses the End Button to select the current frame as the end of the range.
Loop Button
Turns on/off the option of continuous playing. That is, when is turned on application plays the animation restarting every time that it ends.
Shortcut: CTRL+L
Flip Button
Turns on/off the Flip Operation. Flip alternates between the last captured image and the current incomming image (from camera). It is possible to control the speed of this swap through the slider.
Shortcut: CTRL+F
Important: If the application is playing an animation and Flip is turned on then it stops the execution of the animation.
Current Capture Text Display
Indicates the number (position) of the current image on Image Panel.
Current Capture Duration Text Display
Indicates the duration of the current frame.
Current Frame Text Display
Indicates the number of the current frame. This number is calculated according to the previous frames duration.
Tip: In the case that application is in Memory Mode, then the current frame can be shown in the Image Panel.
Total Captures Text Display
Indicates the total of captured images in the animation.
Total Frames Text Display
Indicates the total of frames in the animation. This number is calculated according to the duration of all images captured.
Status Bar
Shows messages of system state, like saving animation and camera off.
MENU HELO
About
Shows the About window which has informations about MUAN development.
Manual
Opens a browser showing this user manual.
Tecla de Atalho: F1
MENU SYSTEM
Memory/Camera
Alternate between Memory or Camera Mode, defining if the images shown on Image Panel are comming from the camera (Camera Mode) or from the created animation (Memory Mode).
Shortcut: CTRL+/
Important: If camera is not connected to computer or is turned off then application shows a message and sets the Memory Mode.
Preferences
Show the Preferences Window where user can set the application parameters.
- Load Mode - There are three modes of loading an animation:
- Using MUAN numeration
- Comparing frames
- Loading all frames
- First Frame - Image automatically inserted when animation is empty, since application always has to have at least one frame.
- Default Duration - Defines the duration used in the image capture operation when user leaves the Duration edit text empty.
- Auto Save - Turns on/off the option of saving an animation automatically and periodically.
Exit
Exits application, asking to save animation if it is no.
Shortcut: ESC
No: Exit application whitout saving.
Yes (ENTER key): Open the save dialog to exit later.
Cancel (ESC key): Cancel exit operation.
