RGBSB target model builder

[smeighan]

This thread is to talk about the portion of RGBSB that will model your megatree so RGBSB can put effects on it.

This is VERY important. If you cannot model your tree , you will NOT be able to use RGBSB.

This initial release is everything except for the editing of an existing tree. Since defining your tree should take less than 60 seconds, just build multiple models.

This release now allows you to create an account on rgbsb. One you create an account you will come into the target modeler screen.

This is what i need from you. Is there any reason you cannot model your existing or future tree?

I am aware of some people who have built tree in what i call a snake method. take a string, go up and then down and then go up again. I will be adding this soon.

Your models are being saved to the database, but it is not like you would lose alot of work. Like i said, you should be able to model your tree in a few minutes.

I expect the ability to edit an existing model will occur tonight.

so have fun.. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

thanks

[smeighan]

Many of you have created a model, Great job!

I have been asked, "What Now?"


What happens now is I verify that everyone can model their tree. I will choose some of the models entered to be come part of my test suite. This was the goal of this weekend.


the next part is you need to create effects in your user space. Think of the effects you have seen, say the barber pole, the most simple spiral model i have.
That effect has these variables.

Number of stripes. The Barber pole had this set to 2
How many rotations a stripe makes going from the top to the bottom. The barber pole on my web page had this set to 3
Color of each stripe. RED and WHITE were used for Barber Pole.
Thickness of stripe, in Barber Pole case you say to fill it in till the next stripe
Rotation cw or ccw. I think i had it cw
Do you want the whole tree used or only half a mega tree. I set this to be half a megatree


Now you will save this as say BARBER1 in your effects library.

Then you go to your personal library and select a target (Example: MTREE1)and a effect, (Example: BARBER1)
I will ask you for the time quantum, say 50ms,
and how long you want a sequence, say 5 seconds.

I now create one frame with every string#, pixel#, rgb value. In this case I will produce 100 objects

At this point I can make animated gif's. Notice so far the software is sequencer agnostic.
This point is where i have been but i was cheating by setting the variables inside the software and not pulling them from tables.

At this point I expect you will look at the animations and maybe go back and modify your effects and try again.
If you are only going to have one megatree, you will never go back to the target modeler. I do expect you will start to makde 10's or 100's of effects that you personally like.

When satisfied, you select a sequencer and I produce the Lms,vix or lsp file. You then import it into your sequencer and should see what I previewed for you,
Cut and paste it ( here I get fuzzy, since I have used any sequencer software. I expect all three sequencer groups will give me suggestions on how to make this easiest for you.)

In summary
1) you must build your rgb using the target modeler . You just finished this step.
2) u need to select an effect from your personal library of effects u like. I have not released this tool yet. It should be released within the next 1-2 weeks.
3) optional at this point is to get an animated gif to preview
4) finally, you get an output file for your sequencer

STATUS as of feb 25th:

(1) is functional now. I know I will want to change the layout, the usability, the prompts and expand it to model matrix or grids.

(2) is maybe 70% done. Actually building the models, discovering what variables need to be changed, is complete.
What is left is another form where you select from this list
Spirals, bands, meteors, pictures,text
You then get prompted for the variables that belong to that effect. U name this effect and it goes into your library

(3) is done, it needs some clean related to scheduling Linux tasks, cleaning files and such. But the guts of it is done

(4) XML output for sequencers. I have LOR maybe 40% done, vixen 10%, LSP 5%. I need some people's models to work here, what people have done this weekend will help.

I have stated all 4 of these will be done by summer.

Thanks for the feedback

[Rod R]

Sean,

Thanks a bunch for all your time and hard work.  You have come a long way on this since you started.  This will tool will save everyone weeks of programming time on their display.  I'll check out the site as I will have mega and several mini trees using smart strings in the snake method.  I see this also a great tool for testing.

[smeighan]

over 40 people registered today. 30 models were created. I got some feedback and i fixed some bugs. A very good start.

Thanks

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[rimist]

I know that I'm one of the few, but I decorate for many more holidays than Christmas. That being said, I wonder if you would consider as part of your long term plan some models using different shapes: a heart 2d/3d, a clover 2d/3d, a rainbow with a pot of gold, a flag, a tombstone, a pumpkin 2d/3d, a skull 2d/3d.

-Rimist (via Tapatalk)

[smeighan]

I know that I'm one of the few, but I decorate for many more holidays than Christmas. That being said, I wonder if you would consider as part of your long term plan some models using different shapes: a heart 2d/3d, a clover 2d/3d, a rainbow with a pot of gold, a flag, a tombstone, a pumpkin 2d/3d, a skull 2d/3d.

-Rimist (via Tapatalk)

Short answer is yes.


To handle these, I will either build a web page template or give the user the ability to upload their own file.

After a target gets made, there is a file that looks like this. The bottom center of a tree is 0,0,0, vertical axis is the Z axis
This is an 8 strand megatree, with 35 pixels each strand.

The file order is
ModelName   String#  Pixel#   X  Y   Z

With this file, i can project all the effects you see so far on rgbsb. When you "create a model", you give me answers that allow me to build this file.



#    t1_88.dat
t1   1   1   0.000   0.849 116.605
t1   1   2   0.000   1.698 113.209
t1   1   3   0.000   2.547 109.814
t1   1   4   0.000   3.395 106.418
t1   1   5   0.000   4.244 103.023
t1   1   6   0.000   5.093  99.627
t1   1   7   0.000   5.942  96.232
t1   1   8   0.000   6.791  92.836
t1   1   9   0.000   7.640  89.441
t1   1  10   0.000   8.489  86.045
t1   1  11   0.000   9.338  82.650
t1   1  12   0.000  10.186  79.254
t1   1  13   0.000  11.035  75.859
t1   1  14   0.000  11.884  72.463
t1   1  15   0.000  12.733  69.068
t1   1  16   0.000  13.582  65.672
t1   1  17   0.000  14.431  62.277
t1   1  18   0.000  15.280  58.881
t1   1  19   0.000  16.129  55.486
t1   1  20   0.000  16.977  52.090
t1   1  21   0.000  17.826  48.695
t1   1  22   0.000  18.675  45.299
t1   1  23   0.000  19.524  41.904
t1   1  24   0.000  20.373  38.508
t1   1  25   0.000  21.222  35.113
t1   1  26   0.000  22.071  31.717
t1   1  27   0.000  22.920  28.322
t1   1  28   0.000  23.768  24.926
t1   1  29   0.000  24.617  21.531
t1   1  30   0.000  25.466  18.135
t1   1  31   0.000  26.315  14.740
t1   1  32   0.000  27.164  11.344
t1   1  33   0.000  28.013   7.949
t1   1  34   0.000  28.862   4.553
t1   1  35   0.000  29.711   1.158

t1   2   1   0.600   0.600 116.605
t1   2   2   1.200   1.200 113.209
t1   2   3   1.801   1.801 109.814
t1   2   4   2.401   2.401 106.418
t1   2   5   3.001   3.001 103.023
t1   2   6   3.601   3.601  99.627
t1   2   7   4.202   4.202  96.232
t1   2   8   4.802   4.802  92.836
t1   2   9   5.402   5.402  89.441
t1   2  10   6.002   6.002  86.045
t1   2  11   6.603   6.603  82.650
t1   2  12   7.203   7.203  79.254
t1   2  13   7.803   7.803  75.859
t1   2  14   8.403   8.403  72.463
t1   2  15   9.004   9.004  69.068
t1   2  16   9.604   9.604  65.672
t1   2  17  10.204  10.204  62.277
t1   2  18  10.804  10.804  58.881
t1   2  19  11.405  11.405  55.486
t1   2  20  12.005  12.005  52.090
t1   2  21  12.605  12.605  48.695
t1   2  22  13.205  13.205  45.299
t1   2  23  13.806  13.806  41.904
t1   2  24  14.406  14.406  38.508
t1   2  25  15.006  15.006  35.113
t1   2  26  15.606  15.606  31.717
t1   2  27  16.207  16.207  28.322
t1   2  28  16.807  16.807  24.926
t1   2  29  17.407  17.407  21.531
t1   2  30  18.007  18.007  18.135
t1   2  31  18.608  18.608  14.740
t1   2  32  19.208  19.208  11.344
t1   2  33  19.808  19.808   7.949
t1   2  34  20.408  20.408   4.553
t1   2  35  21.009  21.009   1.158

t1   3   1   0.849   0.000 116.605
t1   3   2   1.698   0.000 113.209
t1   3   3   2.547   0.000 109.814
t1   3   4   3.395   0.000 106.418
t1   3   5   4.244   0.000 103.023
t1   3   6   5.093   0.000  99.627
t1   3   7   5.942   0.000  96.232
t1   3   8   6.791   0.000  92.836
t1   3   9   7.640   0.000  89.441
t1   3  10   8.489   0.000  86.045
t1   3  11   9.338   0.000  82.650
t1   3  12  10.186   0.000  79.254
t1   3  13  11.035   0.000  75.859
t1   3  14  11.884   0.000  72.463
t1   3  15  12.733   0.000  69.068
t1   3  16  13.582   0.000  65.672
t1   3  17  14.431   0.000  62.277
t1   3  18  15.280   0.000  58.881
t1   3  19  16.129   0.000  55.486
t1   3  20  16.977   0.000  52.090
t1   3  21  17.826   0.000  48.695
t1   3  22  18.675   0.000  45.299
t1   3  23  19.524   0.000  41.904
t1   3  24  20.373   0.000  38.508
t1   3  25  21.222   0.000  35.113
t1   3  26  22.071   0.000  31.717
t1   3  27  22.920   0.000  28.322
t1   3  28  23.768   0.000  24.926
t1   3  29  24.617   0.000  21.531
t1   3  30  25.466   0.000  18.135
t1   3  31  26.315   0.000  14.740
t1   3  32  27.164   0.000  11.344
t1   3  33  28.013   0.000   7.949
t1   3  34  28.862   0.000   4.553
t1   3  35  29.711   0.000   1.158

.etc.

I will be crreating a chapter in the future manual, to talk to how to model other shapes besides a tree or grid.

Remember my original title for this tool "RGB Sequence Builder for Megatrees/Planes or any other arbitrary object"

that has been my architecture design

thanks

[Steve Gase]

Trees can have precise measurements.  Some other elements (including those describeb by rimist) may be more difficult... and creating a mathematical model to abstract this for each might be more effort than it is worth.



I think having a drawing package with the ability to lay down a picture, provide the x-y (and maybe z?) coordinate for the upper corner... then dragging sequential numbers into their places might be useful approach.  The placement of the numbers would create your mappings.

Unfortunately I am not a UI programmer to be able to help.

BUT, it might be easier to have a utility that recorded the screen coordinates for mouse clicks.  I could display an image, capture coordinates, and then scale, translate and format them to meet your file format.  hmm.

[smeighan]

Trees can have precise measurements.  Some other elements (including those describeb by rimist) may be more difficult... and creating a mathematical model to abstract this for each might be more effort than it is worth.



I think having a drawing package with the ability to lay down a picture, provide the x-y (and maybe z?) coordinate for the upper corner... then dragging sequential numbers into their places might be useful approach.  The placement of the numbers would create your mappings.

Unfortunately I am not a UI programmer to be able to help.

BUT, it might be easier to have a utility that recorded the screen coordinates for mouse clicks.  I could display an image, capture coordinates, and then scale, translate and format them to meet your file format.  hmm.

This whole area is probably wide open. I could accept different vector scaling files, work google sketch up for example.

Keep this in mind though.

I will generate effects based on a strand and pixel.

Meteors, drop pixels down a thread for example.

If you had strands going around a snowman almost every effect I have now would work with no modifications.

I'll get trees and the matrices working. First. I do want to experiment later this year with the other topologies.

Thanks

[smeighan]

On another thread, i said sometime this year i plan on supporting Google Sketchup as an input for the target models.

This resulted in this thread


Hi;

"So if I send you an .ipt or .dwg, that's cool?"

it will be when i write the parser. i use google docs and have thought of expanding the places i can get a source file. i was thinking these three sources for target models.

1) rgbsb builds the target model
2) User provides and ascii file , they do all the work
3) take google docs, dwg files .etc.

Today, (1) is the only choice. I said i would look into google docs after i get some major milestones done

1) Build targets using rgnsb, Mostly Done. Need to allow user to delete models they dont want and to edit an existing model
2) Allow users to create effects into their library, In Progress
3) Allow user to select from a pull down of effects from their library and also select a target, this week
4) Produce an animated gof so user can see what that effect will look like on their virtual tree by next week
5) produce xml files for sequencers, 2-8 weeks
6) Create models for other rgb targets , maybe by june
7) New effects, movies, snowstorms, fireworks i will do this as a break from (5)
Write a user manual, before june
9) Look to using a google docs file as a target summer, fall

I am working on 2 & 3 now. I hope within the week people will be trying effect son their trees and seeingg the result on the web page.

I expect #5 to take 2-8 weeks.,

I want to be done with 1-5 by june.

thanks

[smeighan]

Trees can have precise measurements.  Some other elements (including those describeb by rimist) may be more difficult... and creating a mathematical model to abstract this for each might be more effort than it is worth.



I think having a drawing package with the ability to lay down a picture, provide the x-y (and maybe z?) coordinate for the upper corner... then dragging sequential numbers into their places might be useful approach.  The placement of the numbers would create your mappings.

Steve , on another point on your picture. this is one of those RGB devices I want in my yard. I plan on making a target modeler for this. After i have a target for it, i plan on making a library of effects. Chases going around the outside and others. I probably wont have it done by june, but i hope to have it for the fall.

thanks

[Steve Gase]

Trees can have precise measurements.  Some other elements (including those describeb by rimist) may be more difficult... and creating a mathematical model to abstract this for each might be more effort than it is worth.



I think having a drawing package with the ability to lay down a picture, provide the x-y (and maybe z?) coordinate for the upper corner... then dragging sequential numbers into their places might be useful approach.  The placement of the numbers would create your mappings.

Steve , on another point on your picture. this is one of those RGB devices I want in my yard. I plan on making a target modeler for this. After i have a target for it, i plan on making a library of effects. Chases going around the outside and others. I probably wont have it done by june, but i hope to have it for the fall.

thanks

the wiring of my snowflake may differ from how others may implement.  Which arm i defined to be the start, the direction of my arms, and the order between the tips may all vary.

To create the spacing I wanted I patched in new wires.  (...and that reminds me!  I am about to build 4 more and when I get my pixels I should order them with larger spans of wire!)

[smeighan]

the wiring of my snowflake may differ from how others may implement.  Which arm i defined to be the start, the direction of my arms, and the order between the tips may all vary.

To create the spacing I wanted I patched in new wires.  (...and that reminds me!  I am about to build 4 more and when I get my pixels I should order them with larger spans of wire!)

Hi Steve;
I would build a template using your numbers. Then i would build a form and hav epeople fill in their pixel # next to each of those numbers from your picture.

Now my animations will appear the same to everyone who has built such a snowflake.

Were u thinking of ordering the strings with something like 6" spacing?

[smeighan]

Released new target builder code Feb 27

This release now has

1) editing (yeah!). Click on a model name and it will load the form, edit and save. Still dont have the ability for you to delete models.
2) a unit of measure (inches or cm)
3) There is a summary at the bottom for the form showing what sequencers the users want to support.
4) Changed fields to light blue in form. I had a hard time seeing where i should type.
5) Fixed bug where "How will you build your tree" = UP/DOWN 180 was not working.
6) modified wording of this prompt.
old: **Total number of Pixels on this string
new: **Total number of Pixels on this string (Note, this is NOT the total pixels on your tree, just the count on one string):
Some people had inputted the total pixel count of their tree. Sorry, if it was not clear.

The hyperlink for editing was not complete and caused people to have a blank user name. I believe this is now fixed since editing should work.

thanks

[Rod R]

Hi Sean,

I know you were talking about supporting a Zig Zag type of model.  Meaning. I have a couple of Mint trees that will be using one smart string 88 nodes, 8 nodes per leg, 8 legs. Something similar to PJNMCT trees here You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login really cool idea.  It will be set up to run top to bottom then back to the top and down again may even starting from the bottom.  In the building stages right now. Is that what you were talking about by Zig, Zag just wanted to clarify.  Thanks again for your work.

[smeighan]

Hi Sean,

I know you were talking about supporting a Zig Zag type of model.  Meaning. I have a couple of Mint trees that will be using one smart string 88 nodes, 8 nodes per leg, 8 legs. Something similar to PJNMCT trees here You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login really cool idea.  It will be set up to run top to bottom then back to the top and down again may even starting from the bottom.  In the building stages right now. Is that what you were talking about by Zig, Zag just wanted to clarify.  Thanks again for your work.

yep, that is what i am talking about.

Plus, you all havent een the form i will be releasing later,  It will list each strand and the string,pixel # for that strand. I envision people may need to edit the data to match their tree.

i was thinking people could build tge rgb device and then output green lights everywheer but have a red light every 10.
1-9 green, 10 red
11-19 green, 20 red

and so on.

No you could look at your tree and know what pixel # starts and ends on each strand. That is the key data for me.

Suppose you built a 30 by 30 grid and you snaked the stings every which way. If you output a string and a pixel and find the ends of each line, i could use that to calibrate the model.

I have been ruminating on something like this for a while, we will adjust and learn together as the summer comes.

thanks