Creating Animations in Python with py5

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Who doesn't love a good animation? From Disney classics to the latest Pixar movies, animations captivate us. But did you know you can create your very own animations using Python? Enter the py5 library, your new best friend for creating stunning visualizations and animations. In this guide, we'll explore how to animate objects on the screen, making them move, dance, and come to life. Grab some popcorn and let's dive into the world of py5 animations!

Getting Started with py5

Before we begin, you need to install py5. You can do this easily using pip:

pip install py5

Once installed, let's set up a basic py5 sketch. Think of a sketch as a canvas where all the magic happens.

import py5

def setup():
    # Set up the canvas
    py5.size(800, 600)
    py5.background(255)

def draw():
    # This function runs continuously
    py5.ellipse(py5.mouse_x, py5.mouse_y, 50, 50)

py5.run_sketch()

Here, we've created a simple sketch with a white background. The draw function is called continuously, and it draws an ellipse where your mouse is located. It's as if the ellipse is chasing your cursor!

Basic Shapes

Animations begin with shapes. Let's start with some basic ones: circles, rectangles, and lines.

Drawing a Circle

def draw_circle():
    py5.ellipse(400, 300, 100, 100)

Drawing a Rectangle

def draw_rectangle():
    py5.rect(350, 250, 100, 100)

Drawing a Line

def draw_line():
    py5.line(100, 100, 700, 500)

Each of these functions draws a shape on the canvas. You can call them in the draw function to see them appear.

Animating Shapes

The real fun begins when we animate these shapes. Animation is simply drawing shapes at different positions over time.

Moving a Circle Across the Screen

x = 0

def draw():
    global x
    py5.background(255)
    py5.ellipse(x, 300, 50, 50)
    x += 2
    if x > py5.width:
        x = 0

In this example, a circle moves horizontally across the screen. We update the x position in each frame, creating the illusion of movement.

Adding Color

Animations are more engaging with color. You can set the fill color using py5.fill.

def draw():
    py5.background(255)
    py5.fill(255, 0, 0)  # Red color
    py5.ellipse(py5.mouse_x, py5.mouse_y, 50, 50)

Here, the circle follows your mouse and is colored red. You can also use py5.stroke to change the outline color.

Interactive Animations

Make your animations interactive by responding to mouse and keyboard events.

Changing Color on Mouse Click

color = (0, 0, 0)

def mouse_pressed():
    global color
    color = (py5.random(255), py5.random(255), py5.random(255))

def draw():
    py5.background(255)
    py5.fill(*color)
    py5.ellipse(py5.mouse_x, py5.mouse_y, 50, 50)

When you click the mouse, the ellipse changes to a random color. The mouse_pressed function is called whenever the mouse is clicked.

Creating Complex Animations

Combine shapes, colors, and interactions to create complex animations.

A Bouncing Ball

x, y = 400, 300
x_speed, y_speed = 3, 2

def draw():
    global x, y, x_speed, y_speed
    py5.background(255)
    py5.ellipse(x, y, 50, 50)

    x += x_speed
    y += y_speed

    # Bounce off edges
    if x > py5.width - 25 or x < 25:
        x_speed *= -1
    if y > py5.height - 25 or y < 25:
        y_speed *= -1

This example features a ball that bounces around the screen. The ball reverses direction when it hits the edges of the canvas.

Conclusion

With py5, the possibilities for creating animations are endless. You can start with simple shapes and gradually build up to more complex animations. Whether you're creating a bouncing ball or an interactive art piece, py5 provides the tools you need to make your ideas come to life.

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