Defining a storyboard with keyframes

You can assign keyframes to a storyboard whose camera positions were all defined in either 2D mode or 3D mode. Keyframes with camera positions from 2D mode and 3D mode cannot be used together in a storyboard.

1.  Make sure you have selected the desired mode 2D or 3D (Network editor toolbar).

2.  Set the desired camera position, in 3D mode, for example, using the  Rotate mode (3D) button and the mouse.

3.  On the Presentation menu, click > Storyboards.

The Storyboards list opens. In the Relations list box, the entry <Single List> is shown.

By default, you can edit the list (Using lists).

4.  In the list, on the toolbar, click the Add button .

A new row with default data is inserted.

Note: In lists, you can use the  Attribute selection icon to show and hide attribute values (Selecting attributes and subattributes for columns of a list).

5.  Make the desired changes:

Element Description
Resolution

Resolution in pixels Resolution (x) x Resolution (y), e.g. 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
ResX Horizontal resolution (x), e.g. 1,280
ResY Vertical resolution (y), e,g, 780
RecVideo Record Video: Select this option to create a video recording for the storyboard.
VideoFormat

Video Format: Encoding of the video file, depending on the ffmpg library installed:

  • FFmpeg video 1 (lossless)
  • MPEG-4 part 2
  • Theora
  • WebM VP8
  • WebM VP8 (small file)
  • Windows Media Video 8
  • Uncompressed

Make sure you have installed the plugin for your video editing software that allows you to open the video file in the selected file format.

Example: You want to open videos in the MPEG-4 part 2 format with VirtualDub (external site: https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualdubffmpeginputplugin/). Download the Zip file. Depending on your VirtualDub version, copy the files from the corresponding plugin folder to the plugin folder in the VirtualDub directory. The next time you open VirtualDub, the MPEG4 files are listed in the Open file window.
Framerate Frame rate (fps), default 20 images per second
Filename Path and file name of video file
RealTmFact Real time factor = Framerate / Simulation resolution (Defining simulation parameters). Default 2.0
NetLayout Select the named network editor layout for the beginning of the storyboard (Using named Network editor layouts)
Name Name of storyboard
No Storyboard number
ShowPrev Show preview: While recording a simulation, you can show a preview of the film in a window.
PrevZoomFact Preview zoom factor for film preview (default value 1)

In the Storyboards list, you can select additional attributes. Among them are the following for example:

Element Description

Recording scope

RecScope: Defines the simulation run that is recorded during a multiple simulation.

  • Each run: Records all simulation runs of the multiple simulation. This option may require a lot of memory.
  • First run only
  • Last run only

You can define keyframes for the storyboard:

6.  In the Relations list box, click Keyframes.

The right-hand list is shown. If there is no assignment, only the column titles are shown.

7.  In the list on the left, click the storyboard for which you want to define keyframes.

8.  In the list on right, on the toolbar, click the Add button .

A new row with default data is inserted.

The Keyframe window opens.

9.  Make the desired changes:

Element Description

Name

Name of keyframe.

  • When you define a keyframe without specifying a name for it and then select a camera position, the name of the camera position is entered as the keyframe name in the Keyframes list.
  • If the name of the keyframe and the name of the assigned camera position are the same and you decide to change the name of the camera position, the name of the respective keyframe is automatically changed in the Keyframes list.
  • If no name is entered for the keyframe and you change the name of the assigned camera position, the new camera position name is automatically entered as the keyframe name in the Keyframes list.
  • Changing the name of a camera position automatically changes the name of the keyframes assigned to it, if the keyframes have the same name as the camera position.

StartTime

Simulation second during which the keyframe is started Start time = 0: Keyframe starts when on the Presentation menu, you click > Record Video. If Start time = 0 is not defined for any keyframe, but instead start times > 0 are defined for all keyframes, the recording starts with the keyframe for which the shortest start time has been defined. Changing the StartTime also allows you to move the order of the keyframe in the list.

DwellTime

Time period during which simulation is viewed from this keyframe position.

Note: Vissim uses the StartTime and DwellTime to check whether the current keyframe fits into the existing keyframe list. You must not enter a StartTime or DwellTime for a keyframe that overlaps with the DwellTime of another keyframe. To move any of the following keyframes, select  Shift subsequent keyframes.

CamPos

Select camera position (Attributes of camera positions):

  • Adopt new camera position from the active Network editor
  • Select a saved camera position

The Graphics Mode attribute of the first camera position you select also specifies that all subsequent camera positions you select for keyframes of this storyboard must conform to the same graphics mode. Keyframes with camera positions from 2D mode and 3D mode cannot be used together in a storyboard.

NetLayout

Select named network editor layout for the beginning of the keyframe (Using named Network editor layouts)

TransTime

Transition time between two keyframes, which is automatically calculated as the difference of StartTime and DwellTime of the current keyframe and the StartTime of the next keyframe. Overlapping keyframes cannot be added to the list.

TransType

Transition types, in the Movement section, define the motion between the current and next camera position of the keyframe.

  • Constant speed: Position change at constant speed
  • Smooth: Motion close to keyframe positions is slower, but becomes faster between them.
  • Smooth start: Keyframe position starts with increasing speed and continues with constant speed toward the next keyframe.
  • Smooth end: Keyframe position starts with a constant speed and gradually slows down towards the next keyframe position.

You can use the latter two options to define a keyframe without DwellTime as "intermediate point" between a movement of keyframes, e.g. in order to create an effect on the distance.
 

Example:

Transition types Smooth start, Smooth end: If keyframe 2 is an intermediate keyframe with a DwellTime of 0 s, then the movements could be defined as follows:

Keyframe 1: Smooth start

Keyframe 2: Smooth

Keyframe 3: Smooth end

CamMov3D

Camera movement (3D): Type of automatically calculated path along which the camera moves to the camera position of the next keyframe.

  • Direct line: Camera position and angle of view are each linearly interpolated. This causes the camera to move along a straight line connecting the two camera positions.
  • Track view point: The visual focus (intersection of camera center ray and 0-plane) is linearly interpolated and the camera is moved and rotated to match. This moves the camera on a curve between the two camera positions and keeps it aligned with the view point path.

Shift subsequent Keyframes

 If this option is selected, the start times of all subsequent keyframes according to the current settings made for the keyframe selected are moved:

  • When you insert a new keyframe between two defined keyframes, Vissim checks whether the start time of the new keyframe lies after the DwellTime of the preceding value. If so, then Vissim changes the start times of all subsequent keyframes:

∆t = start time of new KF + DwellTime of new KF + movement time of previous KF - start time of next KF

By adjusting the start time of the next keyframe accordingly, Vissim ensures that the (calculated) movement time is retained until the keyframe following the added keyframe is reached. It thus remains the same as before the new keyframe was inserted.

  • When you edit an existing keyframe, all subsequent keyframes are moved according to the new start time and/or DwellTime. The start times of all subsequent keyframes are moved by:

∆t = new start time – old start time + new DwellTime – old DwellTime

Note:  If you select this option, a defined keyframe cannot be moved before any of its previous keyframes.

10.  Confirm with OK.

Tip: You can apply the camera position of a keyframe to the current network editor:

  • ►  In the Keyframes list, right-click a saved keyframe. Then on the shortcut menu, click Apply camera position to current network editor.

Superordinate topic:

Using storyboards and keyframes