DiyLightAnimation
Software => Vixen => Topic started by: smeighan on February 21, 2012,
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I decided i would open a new thread, the other one was getting too large.
New version of rgbsb has new target models. I have redesigned the graphic engine. It is now 10 times smaller and faster on the web page. I have built the spirals with chromatic colors, snowflakes, random pixels, meteors. Scrolling text is about ready to be released.
There is a new web address also, http://meighan.net/rgbsb/
I could use some help. I am now going to focus on Vixen. I have a parser written for the vix files.
I need some more examples of a vixen file that has an rgb megatree. It would be perfect of i could get the vix file and maybe also a link to a video showing that sequence running. This way i can create a vix file and let people try it.
Here are some of the new target models.
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/spirals/r_s6_t1_3232_cw.gif)
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/dots/t1_3232_dots.gif)
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/snowflakes/sf_snow.gif)
thanks
sean
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Nice work.
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Sean, this is excellent progress!
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Nice Work!
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Sean,
As one who is just starting and planning to use RGB lights exclusively, your work is very impressive! I am following your development with GREAT interest. THANKS for your efforts!
Richard (from SoCal) :)
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Sean -
Great work!
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I posted a thread in doityourselfchristmas http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?19205-RGB-Sequence-Builder-for-Megatrees-Planes-or-any-other-arbitrary-object (http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?19205-RGB-Sequence-Builder-for-Megatrees-Planes-or-any-other-arbitrary-object)
Hi everyone;
There was a request for a barber pole. turns out took just one hour to code the spiral model generator to do this.
Here is what i said there
Ask and you shall receive ...
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/spirals/s2_t1_3232_barber_150ms.gif)
This expands the spiral mode to now have
#spirals
#rotations down tree
#thick of spiral (This is the new option that allows the barber pole)
#set color of the spiral has
a) solid
b) start hue and ending hue and spread chromatic color
more to come
In reference to a horizontal and vertical chase can you give me a link to a video and the time in that video that has the effects you are looking for
something like in this video http://.....
banded vertical 1:47.3 to 1:53
horizontal chase 1:11 to 1:22
and to all,
if there is an effect that you would like to see rgbsb model for rgb devices, please send your links in.
The new model is working out to be pretty easy to add new effects.
RGBSB is changing (doesn't it always). Instead of talking about math models and such it is going to become a huge library of effects. Things like playing avi, scrolling text are not math models.
I think people would like to select from the library, provide the target megatree that matches their physical tree and then get the xml file for their sequencer.
The web page will continue to evolve to just show the library of effects you can choose from
This week:
I dont like the effects of my meteors so i will be fixing them. Scrolling text is almost ready to release.
so send in your wish lists of effects you would love to see rgbsb have
thanks
sean
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Half of a megatree implemented
Looking at the video from gordonlights http://www.gordonlights.com/Videos/2011.asp (http://www.gordonlights.com/Videos/2011.asp), i see his megatrees are actually half of a tree
I have implemented half megatrees into the models.
Here is what the barber pole looks like on half of a megatree
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/spirals/s2_t1_3232_barber_150ms.gif)
The tool seems to becoming more of a madrix-light as it evolves.
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On the other forum, a question came
Here was my answer
The rgbsb tool is made up of 3 parts
1) Library of effects for RGB devices. You see this at http://meighan.net/rgbsb (NOTE! Change in web page URL). I expect this library to get to be into the hundreds. One thing to note , each of my models (spirals, snowflakes, .etc.) have many variables that change the final output. When I finish the tool , there will be slider bars allowing you to make a near infinite combination of effects. All of the variables are there, they just are not exposed to the user yet.
2) A tool to allow you to model your megatree into rgbsb. I call this the target model generator. This tool has a mysql database so that peoples' models can be stored and retrieved. This tool is http://meighan.net/rgbsb/main_login.php. I opened this tool up for a few days last week. I got feedback that helped me to go and address some issues. This tool is currently offline while i work on the database.
NOTE! Change in web page URL
3) The last thing the tool does is take your target model and the RGB effects you selected from the library, it then produces an xml file for LSP, Vixen or LOR.
Currently , I have LOR producing a LMS file and importing with no errors. I am in the midst of making an xml file for Vixen. I have not started on LSP.
So for step #1, you can continue to feed me more ideas for effects to go into the library.
Step #2 should come back by this weekend and then you can try creating your RGB megatree.
Step #3, i have asked for anyone who might have a Vixen 2.1 vix file and a video of their display. I can then continue to work on creating the xml output for Vixen. I dont expect to finish that for at least a few weeks.
Eventually i plan on supporting Vixen 2.1.1 and Vixen 3, LOR S2 and LOR S3 and LSP 2 (maybe LSP 1.8).
You can imagine the exponential increase in work for me to supply all of these xml forms. A possible side benefit later this summer is i am thinking i will be able to cross transform between any two sequencers.
we will see
sean
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Wow. Amazing work, well done!
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Two new models added to library
Vertical bars and falling stars
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/bands/b_3_t1_3232_100ms.gif)
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/falling_stars/fallStars_t1_3232_120ms.gif)
thanks
sean
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Very nice work :)
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I have finished the scrolling text. I have added it into the library of effects
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/text/text_t1_3232_100ms.gif)
Now on to the xml work
thanks
sean
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Beautiful!
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Sean,
What are the min/max matrix parameters for the scrolling text?
Excellent effort and THANKS for sharing! :)
Richard (from SoCal)
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The text is 5x7 matrix, because the lower case goes below the line, it is 5x9.
if you are talking about limits on the tree, all of my models have the same coordinate system. Pixel #1 is the top of the tree and then i use strands going either cw or ccw around the tree.
I starte dthe top of the text at pixel #18 and it therefore goes to pixel #27
I told the model to only show half a megatree.
The window for display was therefore
Strands 24-32, 1-8. Left strand is 24, right window is strand #8.
This tree is 32 strands by 35 pixels.
Here is a sample of the dotmatrix file i created.= sign indicates the next character will be used to build the associative array.
I can later make other fonts, this works for now.
I also am going to release 1,2 or 3 lines of concurrent text.
=y
.
.
x x
x x
x x
x xx
xx x
x
xx
=z
.
.
xxxxx
x
x
x
xxxxx
.
.
=A
x
x x
x x
x x
xxxxx
x x
x x
.
.
=B
xxxx
x x
x x
x xx
x x
x x
xxxx
.
.
=C
xxx
x x
x
x
x
x x
xxx
.
.
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i have added an option to have two lines of text. I was thinking my future tree might have this between songs
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/text/text_dual_t1_3232_50ms.gif)
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This is amazing work. Keep it up, we greatly appreciate your efforts.
Ron
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Well, just as i was getting ready to go to bed, i got an idea about how to project pictures onto the tree.
I took the image i use for my avatar (99x139 pixels in a png file) and wrote a new model, picture projection onto the tree.
This means i will be able to also project movies. The problem is getting the resolution small enough. In this case i divided each axis by 5 and just took the rgb value. Better would be to average them, to enhance them, .etc.
But for a first pass, not bad
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/pictures/picture_4_100ms.gif)
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Seriously Impressive! Must have RGB MEGA TREE!
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hi all;
someone on the LOR forum asked if i could do his avatar. It worked better than mine. I am guessing fewer colors and a black background made for a clearer image
here was his input
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/images/14578.jpg)
and his output
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/images/14578.jpg)
so if you want to post some images here , ill convert and project them and put them on the web page
i suggest simpler colors and sizes less than 200x200
thanks
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(http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9691/c851496af77e44468046f76.png) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2724309944_24b810a5d5.jpg)
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first i tried your original size pics
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/pictures/grinch.gif)
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/pictures/snoopy.gif)
Then i resized them and tried again
i also blacked out the white grinch background
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/images/grinch2.png) (http://meighan.net/rgbsb/images/snoopy2.jpg)
and this is what we get
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/pictures/grinch2.gif)
(http://meighan.net/rgbsb/models/pictures/snoopy2.gif)
i dont which looks better
thanks
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It seems the possibilities are endless
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first i tried your original size pics
Then i resized them and tried again
i also blacked out the white grinch background
and this is what we get
i dont which looks better
thanks
I think that it will make sense for people to use a pair of models for the trees... one that used the "tree in the round" :) and the other used for the "tree in the halfshell". -- ok need a better set of names for this idea.
in other words there will be some times that a person will want the 360 degree model with all strings to get the cool mega tree and spirals. there will be other times for the sprites, images, and scrolling text that you only want the fron 180 degrees.
you've solved the problem with the flexibility in your model creation. it just takes the designer to make the selection.
...i'm guessing that 270 degrees (or 205) might work fairly well too. you want a nice view from up and down the street -- and not just from the view from the front of the house.
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Another effect...
I saw the video below and liked the use of 4 off-kilter hoops. They were much like arches wrapped around the tree like a garland. there were racing effects up and around the tree, and bouncing to and fro.
I'd considered putting hoops around my RGB tree to do this, but applying multiple layers of effects would be a great use of the existing lights and would allow me to skip the construction of the hoops.
Take a look at the tree during these times:
00m08s - 00m38s
00m55s - 01m25s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXjbMIZzAgs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXjbMIZzAgs)
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Your project needs a name, something cool, but a little easier to remember and verbalize... SuperPix, or something that is less than a mouthful like rgbsb
Also, I think you need to have your own group under software... the existing threads can be moved there.
I see this eclipsing the other tools. :)
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I agree with Steve. Can this be it's own group under software? It would be much easier to sort through and find info. We could have a subheading that just included models completed and another for discussions or ideas.
Ryan
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I agree, my name sucks.
I have signed up for the Academy, I may speak about rgbsb (or whatever) we call it by then. I expect i should have all three sequencers working. I hope movies are done. I expect i will get the physics effects (snowstorms, fireworks, waves) finished.
I have an idea of how to sequence multiple effects one to the next. This sort of gets this to be more like a sequencer.
I'll let you in on a secret, it has always been my plan,for myself, to pass in a timeline with beats and create most of the rgb sequencing and then bring back the whole thing and use Vixen or LSP to sequence the rest of the front yard for the non rgb stuff.
In other words, i haven't envisioned this as one effect, one import. Another effect, another import. This vision is probably going to be done by end of summer or fall.
But who knows, sometimes things go faster than i expected.
I am open to any name.
So what would be a good name to replace rgbsb (A clunky name, i admit)? Programmers are not marketing
As far as moving to my own group, that would be easier. Here is what i originally tried
1) i started working with vixen first so i start a thread.
2) Since tool is generic i post a link in the LSP group pointing over there. I say "My tool is generic"
Result, i get very little input from LSP folks.
Now this last week, i decide i will post in BOTH LSP and Vixen. The result? There are more views from LSP folks.
Being that my tool spans all the sequencers , i currently am posting the same message in 6 threads
Since i started the tool , there have been approx 3700 views on the threads.
Half of these view hits have occurred since releasing the new effects (I started Feb 21?, seems longer ago than that). Over the last 3 days, these are views per thread
PlanetChristmas: 129
DLA LSP Group: 371
DLA Vixen Group: 335
DoitYourselfChristmas: 634
LOR: 467
AusChristmas: 167
Here are the 6 threads i post to
http://forums.planetchristmas.com/index.php?/topic/50066-sequence-builder-for-rgb-targets-meighannetseqbuilderindexphp/
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=7793.0
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=8072.15
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?19205-RGB-Sequence-Builder-for-Megatrees-Planes-or-any-other-arbitrary-object
http://forums.lightorama.com/forum81/32430.html
http://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/index.php/topic,1799.0.html
If we could get our own group here on DLA i could get down to 5 threads from 6.
thanks
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More effects...
I'm sure you must have seen these at one point, but I thought I'd post them to provide additional inspiration:
http://vimeo.com/32057737 (http://vimeo.com/32057737)
http://vimeo.com/32057852 (http://vimeo.com/32057852)
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More effects...
I'm sure you must have seen these at one point, but I thought I'd post them to provide additional inspiration:
http://vimeo.com/32057737 (http://vimeo.com/32057737)
http://vimeo.com/32057852 (http://vimeo.com/32057852)
Thanks Steve, i added them to my list of resources of "Effects i want to offer"
I know how to do all the effects I have seen, it is just making them more generic (i try to add variables that the users can vary) and finding the time. They are fun to do, i call them sequencer crack. They give immediate visual feedback.
I will come back now and then and build another effect to give me a break from the drudgery of making xml files and the other database stuff i am working on.
I am on target for a release today of the target modeler. I have everything done except for the ability to edit old models. It almost works.
thanks