Timelapse Maker CLI

Timelapse Maker is a Python-based tool to create stunning camera timelapses. It supports desktop PCs, Raspberry Pis, and MacBooks, providing a simple setup process and flexible customization options.

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Requirements

• Python >= 3.8
• Git
• macOS or Linux (Windows support is experimental)
• Homebrew (for macOS users)

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Setup

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/Infatoshi/timelapse-maker
cd timelapse-maker
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate

Step 2: Install Dependencies

For Linux

sudo apt install ffmpeg fswebcam

For macOS

pip install opencv-python numpy
brew install ffmpeg

For Windows

1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R, then type cmd).
2. Navigate to the project folder:

   cd C:\User\Desktop\python-projs\timelapse-maker

3. Activate the virtual environment and install dependencies:

   .venv\Scripts\activate.bat
   pip install opencv-python

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Usage

Capture a Timelapse

Run the following command to capture frames for the timelapse:

python capture_timelapse.py --hours 12 --interval 15

• --hours: Duration of the timelapse capture.
• --interval: Time (in seconds) between each frame. A shorter interval makes the timelapse smoother.

Create the Timelapse Video

After capturing frames, convert them into a video:

python create_timelapse.py

• Note: This script uses a custom FFmpeg command and is supported on macOS and Linux.

Configure the Camera

If you have multiple cameras (including virtual ones), adjust the camera index in the script:

• Default: device=0
• Increment the value (e.g., device=1, device=2, etc.) until the correct camera is used.

Captured frames are stored in the timelapse_images directory for review.

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Using add_clock.py

• This script overlays a clock on your timelapse frames.
• Requires opencv-python. Install it manually:

  pip install opencv-python

• Note: Installation on Raspberry Pi might throw errors. This dependency is excluded from the default setup to ensure smooth installation.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

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Feel free to suggest further improvements or report issues! 🚀