Export a gif from Processing in Python mode

Question

I'm using Processing in Python mode to make a little animation, and I would like to export it as a gif.

If I were coding in javascript, I could use gifAnimation, put I am using python mode, I can't seem to make it work. I could use PIL or Pillow, but that would basically require writing another program.

Is there an easier way to do it?

Answer 1

Just to be clear about libraries with Processing Python mode:

• You can use "pure Python" libraries;
• You can't use Python libraries with C extensions & etc (like numpy);
• You can't use JavaScript (or p5js) libraries;
• You can use Java & Processing Java mode libraries!

Art Simon has a nice example of gifAnimation export here: https://github.com/APCSPrinciples/AnimatedGIF/

A step by step approach:

1. Download the gifAnimation library from: https://github.com/extrapixel/gif-animation/archive/3.0.zip

2. Unzip and copy the gifAnimation folder into your libraries folder, like this: user/sketchbook/libraries/gifAnimation (Linux) or user/Documents/Processing/libraries/gifAnimation (Mac/Windows)

3. Restart the IDE and add this at the start of your sketch:

add_library('gifAnimation')

4. Initialize an exporter object inside setup()

def setup():
    global exporter
    size(400, 400)
    exporter = GifMaker(this, "animation.gif")
    exporter.setRepeat(0)     # infinite repeat
    exporter.setQuality(100)  # test values
    exporter.setDelay(200)    # milliseconds 

5. at the end of draw() use the .addFrame() method and maybe something for the end of the animation recording.

def draw():    
    # your drawing here

    exporter.addFrame()

    if keyPressed and key == 'e':
        exporter.finish()
        print("gif saved, exit")
        exit()