Sean Meighan

Software => Xlights Setup => Topic started by: needbrew on November 06, 2016, 06:41:48 PM

Title: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 06, 2016, 06:41:48 PM
Hi All,

When I wired up my window model it appears that it is backwards to the way Xlights has the model.  Is there an easy way to flip the way the model is from clockwise to counter clockwise?
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 06, 2016, 06:46:22 PM
Nope...only by using a custom model.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 06, 2016, 06:48:49 PM
crap.  That would be a nice feature to add the clockwise/counter clockwise to the options
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Phrog30 on November 06, 2016, 07:13:53 PM
You can probably reverse it in the controller.

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Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 07, 2016, 07:07:33 AM
I'm sure it may be improved but I don't think anyone has added a Github issue for it.  Before building any prop I think its good to model it in whatever sequencer you use which can help guide you how to wire it up.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 07, 2016, 07:35:14 AM
FYI, I am using a Falcon F16-V2 controller and can switch it to reverse in there.  Hopefully that may helps someone else
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 07, 2016, 07:39:08 AM
I think you will find that reversing in the controller doesn't work.  It works for straight line models but you have a rectangle with a window.  So imagine we rendered pixels that were supposed to be going from the bottom left corner and going up....you reverse the string and now they are moving right.  So some effects will look ok but if you have directional movement to the effects it won't look correct.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 07, 2016, 08:50:40 AM
Well damn.  Thought I found something easy.  So would it be best to re-wire or just use a custom model? 

Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: jnealand on November 07, 2016, 08:52:35 AM
Sometimes it is just best to bite the bullet and fix it right, then forget it, because stuff like that comes back to haunt you later.  Been there done that.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 07, 2016, 09:28:05 AM
Yeah, I am going to re-wire it.  wish I had know before I did the windows. 
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 07, 2016, 09:54:17 AM
I would think a custom model should be really easy.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 07, 2016, 06:25:20 PM
so the custom model worked like a champ.  Now the problem is I have a boscoyo 42 inch wreath that I thought was wired up the way the model appears in the layout but the effects are going backwards.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 07, 2016, 07:57:41 PM
Did you look at the wiring view to compare with how it's wired on the back?
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 07, 2016, 07:58:10 PM
Ah nevermind...wiring view is only custom models.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: needbrew on November 08, 2016, 04:17:04 AM
I guess the only way to fix the wreath is a custom model or rewire it.  Maybe it just me but I wish it was more obvious how to wire these models.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Phrog30 on November 08, 2016, 04:56:39 AM
You have the video mapper.  I would try that first before rewiring.

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Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Gilrock on November 08, 2016, 05:58:39 AM
I guess the only way to fix the wreath is a custom model or rewire it.  Maybe it just me but I wish it was more obvious how to wire these models.

If you right-click on any model you can select the option to show the node layout and that will show you how we are internally representing the node order.  Then you just gotta realize it's a front view.
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: markrvp on November 08, 2016, 07:58:26 AM
I guess the only way to fix the wreath is a custom model or rewire it.  Maybe it just me but I wish it was more obvious how to wire these models.

Once you get it right, create a how-to document.  Nobody is getting paid to write instructions for custom DIY Christmas so it's up to us to create a depository of user created "how-to's"
Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: logandc99 on November 08, 2016, 01:40:43 PM
This issue came up for me with my windows this year. Last year I got away with it because the effects I used didn't particularly stand out as odd on my windows. Different story this year.
I see when you use a window model it assumes it is wired clockwise. Now don't ask me why, maybe because I'm a lefty, but I wired mine anticlockwise. With some effects this doesn't create too much of an issue but for others it is.
Most windows are rectangular so with the window model you can define how long the top and bottom are but the sides appear to have to be the same length, which makes sense obviously otherwise your windows would be wonky.
The problem is, if you wire your windows anticlockwise and use a clockwise model, your bottom is seen as a left side, the right side seen as the top etc so all the effects come out odd.
I also looked to see if there was a way way to flip the window but that isn't an option.
In the end I just remade my windows as custom models and now all works exactly as programmed. It was a hell of a lot quicker than rewiring the lights on my windows.
In my sequences I just got xlights to remap the effects set on my old window models to my new window models.
I can't recall if the manual says anything about the windows model but if it does, maybe a little note could be added to say that the windows model presumes wiring is clockwise. Just a thought  :)

Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: Phrog30 on November 08, 2016, 01:46:32 PM
The node layout shows that it's clockwise. When I started off, I used that as a reference. I also didn't finalize props until I was sure. Measure twice, cut once.

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Title: Re: Window is reversed when previewing
Post by: logandc99 on November 08, 2016, 02:03:11 PM
The node layout shows that it's clockwise. When I started off, I used that as a reference. I also didn't finalize props until I was sure. Measure twice, cut once.

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Yes, that may well be the case when you are already using xlights and making your props for the first time but not so applicable when you've made your props a year or two before switching over to xlights. If only I'd had a crystal ball  ;D