gLapse: a time lapse application

DanS79

I've been working on this project off and on for a while, and I'm finally at a point where I can share it.

gLapse is a Python based timelapse application designed to run on a Raspberry Pi, fitted with an official camera module. It differs from most timelapse applications, in that it doesn't generate a video as its output. Instead, it stores a sequence of still images that can be downloaded and used to generate a video using a 3rd party application.

stills have a wider range of encoders and quality options available. They are only limited by the resolution of the sensor, and the storage capacity of the SD card used. In short, stills allow for higher resolution and higher quality video, but require the additional step of post processing in a 3rd party application.

Here is a sample 4k time lapse that was generated with stills captured with a Raspberry Pi Zero W equipped with an HQ camera module.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqkPgWrF3Eo

PCR

@dans79 Nice!

Questions is what is different to say duetlapse3?

Best

DanS79

@pcr

I've never used duetlapse3 so take all the following with a grain of salt.

duetlapse3 supports Raspberry pi camera modules, and web cams, gLapse only supports pi camera modules.

duetlapse3 is using ffmpeg and libx264 on the pi to generate the video (if you want it to). That's cpu based encoding and thus would murder lower end Pi (like a zero ) if you tried to encode a 4k video. gLapse expects you to generate the video yourself on a more powerful machine. duetlapse3 is simpler if you don't know anything about encoding video, gLapse ultimately gives you more flexibility but you need to know more.

duetlapse3 requires RRF V3+, gLapse will work with version 2 or 3 in standalone mode. I will eventually add support for v3 fronted with an sbc.

duetlapse3 captures images based on time, layer change, or pause. gLapse just looks for specific M-codes to tell it what to do.

Those are probably the major differences.

eventually I plan to write an app that combines gLapse and my streaming app, so that you can do everything from a single application.

stuartofmt

@dans79
Good Job.

Just for clarity: DuetLapse 3 can be run without creating a video and leave the resulting still images intact. The companion / admin program startDuetLapse3 can be used to zip and download the still images, create a video after the fact etc. DuetLapse 3 can use M-code as the trigger provided it is a pause- but not arbitrary M-codes.

Hope this helps understand the differences.

See also https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/23759/videostream.

kb58

Can't a modern cellphone do time lapse photos? I've never looked into it but it seems like a no-brainer app.

Yup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4dhfGZxH8k

I assume in this context that you're wanting to use it for viewing 3D builds, and in that case, yeah I can see how a dedicated camera and interface would be better, as it would be much easier to view what's going on live.

stuartofmt

@kb58 said in gLapse: a time lapse application:

..... yeah I can see how a dedicated camera and interface would be better.....

These programs evolved to satisfy needs such as: monitoring and taking timelapse from, often, lengthy prints; not needing to be there to start taking the time-lapse; optionally parking the hotend for each image; capturing from more than one printer at a time; etc. etc.

Not to mention way cheaper in absolute terms and not tying up your smartphone

DanS79

@stuartofmt said in gLapse: a time lapse application:

@kb58 said in gLapse: a time lapse application:

..... yeah I can see how a dedicated camera and interface would be better.....

These programs evolved to satisfy needs such as: monitoring and taking timelapse from, often, lengthy prints; not needing to be there to start taking the time-lapse; optionally parking the hotend for each image; capturing from more than one printer at a time; etc. etc.

Not to mention way cheaper in absolute terms and not tying up your smartphone

I agree with all of this.

The only thing I'd add is that imo going with a Pi and a pi camera module gives you a lot more freedom freedom than off the shelf webcams and phones. You can customize the hardware and software to your heart's content. For example you could rig up a NoIR module and an IR light source and shoot in a lights out environment. for stills you have a lot of output options (jpeg, png, gif, bmp, yuv, rgb, rgba, bgr,bgra). the amount of customizations available is truly extensive.

This is my pi zero w and hq camera module in a custom 3d printed case of my design. all i have to do is plug in an external wifi (onboard one is not good) or ethernet adapter, and give it power.

stuartofmt

@dans79
Sweet !

Budget, parts bin, trying something new, scratching an itch, degree of difficulty, time, other hobbies .... whatever works.

Phaedrux

@dans79 said in gLapse: a time lapse application:

a custom 3d printed case of my design

Care to share?

mrehorstdmd

@kb58 Everyone has an old cell phone in a drawer somewhere. If it's one of the better ones, the camera has pretty high resolution. I use a Motorola Droid Turbo to monitor long prints and make time lapse video. It'll be a few more generations before RPi cameras can match its 24MP image sensor.

A program called "open camera" provides more controls than the native Android camera app, including setting intervals to snap pix for time lapse video, and to lock exposure and focus. The photos are backed up to google Photos immediately after they are captured so you can monitor print progress from any web browser by logging into your Google Photos account.

Irfanview will batch process the images to crop and make adjustments to brightness, contrast, white balance, etc.

imageJ will easily convert a sequence of images into video.

The camera is "free", the software is free. Print a phone mount and Bob's yer uncle!

Taking it to the next level is cheap and easy- add a bluetooth shutter button and a few lines of custom gcode after layer change when you slice and you can make layer synchronized video.

DanS79

@phaedrux

stls and f3d files are available on my blog post about the case under reference.

Pew

@dans79 Really nice program!
I opened a FR request for it on github, I would like to ask if such a feature would be possible to implement to make this code even more useful.
https://github.com/dans98/gLapse/issues/1

Thank you in advance!

xPew created this issue in dans98/gLapse

closed [FR] Static image stream #1

stuartofmt

@pew

I just saw this. Maybe this can help? It can act as a broker to multiple programs.
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/23759/videostream?_=1649392549727

I use it in combination with DuetLape3.