From 37aabd456e598543186a7e0fce4e9fd98a02935b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: hbrain <hbrain@piagent.local>
Date: Mon, 25 May 2026 00:59:10 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Simplify output directory option

---
 README.md   | 5 +++--
 movmaker.py | 5 ++---
 2 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 61fb2c2..4de143d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -157,9 +157,10 @@ python3 movmaker.py input --preview
 - overlays the opening title for the first 6 seconds: large title, then date/location on one line
 - displays optional per-file captions at bottom center; use `|` to split caption lines
 - adds persistent bottom-left title/date/place and bottom-right `@bubulescu` stamps
-- writes safe ASCII text in rendered overlays and metadata, so special letters become readable equivalents like `Č` -> `C`, `å` -> `a`, `ø` -> `o`
+- preserves special characters in rendered overlays and metadata
+- uses safe ASCII only for generated filenames, so special letters become readable equivalents like `Č` -> `C`, `å` -> `a`, `ø` -> `o`
 - embeds MP4 metadata: title, date, location, artist, comment, and creation_time
-- writes an MP4 file named like `YYYYMMDD_title.mp4` in the current directory by default
+- writes an MP4 file named like `YYYYMMDD_title.mp4` in the current directory by default; use `--out-dir DIR` to choose another output directory
 - takes `YYYYMMDD` from the first picture/video metadata, falling back to file modification date
 - uses local `ffmpeg/ffmpeg` and `ffmpeg/ffprobe` when present, otherwise system tools
 
diff --git a/movmaker.py b/movmaker.py
index 14c016d..f0948e6 100755
--- a/movmaker.py
+++ b/movmaker.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 """Simple flat-folder photo/video movie maker using ffmpeg.
 
 Usage:
-    python movmaker.py input --output movie.mp4
+    python movmaker.py input --out-dir .
 
 Put images, videos, audio files, and optionally data.txt in one directory.
 """
@@ -567,7 +567,6 @@ def build_video(
 def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Make a video from a flat folder of images/videos/audio.")
     parser.add_argument("input", type=Path, help="flat input directory")
-    parser.add_argument("--output", "-o", type=Path, help="output mp4 path; defaults to YYYYMMDD_title.mp4 in the current directory")
     parser.add_argument("--out-dir", type=Path, default=Path("."), help="directory for auto-named output videos")
     parser.add_argument("--image-duration", type=float, default=6.0, help="seconds each image is visible")
     parser.add_argument("--fade", type=float, default=3.0, help="crossfade duration in seconds")
@@ -605,7 +604,7 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
     audio_fade_in = max(0.0, args.audio_fade_in)
     video_fade = max(0.0, args.video_fade)
 
-    output = args.output or default_output_path(media[0].path, data, args.out_dir)
+    output = default_output_path(media[0].path, data, args.out_dir)
 
     # Image duration means fully visible time, not including crossfades.
     # Middle images need both a fade-in and fade-out added to their clip length.