https://github.com/projectweekend/pi-camera-time-lapse
A time-lapse program for the Raspberry Pi Camera Module with automatic uploads to Dropbox
https://github.com/projectweekend/pi-camera-time-lapse
Last synced: 11 months ago
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A time-lapse program for the Raspberry Pi Camera Module with automatic uploads to Dropbox
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/projectweekend/pi-camera-time-lapse
- Owner: projectweekend
- License: mit
- Created: 2014-05-17T19:18:56.000Z (about 12 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2021-06-01T21:57:32.000Z (about 5 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2024-04-13T11:07:19.948Z (about 2 years ago)
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 70.3 KB
- Stars: 6
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 4
- Open Issues: 3
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
## Installation & Setup
The following instructions cover everything necessary to setup your Raspberry Pi for this project. I tried to script out a good chunk of system installation stuff to help keep things fairly simple. With that said, I welcome feedback about how to make this better.
#### Step 1: Clone this repository
```
git clone https://github.com/projectweekend/Pi-Camera-Time-Lapse.git
```
#### Step 2: Authorize Dropbox account
To automatically upload time-lapse images to Dropbox, you must authorize your account with the Pi Camera Time-Lapse Dropbox app. I made the the following website to handle this process and generate a key file you will need to save on your Raspberry Pi: [http://pi-camera-time-lapse.herokuapp.com/](http://pi-camera-time-lapse.herokuapp.com/). Once the `dropbox.txt` file is downloaded, save it the root of the project directory: `Pi-Camera-Time-Lapse/`.
#### Step 3: Run install script
From the project directory `Pi-Camera-Time-Lapse/`, run the following command:
```
./install.sh
```
**NOTE:** This step will probably take several minutes to complete. When the script starts to install [Upstart](http://upstart.ubuntu.com/), you will receive a warning message. It will prompt you to type the following message to confirm the installation: `Yes, do as I say!`. You must type it exactly.
#### Step 4: Reboot
```
sudo reboot
```
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## Making a time-lapse
Time-lapse sequences are controlled using job files written in [YAML](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YAML). This file describes everything needed to execute the time-lapse. Job files must be saved in the directory `/home/pi/time-lapse/jobs` and prefixed with `job_`. If multiple files are found, they will be processed one at a time. When a time-lapse has completed, the job file will be moved into the archive folder: `/home/pi/time-lapse/jobs/archive`.
The `time-lapse` service runs in the background as an Upstart job. As soon as it finds a job file, in the directory referenced above, it will load those configurations and begin taking photos. Since there is no image preview, it's best to run a couple test images on your subject before commiting to a full time-lapse job. To do this, simply save a job file with a `snap_total` of 1. When the resulting image shows up in Dropbox, review it, tweak settings, and repeat until you get what you want.
#### Example job file
Name: `job_sunset_time_lapse.yml`
~~~yaml
snap_interval: 60
snap_total: 30
file_prefix: sunset
resolution_x: 2592
resolution_y: 1944
quality: 100
ISO: 400
brightness: 50
contrast: 0
saturation: 0
sharpness: 0
shutter_speed: 0
exposure_compensation: 0
exposure_mode: auto
rotation: 0
awb_mode: auto
~~~
Each of the configurable options in the job file corresponds to a setting in the [picamera.PiCamera](http://picamera.readthedocs.org/en/latest/api.html#picamera.PiCamera) object. Any setting not specified in the job file will use its default value in *picamera.PiCamera*.
If you want to disable automatic Dropbox uploading, add the following line to the config file:
```
auto_upload: Off
```
#### AWB_MODES List
I dug these out of `PiCamera.AWB_MODES` so you don't have to. Use these values in your job file for the `awb_mode`. The default, if the property is not set, is `auto`.
* `auto`
* `cloudy`
* `flash`
* `fluorescent`
* `horizon`
* `incandescent`
* `off`
* `shade`
* `sunlight`
* `tungsten`
#### EXPOSURE_MODES List
I dug these out of `PiCamera.EXPOSURE_MODES` so you don't have to. Use these values in your job file for the `exposure_mode`. The default, if the property is not set, is `auto`.
* `antishake`
* `auto`
* `backlight`
* `beach`
* `fireworks`
* `fixedfps`
* `night`
* `nightpreview`
* `snow`
* `sports`
* `spotlight`
* `verylong`
#### IMAGE_EFFECTS List
I dug these out of `PiCamera.EXPOSURE_MODES` so you don't have to. Use these values in your job file for the `image_effect`. The default, if the property is not set, is `none`.
* `blackboard`
* `blur`
* `cartoon`
* `colorbalance`
* `colorpoint`
* `colorswap`
* `denoise`
* `emboss`
* `film`
* `gpen`
* `hatch`
* `negative`
* `none`
* `oilpaint`
* `pastel`
* `posterise`
* `posterize`
* `saturation`
* `sketch`
* `solarize`
* `washedout`
* `watercolor`
* `whiteboard`