FAQ - Image Morphing Software for Creation of Morphing Pictures and Animations

Click on the following links to access questions:

1. Which edition of FantaMorph is right for me?

2. Can I produce morphs from more than two images?

3. Why is the speed slower than "real-time"?

4. Why I am unable to get any picture at all in the Preview Window when Image1 and Image 2 are loaded?

5. What image formats can I import into FantaMorph?

6. Which format is the best for export?

7. Can I add dots to both images individually or just to one image at a time?

8. Why are my dots all the same color?

9. What do I do with my completed morphs?

10. Can I import the FantaMorph's results into video editing software to make a VCD/DVD?

11. Why doesn't my morph look natural?

12. Where can I find suitable images for creating add-on effects?

1. Which edition of FantaMorph is right for me?

You may choose from 3 editions of FantaMorph: FantaMorph SE (Standard Edition), FantaMorph Pro (Professional Edition) and FantaMorph Deluxe (Deluxe Edition). See Product Comparison.

In addition to those found in FantaMorph SE, FantaMorph Pro offers the following features:

• Create Multiple Morph - Long morph movies created from more than two source images can be produced. (See additional details in question 2, below.)

• Supports 32-bit Format - When using 32-bit source image file with alpha (BMP, PNG, TIFF, TGA), 32-bit with alpha morphs will result, which can be used alone or imported into other advanced video editing software to produce additional effects.

• Movie Add-on Effects - Attractive morphs with add-on effects such as backgrounds, masks, foregrounds, transitions, lights and sounds can be easily created and exported.

• Feature Curve and Shape Curve - Professional users can completely control the morph process of feature and shape with the two curves.

So, choose FantaMorph SE if you are sure that the features above won't be necessary for your work, and that you will never work with more than 2 source images. If you wish to create professional effects or expect to make longer movies with multiple source images, showing such things as a baby's growing process, FantaMorph Pro is the better choice.

In addition to those found in FantaMorph Pro, FantaMorph Deluxe offers the following features:

• Face Extractor - With Face Extractor, the program can automatically extract the face portion from an image.

• Face Locator - When morphing from one face to another, the program can automatically detect the facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) and place key dots on appropriate positions. This will extremely save your time.

• Face Mixer - Compose a virtual face with multiple real faces. You can adjust the Feature/Shape proportion of each face to get unlimited results.

So, choose FantaMorph Deluxe if you use the program mainly for creating face morphing or composing.

2. Can I produce morphs from more than two images?

Yes, if you are using FantaMorph Pro or Deluxe! See "How to Morph More than Two Images".

3. Why is the speed slower than "real-time"?

FantaMorph uses a rendering engine which makes use of OpenGL hardware acceleration. OpenGL is an industrial graphics standard and is supported by most modern video cards. If your video card supports this feature, morph speed can be very fast, even reaching hundreds of frames per second. But, if your video card is old, morph speed may be under 15 frames per second. In this case, updating your video card is recommended.

4. Why I am unable to get any picture at all in the Preview Window when Image1 and Image 2 are loaded?

Your system has some problems with OpenGL hardware acceleration.
First, please choose Start/Control Panel/Display/Settings, make sure the Color quality is "Highest (32 bit)" if possible.
Second, you should update your display driver. For example, if you are using a NVIDIA card, please download the latest driver from NVIDIA site at http://www.nvidia.com, install it, restart Windows, and then try out FantaMorph again.
Last, if the problem is still not resolved, click the Tools/Edit Options menu, on the Options window, turn off the Use Hardware Acceleration switch, restart FantaMorph and try again.

5. What image formats can I import into FantaMorph?

FantaMorph imports BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, TGA, PCX, GIF, WMF, and EMF (Windows Metafile) format images.
The Pro or Deluxe edition also imports 32-bit with alpha channel BMP, TIFF, PNG, and TGA images. For more information, see "How to Use 32-bit with Alpha Images".

6. Which format is the best for export?

Image Sequences: Each morph frame will be saved as an individual file in your choice of formats: BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, TGA, PCX, and GIF. In most cases, JPEG is the best choice. In the Pro or Deluxe edition, when you use 32-bit source images in order to take advantage of transparency so that the morph result can be overlaid smoothly onto video in other video software, you should choose BMP, TIFF, PNG or TGA format.
AVI Movie: Familiar video format on Windows platform with perfect quality. Good for importing into movie editing software such as Adobe Premiere. To avoid too large file size, you can use video Codec installed (such as MPEG-4 codec from www.divx.com) to compress your movies into smaller files.
Animated GIF: Good for web pages, since GIF files can be viewed by any browser. Note that overall image quality is lower because the GIF format only supports 256 colors.
Flash Movie: Best for web pages, very small and high quality. Best choice for sharing with friends by e-mail.
Web Page: Can play flash movie at the original size in Internet Explorer.
Screen Saver: Create standard Windows screen savers to show morphing effects. It's an interesting way to enjoy your morphs and share with your friends.
Standalone EXE: Export the morphs to standalone .exe programs. Share the .exe programs with friends and they can view your morphs without having to install FantaMorph or other player programs.

7. Can I add dots to both images individually or just to one image at a time?

If the "Auto Add Corresponding Dot" option is toggled on, every dot you add to one image will automatically result in a corresponding partner dot on the opposite image. If the "Auto Add Corresponding Dot" option is toggled off, you can add dots to both images individually. You may add paired dots and unpaired dots in one project, but only paired dots will be able to affect the morph.

8. Why are my dots all the same color?

As a default, all dots are the same color. But you can turn on the "Color Cycle" switch in the option box, causing 8 basic colors to cycle across the dots. Note that the 9th dot you add will therefore be the same color as the 1st, the 10th the same as the 2nd, and so on. To help distinguish individual dots and correctly locate their partner dot, simply move your cursor over a chosen dot. That dot and its partner in the second image will be highlighted.

9. What do I do with my completed morphs?

Use your morph images or morph movies to grab people's attention or to have a good time - create web graphics and enhance your web site, email morphs to friends and family to make them laugh, burn on morphs to VCD for enjoying on TV, create a unique online greeting, post your morphs on the Internet, add more life to your presentations. If you are a professional user, use your morphs in music video, advertisement, teleplay, movie, education courseware, and countless other great ways!
If your morph is unique and exciting, and you want to share it with other FantaMorph users, you might consider submitting it to us for display.

10. Can I import the FantaMorph's results into video editing software to make a VCD/DVD?

Of course! Just follow the following steps.
Step 1: Set the movie size to "352 x 240 (VCD NTSC)" or "720 x 480 (DVD NTSC)". For PAL system, set "352 x 288 (VCD PAL)" or "720 x 576 (DVD PAL)".
Step 2: Set the AVI speed to 29.97 fps instead of the default 15 fps in the Options window. For PAL system, set 25 fps.
Step 3: Export the morph as AVI format. It is strongly recommended to choose the compressor "Full Frames (Uncompressed)".
Step 4: Now, you can import the exported AVI file into video editing software to make a VCD/DVD.

11. Why doesn't my morph look natural?

While morphs can be produced in many different ways, FantaMorph uses what is termed the "key dots method." It is effective, fast, and easy to use, but it also has some limitations. Dots pairs must be in the same logical positions, otherwise, the result may be unconvincing. In this case, carefully adjust dot positions which define the affected areas.

12. Where can I find suitable images for creating add-on effects?

You can use any images that you like for movie backgrounds. Masks should be 256 shade grayscale bitmap images, and foregrounds should be 32-bit with alpha. images. For more information, see "How to Use Add-on Effects".
There are many sources for such images on the web. Images from your own scanned or digital photos can be used. We will create a members zone soon where our registered users can download a lot of free stuffs.