create_gif.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
"""
A script to create a GIF from a sequence of images using
ImageMagick.
Applies natural sorting to file names.
Dan Clewley (http://spectraldifferences.wordpress.com)
"""

import argparse
import re
import subprocess

re_natural = re.compile('[0-9]+|[^0-9]+')
def natural_key(s):
    """
    Natural sorting function from: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12184015/in-python-how-can-i-naturally-sort-a-list-of-alphanumeric-strings-such-that-alp
    """
    return [(1, int(c)) if c.isdigit() else (0, c.lower()) for c in re_natural.findall(s)] + [s]

if __name__ == '__main__':
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Create an animated gif from a series of images')
    parser.add_argument("images", nargs='+',type=str, help="Input images")
    parser.add_argument('-o', '--outgif',
                       metavar ='Output gif',
                       help ='Output name for gif',
                       required=True)
    args=parser.parse_args()

    sorted_png_files = sorted(args.images, key=natural_key)

    # Call ImageMagick convert command
    convert_cmd = ['convert','-delay','20','-loop','0']
    convert_cmd.extend(sorted_png_files)
    convert_cmd.extend([args.outgif])

    subprocess.call(convert_cmd)