Color Shapes

[CSmithDesign]

When I'm using LED strips and pars (which is a lot of the time...), I like to use color shapes exclusively and have direct control over the master dimmer of the fixture, so I minimize any shapes I make with the master dimmer if I can.

However, I've found the color shapes to not have as much variety in them: Just using "Green" for example, it seems like the base "Green" shape is a sine wave, with the "Green pulse" and "Green strobe" shapes being snap on/off effects. Would there be an easy way to add "ramp up," "ramp down," "Step up," "step down," and maybe some sort of "random" shape option for colors?

Also, could you add some of these shape options for the dimmer shapes as well (especially ramp up and down)?

[niclights]

Easily, probably not by most people's definition. But, yes, it can and is something I did some time ago. In fact I almost exclusively used ramping dimmer shapes in a recent show, so I totally agree with you.

It's a matter of editing the shape.xml file which I have already covered in various threads here.

In the meantime I will broach the subject again. After all, I have already done most of the work including notes and documentation and it is very well tested. Really all that is required is to merge some recent changes in the factory file and remove all the multi-cell stuff that is no longer required with sub-fixtures (usability issues aside).

Note that random is probably not something I would do. It will just jump around values but still follow an exact pattern. I suspect this is not what you want.

[CSmithDesign]

Could you direct me to one of those threads? I have searched and can't quite find them.

Thank you

[CSmithDesign]

I actually did some more looking around and I found some useful tips (and an example of your ramp up effect).

I've been adding those effects for about an hour now, and I believe that I completely understand how to do it, except for one thing: When putting in a color effect, there are 43 lines for channel IDs

For example, if I'm looking at the simple "blue" effect, I've got 43 lines that have different channel IDs in them ("Blue," "Blue1," "Blue 2," etc...).

Why is that? what are all of those channel IDs controlling?

Thank you again, this is an awesome tool and I'm glad I'm taking the time to figure it out!

[niclights]

The channel ID ties with attribute ID in the personality file and determines which attributes are modified by the shape.

Dimmer1, Dimmer2 and Red1,Green1,Blue1 etc. are essentially now just legacy ID's used before v5 for multi-cell fixtures. The variations in the shapefile provided ways to achieve spreads where there was no control in the UI. But since v5 multi-cell fixtures can be defined as sub-fixtures meaning you only need one dimmer or red/green/blue etc.

[PiXeL]

hi all,

can someone direct me to the threads with the details of this subject?
i would love to make color shapes for some LED fixtures i have and be able to use them in mode 2

[icke_siegen]

Hi PiXeL,

I'd say there is not _the_one_and_only_ thread about this matter - you'll just find a lot of details when searching for something like 'shape file', multicell and such. And there is a lot in the library already.

If you could be a little more specific about
- which desk
- which fixtures
- what shapes you have in mind,

I'd say we can easily give you te basic tips to get you running.

S.

[PiXeL]

hi icke,

i have a pearl 2010

i have some LED parcans and i am looking for an easy way to program some color bumps

ch 1: dimmer
ch 2: red
ch 3: green
ch 4: blue
ch 5: macro
ch 6: macro

f.e. when i set my LED's on blue with a pallet and then overlay a red color bump.
i don't know if it is possible but i found out on the forum that in a lot of threads about this, they are talking about changing the shape file.

if i can program LED chases as a shape i think it is easier on a busking show, no?

thanks for the reply

[icke_siegen]

I will give you an example later.

Regarding chasers vs. shapes for busking: this really depends. Shapes are quicker to apply, but harder to edit (it's way better on a Titan desk now). In turn, chasers require a little more programming, but you can e.g. change the speed on the fly (if a shape, you'll have to include it, change speed, store...)

[niclights]

The problem with chases is that you must program specific colours. This might in turn mean many playbacks to give enough options.

Shapes can in theory provide a solution in that they work as a modifier over existing values. But unfortunately Classic shapes can only add or subtract a maximum of DMX 127. This therefore limits their potential in this situation. For example if you wanted a white bump (the most typical use case) it would only work if all three colour components were set to at least 50%, which is quite unlikely.

Titan can modify by 256 meaning you can always get to minimum or maximum values regardless of origin.