HUGE image array

informer91

Ok i need to use 1000 + images in my sketch. I have a few questions about how best to do this to avoid memory error.

1) can I load an image(s) from a file when I need to draw it instead of loading at runtime in setup? 2) if not, does loading image file on a new thread actually benefit the sketch as either way 1000 images will be loaded? 3) Is there a method to dynamically load and remove images from RAM as I need/no longer need them??

GoToLoop

It's bad etiquette to open more than 1 discussion for the same subject! :-w
http://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/5507/loading-images

informer91

soz I didn't see that you replied until just now..

GoToLoop

What my reply there had anything to do in creating another discussion for the same issue?
You can post a more detailed question in the same discussion after all! :-&

informer91

but anyway now that your here any thoughts on the questions at hand.?

my code looks like this at the moment, that is why I didn't think a queue would be appropriate:

imArr1[0] = loadImage("a/0.png")   /// all the way to 40 ims
imArr2[0] = loadImage("b/0.png")  // all the way to 60 ims
imArr3[0] = loadImage("c/0.png")  // 130 ims

etc

plus 12 gif image sequences each with 230 + images with them.

So if your suggesting this queuing method that won't really keep them separate like they are here?

GoToLoop

You even haven't answered my question there! You just spread your issue into 2 discussions! :-<

... this queuing method...

It's more than a method. It's a data structure! Have you at least clicked the links I've left for ya there?

informer91

yes I have.

I apologised, it won't happen again.

Fine, data structure - but I will have to call multiple queues and the loaded data to an array. Having multiple queues isn't really solving the problem its just putting it on hold. As I was saying is there no way of using say a switch statement to load in x images when they are needed. Then deleting them from memory when they are not?

GoToLoop

Yes I have.
Having multiple queues...

You haven't! If you had replied my question there, you wouldn't be saying you'd need multiple queues! >:P

informer91

ok maybe I don't understand what your saying is the solution here. I have read hashmaps :: they are like arrays, need to reference with strings not numbers. I have read queueing and looked up about priority after reading your article from oracle. Frankly I don't get ArrayDeques.. I've never used them before.

Really I just wanted a way to load and unload images from memory. So if i call a function screenA(); it switches to screenA and I load the images and display them for screenA. Then if I call screenB() it destroys screenA's images, removes them from memory and loads and displays screenB's etc..

GoToLoop

It's incredible you can't find my question! Gonna repeat it here:

It's always forward, or does it have rewind?
If it's always forward, a Queue of loaded images is enough.
Otherwise, you'd need 2 Deque instead!

informer91

rewind? Trying to load in images. the ones that are not needed will be set to null and instances of the PImage will be called for the images I need to go back to ?? IS there not a processing "way" of doing this instead of enlisting pure java?

GoToLoop

Let's see if I got what u wanna do correctly:

• You wanna display 2 images at a time.
• Just keep showing the next 2 images until it's finished.

informer91

yes... however just found out [i'm working on a shared sketch with another programmer] that she was loading in Gifs and displaying them using gifAnimation library . it is this library that is slowing the image loading down. I'm thinking I'll convert them to a png sequence and do something like you were recommending ... a queue of sorts.