Hi mad_ady,
I don't know of any tools that would do this, but then I never searched for one. Generally find it easier to create my own tools to suit whatever task I need to perform.
The option to re-use SML (now called SMK) code should be relatively easy. Particularly now that I have version 2 almost ready for release.
In version 2, I have separated all functional code groups into individual Perl Packages, so now there is a package called 'SMK_Magick.pm' which houses all the graphical stuff and can be called by any perl script.
If we strip out the SMK stuff (which isn't much) and modify the inputs slightly, then we have a pretty good start on a general image creator.
In the Package there are only three functions you need to consider -
'Canvas' - start a new image of any specified size, either blank or using an existing image.
'Add Text' - add text to the existing canvas - using specified attributes.
'Add Image' - add an external image - using specified attributes.
The simplest approach would be to have your script call these functions and pass a relevant 'XML' data string similar to that used by the moviesheet templates containing all the required attributes for the text or image.
For example to add a bit of text, pass a string like this..
- Code: Select all
<TextElement Name="Text" X="38" Y="69" Width="1100" Height="20" AutoSize="False" Multiline="False" Font="Helvetica,10,True,False,False,False,Point,,0" ForeColor="-2500135" StrokeColor="-16777216" StrokeWidth="0" Text="Text I want to appear" TextAlignment="TopLeft" TextQuality="AntiAlias" TGD_IsLocked="False" TGD_IsVisible="True">
<Actions>
<DropShadow Angle="320" Color="-16777216" Distance="3" Opacity="100" Softness="2" TGD_IsVisible="True" />
</Actions>
</TextElement>
The more long-term approach would be to modify the SMK_Magick package inputs to take say an attribute hash from your script.
e.g.
$text_attributes->{width}
$text_attributes->{height}
$text_attributes->{forecolor} .. etc.
As for Documentation, the SMK_Magick.pm code is fairly self explanatory, particularly if you read it in conjunction with one of the templates.
You can also refer to the 'Perl-Magick API' documentation to get a more technical understanding.
The positioning of elements in ImageMagick are absolute x/y pixel co-ordinates from the top left corner of the canvas, but it's easy enough to calculate absolute from relative, since you will know the canvas size and position of each element you have already placed on the canvas.
Let me know what you think - I can provide the 'SMK_Magick.pm' for you to play with.
Here's something new to try - how about windows 10 new "linux shell" feature? You could install perl, modules and everything and use an Xserver for display and have a single code. True, not all windows versions are supported, but at least it will be futureproof.
. I'm not a cute furry animal I'm much more savage (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunyip).
