How To: Convert Your Pencil Animation For Video Sites In Linux

Pencil is a neat little program for creating 2D animation. I am currently using it to create my newest video, The Five Stages Of Breakups.

That was only the first scene without audio, but you get the picture.

The problem with the Linux version of Pencil is it won't export to video. The only video it comes close to exporting to is a .swf file. While convenient and small, it is hard to work with if your favorite video site doesn't allow you to upload them.

*sigh* just another Linux program that is incomplete and not ready for the desktop. Right?

Wrong.

The program may not be 100% complete, but I found a workaround to make your video.

Obviously, you first need to have Pencil installed. You can find the source code and a few popular binaries here.

You also need ffmpeg. If you are running Ubuntu, you need to install the real ffmpeg, not the watered down version in the repository. Add the Medibuntu repository.

In order to do this follow this page.

Next update your computer and install ffmpeg.

^{sudo aptitude update && sudo aptitude install ffmpeg}

Open Pencil and create your video.

When you are satisfied with your video and you are ready to upload it do

^{File > Export > Image Sequence}

This will export all the pictures of your video into a directory, so make sure you make a new directory.Also make sure to export as JPEG.

Now that you have all the pictures, install Stopmotion.

^{sudo aptitude install stopmotion}

Now open Stopmotion.

Click the Add Picture button, go to the directory with all your pictures from your video, and use Shift+Click to select them all. Make sure to select the first image, then hold Shift and select the last.

Set the FPS the same as what you used previously in Pencil and press play to make sure that it looks good.

Last but not least go to

^{settings > configure stopmotion}

and go to the Video Export tab.

Click the ffmpeg setting. Press apply and close.

Now simply run

^{File > Export Video}

and name your video something like

^MyVideo.mp4

and export.

BINGO! You should now have a nice .mp4 video for uploading to your site of choice.

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment if this worked for you or if you had problems. I am glad to help.