Animating Images

This task shows how to animate one image or a multi-selection of images.

Image Animation is a continuous display of a sequence of frames obtained from a given image. Each frame represents the result displayed with a different amplitude. The frames follow each other rapidly giving the feeling of motion.

By animating a deformed geometry or a normal vibration mode, you can get better an insight of the behavior of the system. Sometimes you gain a more thorough understanding of the system behavior.

Open the sample26.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

  1. Click Animate .

    The image is animated with default animation parameters and the Animation dialog box appears.

    You access any point of the simulation at random.

  2. Click Pause .

    The animation is interrupted.

    • Slider: lets you manually select the desired step.
    • Play:
      • : Jump to Start
      • : Play Backward
      • : Steps Backward
      • : Pause
      • : Steps Forward
      • : Play Forward
      • : Jump to End
    • Change loop mode:
      • : plays once in one shot
      • : repeats play non stop 
      • : repeats play and reverse non stop

      For a smooth animation enter the maximum value (20) as Steps number option and activate the Repeat play and reverse non stop button.

    • Steps number: makes the animation more or less fluent.
    • Speed: lets you manually define the desired speed.
    • More: this button expands the Animation dialog box.

      The options available in this part of the dialog box depend on the solution type (mono-occurrence or multi-occurrence).

      Mono-occurrence solutions:

      By default, you can access the following options:

      • : use non symmetrical animation (default value).

        • Interpolate values: animate the interpolated values of the activated image.

        • Interpolate displacements: animate the interpolated displacements of the activated image.

      • : use symmetrical animation.

      Multi-occurrence solutions:

      • All occurrences: animate all the occurrences of the solution.
        When activated, this option allows you to choose whether you want to memorize frames:

        The frame animation will be speed driven but memory consuming. If you do not activate the Memorize frames option, the frame animation will need less memory but will be slower.

      • One occurrence: animate the selected occurrences of the solution.

        • : this button lets you select the previous occurrence.

        • : this button lets you select the next occurrence.

        • : this button lets you select the desired occurrence using the Frequencies dialog box.
          When clicking this button, the Frequencies dialog box appears.
          Multi-selection is not available in the Frequencies dialog box.

        • : use non symmetrical animation (default value).

          • Interpolate values: animate the interpolated values of the activated image.

          • Interpolate displacements: animate the interpolated displacements of the activated image.

        • : use symmetrical animation.

  3. You can now change the animation parameters to the desired values.

  4. Click Play forward .

  5. Click Close in the Animation dialog box.