Difference between revisions of "Creating animations for LED panels using powerpoint"

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== Creating the PowerPoint Animation==
== Creating the PowerPoint Animation==
===Set up the initial slide format===
===Set up the initial slide format===
# Change slide master to 24 x 6.4. To do this
# Change slide master to 24cm x 6.4cm. To do this
## Go to the '''View''' tab.
## Go to the '''View''' tab.
## Click '''Slide master'''.  
## Click '''Slide master'''.  
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## Then click on '''Slide Size''' on the ribbon.
## Then click on '''Slide Size''' on the ribbon.
## Click '''Custom slide size''' and change the height and width.
## Click '''Custom slide size''' and change the height and width.
=== Create and Animate===
=== Create and Animate===
# Find/make your graphics. These can be images or vectors, but bear in mind the low resolution of the display.  
# Find/make your graphics. These can be images or vectors, but bear in mind the low resolution of the display. A black background  works better than white.
# To animate elements
# To animate elements
## Go to '''Animations''' tab.  
## Go to '''Animations''' tab.  
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## Click on the type of animation.
## Click on the type of animation.
## Tune the effect options and timing. Showing the ''Animation Pane'' may help if you have anything complicated.
## Tune the effect options and timing. Showing the ''Animation Pane'' may help if you have anything complicated.
We have found it is useful to add a defined end sequence to aid the video capture. If possible end the animation with a fade to black or overlay a black rectangle over the previous animation steps that displays for around 5 seconds. This makes it easier when it come to capturing/recording the MP4 of the slide and then converting that to the animated GIF.
=== Record the Slideshow, Create the video===
=== Record the Slideshow, Create the video===
# To record the slideshow and create the video
# To record the slideshow and create the video
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## Click '''Screen recording'''
## Click '''Screen recording'''
## The presentation may get minimised and replaced by a recording toolbar. Re-maximise the presentation (the recording toolbar will stay visible on top).
## The presentation may get minimised and replaced by a recording toolbar. Re-maximise the presentation (the recording toolbar will stay visible on top).
## Using the '''select area tool''' from the '''Recording''' toolbar, select the slide outline so that its highlighted by a red dashed rectangle.
## Using the '''select area tool''' from the '''Recording''' toolbar, select the slide outline so that its highlighted by a red dashed rectangle. Try to make sure you only select the slide and don't get any white background at the edges.
## Navigate back to the '''Animations''' tab on the ribbon.
## Navigate back to the '''Animations''' tab on the ribbon.
## Click the '''Record''' button on the '''Recording''' toolbar.  
## Click the '''Record''' button on the '''Recording''' toolbar.  
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## A video of the animation will be inserted into the slide.
## A video of the animation will be inserted into the slide.
## Right click on that video and click "save media" save the ''mp4'' file
## Right click on that video and click "save media" save the ''mp4'' file
== Converting the file ==
== Converting the file ==
# Go to https://cloudconvert.com/mp4-to-gif and upload the mp4 for conversion to gif.
# Go to https://cloudconvert.com/mp4-to-gif and upload the mp4 for conversion to gif.
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'''NOTE:''' The exact process may vary slightly with different versions of PowerPoint, but the functionality should still be available with any relatively modern version. Instructions here are specifically for PowerPoint 2013.
'''NOTE:''' The exact process may vary slightly with different versions of PowerPoint, but the functionality should still be available with any relatively modern version. Instructions here are specifically for PowerPoint 2013.
== Other Conversion or GIF generation tools==
===GIF Conversion===
https://ezgif.com
===GIF Generation on a Raspberry Pi===
Brian W has created some code to help generate animated GIFs on a Raspberry Pi
The details can be found on the Hackspace GitHub repo here:
== Examples / Repository of Files ==
[[Animated GIF Repository]]
[[Category:Projects]]

Latest revision as of 14:24, 30 April 2022

Creating the PowerPoint Animation

Set up the initial slide format

  1. Change slide master to 24cm x 6.4cm. To do this
    1. Go to the View tab.
    2. Click Slide master.
    3. Click on the top most slide on the left hand panel
    4. Then click on Slide Size on the ribbon.
    5. Click Custom slide size and change the height and width.

Create and Animate

  1. Find/make your graphics. These can be images or vectors, but bear in mind the low resolution of the display. A black background works better than white.
  2. To animate elements
    1. Go to Animations tab.
    2. Select item.
    3. Click on the type of animation.
    4. Tune the effect options and timing. Showing the Animation Pane may help if you have anything complicated.

We have found it is useful to add a defined end sequence to aid the video capture. If possible end the animation with a fade to black or overlay a black rectangle over the previous animation steps that displays for around 5 seconds. This makes it easier when it come to capturing/recording the MP4 of the slide and then converting that to the animated GIF.

Record the Slideshow, Create the video

  1. To record the slideshow and create the video
    1. Go to the Slideshow tab
    2. Click Screen recording
    3. The presentation may get minimised and replaced by a recording toolbar. Re-maximise the presentation (the recording toolbar will stay visible on top).
    4. Using the select area tool from the Recording toolbar, select the slide outline so that its highlighted by a red dashed rectangle. Try to make sure you only select the slide and don't get any white background at the edges.
    5. Navigate back to the Animations tab on the ribbon.
    6. Click the Record button on the Recording toolbar.
    7. A 3 second countdown timer will start
    8. Once the recording starts, click the Animation preview button (top left)
    9. Stop the recording (by pressing the Square in the Recording toolbar) when the animation is complete.
    10. A video of the animation will be inserted into the slide.
    11. Right click on that video and click "save media" save the mp4 file

Converting the file

  1. Go to https://cloudconvert.com/mp4-to-gif and upload the mp4 for conversion to gif.
  2. Click the spanner icon to change the default settings.
    1. Use a custom resolution of 240 x 64
    2. A video codec of GIF
    3. A frame rate of 15FPS.
    4. You can also trim the start or end if needed, e.g. if you were a little slow with triggering the animation or stopping the recording.
  3. Click convert.
  4. Download the resulting file


NOTE: The exact process may vary slightly with different versions of PowerPoint, but the functionality should still be available with any relatively modern version. Instructions here are specifically for PowerPoint 2013.

Other Conversion or GIF generation tools

GIF Conversion

https://ezgif.com

GIF Generation on a Raspberry Pi

Brian W has created some code to help generate animated GIFs on a Raspberry Pi The details can be found on the Hackspace GitHub repo here:

Examples / Repository of Files

Animated GIF Repository