Function to create animation frames

create_frames.py

def create_frames(dt, steps, padding, output_dir):
    fig, ax = create_blank_chart_with_styling((6, 6))
    # creation of data describing the trajectory 
    xs, ys, zs = build_lorenz_trajectory(dt, steps)
    # setting the fixed range of axes
    ax.set_xlim3d(xs.min() - padding, xs.max() + padding)
    ax.set_ylim3d(ys.min() - padding, ys.max() + padding)
    ax.set_zlim3d(zs.min() - padding, zs.max() + padding)

    for i in range(steps-1):
        # the colour of the line will change over time
        ax.plot(xs[i:i+2], ys[i:i+2], zs[i:i+2], color=plt.cm.viridis(1 - i/steps), lw=2)
        # angle of view on the graph
        ax.view_init(30, 45 + i)
        # saving the frame in a file with the appropriate index
        plt.savefig("./" + output_dir + "/lorenz_{:0>5d}.png".format(i))

    plt.close()