Flicker Shape - Shape Creator

[rauros]

One missing shape I use a lot is a flicker effect for intensity, can this be added. It can be really useful for theatrical productions so simulate candle flicker etc ( i have used this effect on a chamsys desk)

Of course ideally there would be a shape creator, so one can make up new shapes.

Thanks

[Quidam]

There's no shape creator, indeed, but you can easily edit the shapefile.
Search for "Shape.xml" in the fixture library folder and have a look at it.
Altought a proper xml editor (i.e. xml notepad) is probably a good idea (there could be hidden characters a text editor won't display) , all you need to open it and explore is a *good* text editor (i.e. notepad++).

Basically, the file is divided in a Pattern section, and then a Shape section.
Have a look at it and try to figure out how it is structured.

These posts by niclights (thank you very much, by the way) can give you an idea of how you can add your own lines, read them (thoroughly) :
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1408#p5575
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1408#p5582
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1408#p5583


You'll see Flick Up and Flick Down patterns already exist in the 'default' shapefile, but that they are actually used only in color, zoom and iris shapes.
As I don't know what kind of effect you are trying to achieve, I'm not sure that it is what you are looking for, but you could try adding a a new shape line applying Flick up pattern to intensity channel :

Code: Select all

  <Shape ID="XXX" Name="Dimmer Flick Up" Group="I">
    <Function ChannelID="Dimmer" PatternID="Flick Up" Amplitude="1000" Phase="0" Speed="15"/>
  </Shape>

for Flick down :

Code: Select all

  <Shape ID="XXX" Name="Dimmer Flick Down" Group="I">
    <Function ChannelID="Dimmer" PatternID="Flick Down" Amplitude="1000" Phase="0" Speed="15"/>
  </Shape>

(!!! You must replace the XXX in " 'Shape ID="XXX" " with a number of your choice. Each shape in the file must have a unique ID and a unique name.)

You should of course be cautious - make a backup of the files you intend to edit, do not mess with anything the day before a show, test on software consoles and simulators if you can.
And probably don't do anything if you're not quite sure of what you do.
Also, if you're happy with your custom shapefile, be sure to do a backup, too. It could be overwritten without warning - in a library update, for example...

[niclights]

To expand on the above, you would be looking at adding a new pattern as well as a new shape that applied it to dimmer. The main problem I see with this is that the patterns have a fairly limited number of steps. Whether it's possible to create an effective looking flame flicker within that without it looking too repetitive is hard to say.

I might be easier and more suitable to use a pixel map effect instead. For example, a long, thin black and white 'mountain range' type image that is animated left to right over a dimmer.

[Quidam]

Candle and fire effects also works like a charm with a well-thought dimmer chase, which could be pretty quickly done if you don't have to build it for too many fixture... Sometimes the 'old' way is the most effective way to go

[Quidam]

I had a look in Capture at the Chamsys FX you probably are talking about.

Pixel map effect is indeed a simple way to do it.
I had quite satisfying results with a random grayscale stripes image I quickly made :

Stripes2 random grey.jpg (38.06 KiB) Viewed 9406 times

You most probably can achieve better and more suitable results by making your own.
I suggest you start fiddling with distortions of this kind of source material

---

If you are absolutely looking for a shape, you could use the Random pattern already included in the shape file and add this shape :

Code: Select all

  <Shape ID="150" Name="Dimmer Random" Group="I">
    <Function ChannelID="Dimmer" PatternID="Random" Amplitude="1000" Phase="0" Speed="15"/>
  </Shape>

(as said above, make sure shape ID and name are unique in your shapefile)

Set a dimmer base level and use a small shape size to avoid 'extinction' of your candle(s) and set speed according to the 'wind' you expect...
Although shape speed and/or size on fader is an easy way to get small variations, repetitiveness could indeed start bothering you if you start focusing your mind on the pattern. Whether your audience will or will not focus on it as hard as you do is yours to guess.

[rauros]

Many thanks. Some great ideas for me to try out.