Convert a Sequence of Images into Video with the Blender

The blender foundation offers a free video editing software named 'Blender' to do many things like video editing, visual effects, 3d modeling, and animation. The software supports the fullness of the 3D pipeline like rigging, simulation, composition and motion tracking, and also a 2d animation pipeline.

In this post, I will share how to convert a sequence of images into video with the Blender free version. Ready to learn? Let's get started!

Blender Video Sequence Edit

There are many ways of converting a sequence of images to videos. So, why Blender? Blender is a free open source, reliable, and 3D creating software.

From my practical experience, Blender helps you customize aspect ratio, frame delay, resolution, and more. Blender versions above 2.5 are more suited than the older versions. Their user interface looks pretty stunning and comes out with excellent features.

I'll highly recommend Blender for its exceptional video and image export specialties. But if you're a newcomer and go with the older versions, you may face keyboard shortcuts as loud obstacles. In the newest versions, you will find many pop-up menus that will help you overcome these barriers.

Let's dive into Blender now! While you start your Blender journey, the default view will display a 3d cube (I'm showing a screenshot(1) below.) You don't need to do anything with this. But, you will notice on the right side, the panel called 'Render.'

These controls will do great teamwork to convert a sequence of images to video. Now get out of the 3D view. And get into the video editor. 

However, if you don't see all the same buttons as in the screenshot, don't worry! Click on the camera icon that you can see at the top of the shared screenshot, and activate the Scene panel. Yes, you are on the way! Let's get these steps done one by one.

Step-1

It's time to start stitching images together to make a video. So, open the 'Video Sequence Editor' by clicking on the icon at the bottom-right edge of the central 3D view. Also, select the display option that I highlighted at the bottom-right of the screenshot(2).

After that, you will notice a preview render window on the head of the sequencer pane. 

Step- 2

Now go to the 'Add' menu to import the still images for your video. And select the ‘Image’ option. For better understanding, take a look at screenshot(3). 

Step-3

Time to select the range of images that you want to add to the video. Once you choose the pictures, they will display as highlighted. After that, you'll need to click on the 'Add Image Strip' that you will find on the top of the right side. Let’s take a look at the screenshots (4), (5), and (6).

Step-4

The imported images will form a video strip shown by a rectangle view. Now select the rectangle view with a right-click and press G. And keep moving the mouse until it gets the desired frame. Definite the final position by a left-click.

Step-5

I have moved the strip into the right place, shown in the screenshot(8). Here you will notice the vertical green line that indicates the current frame. You may drag it to scroll through the video. While doing so, the preview will display the video. You can see this in the screenshot of the next step.

Step-6

In this step, you'll learn how to extend one singular frame over a longer duration of time. At your desired frame, select 'cut (hard) at frame' to form two separate layers that come from the current one. So, if you want to extend the frame number 1, and you will need to cut at frame 2!

Here the 'soft cut' option will not work as it gives both items with all frames of the beginning. Remember, the 'cut' frames remain to hide and will reappear in the later steps.

Step-7

When the strip turns into two, you can pick the right-hand part with a right-click on its middle. You may press G to move it. And keep swiping the mouse until you find a gap of the wanted size between the two pieces.

Step-8

Now let's go to the end frame of the first strip. The ending frame is in the preview, and its duration will depend on how you grab and drag the frame to the right.

Step-9

Now scrub the green vertical line to the end frame. Then read off the frame figure as I have presented at the bottom of the screenshot.

Step-10

Now let's go and put the number of frames as the "End" content of the Frame Range :

Step-11

You need to pick the output format and settings before rendering the animation.

Step-12

Finally, click on the 'Animation' to execute and export the blender-free animation!

Blender’s org manages each public project of the Blender institute tactfully. The foundation earns revenues from blender cloud, blender stores, and sponsors.

Also, Blender’s development fund is the principal source of contribution income. However, it is an open-source editing software and ensures real-time retrieved video that makes it stand out among the crowd!