The video feature simply makes mosaics of each frame that is found in a source video file. This file must have a certain quality and compression to be recognized by the application. Examples of recognized formats are Microsoft Video 1, XVid, DivX, and basically most of the '.avi' files. Formats that are not recognized are .flv, .mov, .mpeg or mpg and .mp4. 

The user has to make sure the video can be read by the application and that the video codec is installed in the windows system  to be used by the application. Legoaizer does not come with codecs, and only when a codec is available in the windows system, it can read and write video files.

Note: when you are using VLC for playing videos, the application will not be able to read that video. VLC does not share its codecs with other applications!

Loading the source file

In the menu you find an option to open a video file: 'Open video'. As explained below in details, the video file has to have a readable codec (.avi file extension is a good start, but not a guarantee), and the compression codec (the encoder) must also allow for video compression. Most codes are only decoding data, but do not allow for encoding. Use the VLC player to detect the codec, and download and install the appropriate codec when you want to start video mosaics.

Video controls

The following functions are available:

• Compression codec: it's a list of the available codecs in the system. Most of the codecs are not suitable to use, such as Microsoft YUV or Intel IYUV. These are only decoders, and have no encoder options (for reasons of copyright). The most common codec that can encode video is Microsoft Video 1. Also DivX and XviD are much used codecs and much better quality. The user has first to install these codecs before continuing. After new codecs have been installed, the application has to be restarted to recognize these codecs. Recently the X.264 has been released for Windows systems (see screenshot above), with a very good quality and compression.
• Output size: this size follows the most common video size formats. You cannot select the same frame size as the original. The final format will crop the frame to match with the selected format.
• Frames to extract: the maximum value of this slider is determined by the number of frames in the source movie. The number of frames is set by this slider. It's recommended to start with a low amount (e.g. 50) and create a short movie, inspect the result, and then render the full length of interest.
• Movie summary: when the movie is correctly read by the application here you will find the data from the video source file. When strange values appear (e.g. zero or a ridiculously high number of frames) you know the file was not read correctly. Use the VLC player to find out what codec has been used.
• Create video: press this button when you're ready to start the video creation. It will create frames of brick or Ministeck® mosaics that are saved in the same frame rate as the source. This may take a while for a large number of frames.