v1.1 New Feature: Integrated FFmpeg for import/export mp4, webm and gif formats

[Rodney]

The FFmpeg site is currently slow/closed.  Perhaps too many OpenToonz users are trying to download FFmpeg.  ;)

Be patient and the site will eventually open.

The recently released v1.1 of OpenToonz includes the option for Integrated FFmpeg for import/export mp4, webm and gif formats.

Some folks might be a little confused when those formats don't show up in the menu so I thought I might post some information on how to get access to those formats.

FFmpeg is not distributed with OpenToonz so you'll need to download and install it and point OpenToonz to it in the preferences.

Any of the various flavors of FFmpeg should work but I've been using the portable release because that one doesn't even need to be installed.

Just place it in the desired location and let OpenToonz know where you put it.

https://www.ffmpeg.org

The builds (for those of us that don't want to build our own executables) can be found here:  https://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/

Note:  This is the site linked from www.ffmpeg.org for WIndows builds.

For Mac users... follow those links.

Steps to get FFmpeg support up and running:

Downlaod FFmpeg and note that location where you install the binary/executable:

Open OpenToonz

Go to File/Preferences

Go down to the Import/Export listing

Follow the instructions that appear to point OpenToonz to the folder where you placed the binary/executable.

For instance if you downloaded it to C:\Program Files\FFmpeg navigate to that location.

For the portable I am using I needed to go there and then click on the 'bin' folder that contains the program.

Close out the Preferences

Close OpenToonz

When you start OpenToonz again you should have the new formats available.

Not clear on those steps?

I'm sure a video tutorial or two will be forthcoming.  :)

[Philipp Stumpp]

As for the MAC users out there some little advice....

 If you try to open one of these files from the ffmeg page maybe you'll get an error because 7z or 7-zip ist not supported natively by OS X. You have to download some software to "un-zip" the file first. I did this with "The Unarchiver". This piece of work is Freeware and you can download it via your AppStore.

https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/the-unarchiver/id425424353?mt=12

You should have no problems extracting the ffmeg file. Don't worry, what you'll get is just a binary file. You can double click on the extracted ffmeg file but it will just open your terminal with some writing in it as you can see on the picture. Don't matter, everything is fine. Just follow Rodneys steps above and you'll be fine.

If you have a question about that as a mac user, feel free to ask :)

Have a nice and productive day! .... Philipp

[exile]

Thanks, Rodney. I kept trying to install the program by double-clicking on ffmpeg.exe I thought my antivirus program was blocking it. Now I just directed Open Toonz to the bin file as you recommended and it worked!

[Rodney]

Glad to hear that worked for you Exile.   :)

Unless something changes... there is a similar customization directing OpenToonz to Imagemagick in the works that adds transparency to GIF animation (because at present that cannot be achieved via FFMPEG).

Pointing OpenToonz to the right location for Imagemagick should get that feature working too.

[Scott Irwin]

THANK YOU RODNEY!!! sweet and simple, Ive looked over many tuts and methods, basically wasted a lot of time until i found your post! once again short sweet TO THE POINT! I LOVE IT!