Exporting a RockPlot3D Animation - Model Slicing

RockPlot3D - File | Animations | Model Reveal

Use this program to create an animated view of your 3D image, automatically removing voxel layers in a sequential fashion (and then replacing them), along one or more axes.  The number of steps in the animation will depend on the number of voxel layers along the requested axes, and the number of axes requested.

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Watch Video: http://youtu.be/QfBMJPQxLuo

Menu Options

• Select a Model: Listed here are the available models in the current RockPlot3D view. Insert a check next to the model to be animated.
• Appearance: Use these settings to define the axes along which the layers are to be removed/replaced.
  • Up/Down: Check this box if the voxel layer removal is to occur along the top and bottom axes.  Use the drop-down list to select the direction of the removal/replace.

  
   

  • East/West:  Check this box if the layer removal is to occur along the east-west axis.  Use the drop-down list to select the direction.
    ! You can select multiple axes.  The program will perform the layer removal and replacement in sequential order:  Up/Down first, then East/West, the North/South.

  
   

  • North/South: Check this box to remove layers along the north-south axis; select the direction from the drop-down list.

  

• Coordinate Labels: Insert a check here to display the current slice coordinate within the upper-left corner of the video.
  • Font Size: Click here to define the size for the labels.
  • Automatic Color: Choose this option to have the text color assigned automatically by the program. This is helpful if you change the background color - dark text against a dark background will be lightened automatically.
  • Manual Color: Choose this option if you prefer to select the label color automatically.
    
    
• Output:
  • AVI File name: Click on the button to enter the name to be assigned to the AVI file to be generated. The default file name extension is AVI.
  • Frames per second: This setting determines how fast the layer removal/replacement should be. The default is 2 frames per second. Increase this value to make the process go faster  (more frames per second), decrease this value to make it go more slowly. 
  • Auto-Play: Check this box for the resulting AVI file to be loaded into the default player on your computer.

Step-by-Step Summary

1. If necessary, create or open the Rw3D file you wish to export. (See Opening a RockPlot3D View.) 
2. Adjust the image view to your satisfaction. This includes, but is not limited to, the rotation angle, zoomed-in state, vertical exaggeration, window size, and model filtering. Keep in mind the size of the AVI viewing window you will be using when you set the RockPlot3D window size. 
3. Select the File | Animations | Model Reveal command.
4. Enter the requested menu options, described above.
5. Click OK to continue.

The program will build the output frames per the settings you've requested, in background memory. 
!  The view will not re-render for the animation production - all you'll see on the screen is the lower status bar changing as the layer views are generated. 
!  This process can be slow, depending on the resolution of your model and the number of axes requested.

6. Prior to saving the AVI file, the program will prompt you for the desired CODEC (COmpress/DECompress) technique to reduce the size of the resulting AVI. 
   • Which to choose?  The most reliable (and best-quality) option is to choose Uncompressed.  However, the compression options can greatly help to reduce the output file size for large videos.
   • The best CODEC to use may depend on your computer's setup - some may work better than others and some may not be supported at all.  You can see a list of Video CODECs installed on your computer by starting Windows Media Player, choose Help | About, and click on the Technical Support Information link.

The completed movie will be stored under the requested AVI file name.  If you've requested Autoplay, the movie will be loaded into your default video player.

The AVI file cannot be read into RockPlot3D. It can be viewed using Windows Media Player or other AVI-reading software program.

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