FAQ - Image Morphing Software for Creation of Morphing Pictures and Animations

Click on the following links to access questions:

1. Which edition of FantaMorph is right for me?

2. Can I produce morphs from more than two images?

3. Why is the speed slower than "real-time"?

4. What image formats can I import into FantaMorph?

5. Which format is the best for export?

6. Can I add dots to both images individually or just to one image at a time?

7. Why are my dots all the same color?

8. What do I do with my completed morphs?

9. Why doesn't my morph look natural?

10. Where can I find suitable images for backgrounds, masks, and foregrounds?

1. Which edition of FantaMorph is right for me?

There are two editions to choose from. One is standard edition "FantaMorph SE", the other is the professional edition "FantaMorph PRO". In addition to those found in the standard edition, FantaMorph PRO offers the following features:

• Supports 32bit Format - When using 32bit source image file with alpha (BMP, PNG, TIFF, TGA), 32-bit with alpha morphs will result, which can be used alone or imported into other advanced video editing software to produce additional effects.

• Import Skin Files - You can import FantaMorph skin files at any time. You can even create your own interface skins.

• Add Background, Mask, and Foreground for Export - Attractive morphs with added effects such as backgrounds, masks and foregrounds can be easily created and exported.

• Image Sequence Pack Tool - Long morph movies created from more than two source images can be produced. (See additional details in question 2, below.)

Choose the standard edition if you are sure that the features above won't be necessary for your work, and that you will never work with more than 2 source images. If you wish to create professional effects or expect to make longer movies with multiple source images, showing such things as a baby's growing process, the PRO edition is the better choice.

2. Can I produce morphs from more than two images?

Yes, if you are using FantaMorph PRO!

Assume you have chosen five source images, called A, B, C, D, E, for your morph. You are preparing to make a flash movie, and you want to produce 15 morphed frames between each two successive source images. It is relatively easy to create a long morph movie using these 5 images by following the following steps.

Step 1: Make project "Morph1" by importing A as "Image 1" and B as "Image 2", then export the resulting image sequence in your chosen format. (For this example, we will use JPEG.) You now have 15 image files named Morph101.jpg, Morph102.jpg, and so on , through Morph115.jpg.
Step 2: Swap source images from the Edit menu. Now B is "Image1" and A is "Image 2", then import C as "Image 2" and save the project as "Morph2". Adjust key dot positions on C; add new key dots, or delete key dots, as necessary. Export this image sequence to get files named Morph201.jpg through Morph215.jpg.
Step 3: Repeat step 2, using source images C and D and saving the project as "Morph3".
Step 4: Again, repeat step 2, using source images D and E and saving the project as "Morph4".
Step 5: Run "Image Sequence Packer" from the Tools menu, adding all 60 images, Morph101.jpg through Morph115.jpg, Morph201.jpg through Morph215.jpg, Morph301.jpg through Morph315.jpg and Morph401.jpg through Morph415.jpg. Choose the "Flash Movie" option, then press the "Start Pack" button. That's all it takes!

For more info, see "How to Morph More than Two Images".

NOTE: We plan to further automate this procedure in a future version of FantaMorph.

3. Why is the speed slower than "real-time"?

FantaMorph 2.0 uses a new rendering engine which makes use of OpenGL hardware acceleration. OpenGL is an industrial graphics standard and is supported by most modern video cards. If your video card supports this feature, morph speed can be very fast, even reaching hundreds of frames per second. But, if your video card is old, morph speed may be under 15 frames per second. In this case, updating your video card is recommended.

4. What image formats can I import into FantaMorph?

FantaMorph imports BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, TGA, PCX, GIF, WMF, and EMF (Windows Metafile) format images.
The PRO edition also imports 32-bit with alpha channel BMP, TIFF, PNG, and TGA images. For more information, see "How to Use 32bit with Alpha Images".

5. Which format is the best for export?

Image Sequences: Each morph frame will be saved as an individual file in your choice of formats: BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, TGA, PCX, and GIF. In most cases, JPEG is the best choice. In the PRO edition, when you use 32-bit source images in order to take advantage of transparency so that the morph result can be overlaid smoothly onto video in other video software, you should choose BMP, TIFF, PNG or TGA format.
AVI Movie: Familiar video format on Windows platform with perfect quality. Good for importing into movie editing software such as Adobe Premiere. To avoid too large file size, you can use video Codec installed (such as MPEG-4 codec from www.divx.com) to compress your movies into smaller files.
Animated GIF: Good for web pages, since GIF files can be viewed by any browser. Note that overall image quality is lower because the GIF format only supports 256 colors.
Flash Movie: Best for web pages, very small and high quality. Best choice for sharing with friends by e-mail.
Web Page: Can play flash movie at the original size in Internet Explorer.
Screen Saver: Create standard Windows screen savers to show morphing effects. It's an interesting way to enjoy your morphs and share with your friends.

6. Can I add dots to both images individually or just to one image at a time?

Every dot you add to one image will automatically result in a corresponding partner dot on the opposite image. Dots only come in pairs, because the purpose of a dot is to match up key features in each image to tell FantaMorph how the first image will morph into the second image.

Future versions of FantaMorph may include special editing featuring single dots.

7. Why are my dots all the same color?

As a default, all dots are the same color. But you can turn on the "Color Cycle" switch in the option box, causing 8 basic colors to cycle across the dots. Note that the 9th dot you add will therefore be the same color as the 1st, the 10th the same as the 2nd, and so on. To help distinguish individual dots and correctly locate their partner dot, simply move your cursor over a chosen dot. That dot and its partner in the second image will be highlighted.

8. What do I do with my completed morphs?

Use your morph images or morph movies to grab people's attention or to have a good time - create web graphics and enhance your web site, email morphs to friends and family to make them laugh, burn on morphs to VCD for enjoying on TV, create a unique online greeting, post your morphs on the Internet, add more life to your presentations. If you are a professional user, use your morphs in music video, advertisement, teleplay, movie, education courseware, and countless other great ways!
If your morph is unique and exciting, and you want to share it with other FantaMorph users, you might consider submitting it to us for display.

9. Why doesn't my morph look natural?

While morphs can be produced in many different ways, FantaMorph uses what is termed the "key dots method." It is effective, fast, and easy to use, but it also has some limitations. Dots pairs must be in the same logical positions, otherwise, the result may be unconvincing. In this case, carefully adjust dot positions which define the affected areas.

10. Where can I find suitable images for backgrounds, masks, and foregrounds?

You can use any images that you like for movie backgrounds. Masks should be 256 shade grayscale bitmap images, and foregrounds should be 32-bit with alpha. images. For more information, see "How to Use Add-on Effects with Background, Mask, Foreground".
There are many sources for such images on the web. Images from your own scanned or digital photos can be used. If you are a registered user, we will frequently email suitable material to you. This service is free to registered users!