Editing Artist Help:Getting Started (section)

=== Fixtures ===

Access to all DMX channels is via Fixtures. Fixtures contain one or more channels and usually encapsulate all the channels of control of a physical lighting device (lamp, projector, strobe, motor etc.). 

The advantage of this arrangement is that Artist can treat each parameter according to type. For example a dimmer channel will fade with the master fader while other channels remain unchanged. Also a programmer need know very little detail about the fixtures attached to the system since Artist presents the programmer with familiar controls for every parameter type.