Knowledge Base:Pixel Arrays

Pixel Fixtures with Control Channels by Mick Martin | Feb 27, 2012 | Knowledge Base

It is common for fixtures such as LED strips to contain a set of control channels followed by the RGB control channels for each pixel. To get the best out of these you should divide them in to 2 fixture groups – one for the control channels and another for the RGB pixels only.

Pulsar Chromazone

For example the Pulsar Chromazone contain 11 control channels for master level, programmed effects and other functions. The ShowCAD template file contains a template for these control channels. Add one of these for each Chromazone in a group of their own – call it Chromazone Controls.

To add the pixels, open the PixelArray template file and add an array. Any will do because you can change the shape and size of the array as you go through the wizard. Add these pixel in to there own group – call it Pixel.

Now when you are running effect Artist will treat these a one large block of pixels.

Pixel Arrays and Mapping view by Mick Martin | Feb 25, 2012 | Knowledge Base

Pixel arrays are, in general, RGB pixel arrange in rows and columns. They are used in building fascades, nightclub walls and stages. They can be used to display video content, effect or general lighting.

The pixel can be any order of RGB (i.e. BRG, GBR etc) and can also include amber and white. Artist has an algorythm that calculates the white value and replaces the RGB white level with the eqivalent level on white or amber. The proportion of amber to white is control by a global colour temperature control.

Pixel View

Pixel arrays are displayed on a special type of window. This is a graphics surface which can display videos, images and other effects. The pixel arrays are positioned on this surface where the pixel derives its colour.

Effects

Using Pixel Fixtures with Control by Mick Martin | Feb 24, 2012 | Knowledge Base

Many manufactures produce light battens that have a group of master control channels and consecutive RGB channels in 3 channels groups. These fixtures might have 4, 8, 16 or any number of RGB groups.How should you create a template for these fixtures?

The best practice is to define the Master Control channels as a seperate fixture within Artist. The ShowCAD Template file contains many of these Master Control group templates for various fixtures. You can then use the Simple Types/Colour Mix Dimmer template for the RGB groups. For example, if you have 16 x RGB battens with 16 RGB groups in each you will then create a Fixture group with 16 Master Control Fixtures and a Fixture group with 256 Colour Mix Dimmer fixtures.

The reason for this is that is gives you maximum use of the Effect generator in Artist since the Master control channels are defined in another fixture group. Now when you go to the RGB Fixture Group the effects will give you all the powerful effects you were hoping for.

Adding Pixel Arrays by Mick Martin | Feb 23, 2012 | Knowledge Base

To add more fixtures to a group that already contains fixtures,

right-click in the Fixture View select Add Fixtures. This opens the Add Fixture Wizard click Next. This shows the currently installed fixtures. select a fixture to clone from and click Next this will open the Pixel Arrangement dialog. Click OK unless you want a different format. set the number of new fixtures to add and the start address. click Next, click End. If the Pixel Array Tools dialog does not open, select Main Menu/Tools/Pixel Array Tools.

Select the new fixtures you have added in the Fixture Navigator. This will also highlite them in the Fixture View. You can now move them or use the Pixel Array Tools dialog to move them. In order to precisely position the Fixtures you should set a Position Snap of zero in the Fixture Group Properties/Canvas dialog.