Sean Meighan

Software => Nutcracker Effects => Topic started by: blk69 on November 21, 2016, 10:36:28 AM

Title: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: blk69 on November 21, 2016, 10:36:28 AM
Total newbie here.  Have put together a few Xlight sequences.  Planning on running on FFP with Rasp Pi ver 3.0.  Read numerous posts that LED's running at 50% vs 100% are very difficult for the human eye to distinguishes the difference.  See in Xlights under the test tab can adjust each colors light level.

My question is how (or if) I can adjust the light level for all my effects?  Still very green, hopefully this was just a button or selection I missed.  Thank you in advance for any help on this issue.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: Dave Nibeck on November 21, 2016, 04:32:34 PM
Set intensity for each model in layout.

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Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: MrChristmas2000 on November 21, 2016, 06:50:44 PM
Some hardware controllers like a Falcon F16V2 have the ability to control the intensity from within the controllers settings.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: aERonAUtical1996 on November 21, 2016, 08:36:12 PM
Set intensity for each model in layout.


Are you referring to the Brightness control in the Dimming Curves?  Assuming setting it to -50 is setting it to 50% as the highest level.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: kevinp on November 21, 2016, 09:23:03 PM
Quote
Are you referring to the Brightness control in the Dimming Curves?  Assuming setting it to -50 is setting it to 50% as the highest level.

Yes, setting the dimming curve to -50 will lower the brightness of the model for the entire sequence.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: blk69 on November 21, 2016, 09:26:34 PM
Will look into all the suggestions.  Just powered my arches, after 40 pixels my whites are pink.  Not so good.  Hoping reducing power will help with voltage drop.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: kevinp on November 21, 2016, 09:29:07 PM
Will look into all the suggestions.  Just powered my arches, after 40 pixels my whites are pink.  Not so good.  Hoping reducing power will help with voltage drop.

That should help.  You may need/want to power inject from the other end of the arch too.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: MrChristmas2000 on November 22, 2016, 05:57:36 AM
What controller are  you using.
What pixels are you using?
Usually when pixels start changing color or flickering down a string it is as stated most likely the need for power injection?

Problems after 40 pixels seems like a very rapid voltage drop though.
Is your power supply set to 12volts, if 12v pixels, 5v if 5v pixels. Many power supplies come under adjusted for proper voltage output.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: blk69 on November 23, 2016, 11:26:40 AM
What controller are  you using.
What pixels are you using?
Usually when pixels start changing color or flickering down a string it is as stated most likely the need for power injection?

Problems after 40 pixels seems like a very rapid voltage drop though.
Is your power supply set to 12volts, if 12v pixels, 5v if 5v pixels. Many power supplies come under adjusted for proper voltage output.

Using 5m ws2811 16 led/m strips.  Power supply is a 350w meanwell 12v.  Strips are 12v to.  I have 5 to 10' of 18 gauge cable between the arches to space them out.  Going to increase power injection and mess around with the dimming curves in Xlights (original thought that option was limited to light fluctuation on the effects....not overall light power/intestity.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: Gilrock on November 23, 2016, 11:46:04 AM
You skipped his first question which was the most important because some controllers allow you easily adjust power output.  You need to tell us what controller is running the pixels.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: blk69 on November 24, 2016, 09:14:47 PM
You skipped his first question which was the most important because some controllers allow you easily adjust power output.  You need to tell us what controller is running the pixels.

I am not using a controller, running two outputs directly from the Rasp Pi. 
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: Gilrock on November 24, 2016, 10:39:02 PM
Well then the first answer you got is the solution.  Create a dimming curve for each model in Layout.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: Dave Nibeck on November 25, 2016, 02:06:15 AM
Don't forget to re-render and save each sequence to generate new fseq files.

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Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: MrChristmas2000 on November 25, 2016, 07:30:10 AM
Actually technically the Pi is a controller as much as any other piece of hardware.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: blk69 on November 26, 2016, 09:18:12 AM
Actually technically the Pi is a controller as much as any other piece of hardware.

I have the new pi hat from falcon.  It's has fused outputs, powers the pi and programmable thru fpp.  Never used a controller (Newbe) assume this has be be very close.
Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: Dave Nibeck on November 26, 2016, 09:45:11 AM
At the present time, you can't control intensity from fpp. So you'll have to adjust models.

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Title: Re: How to adjust light intensity for displays
Post by: MrChristmas2000 on November 26, 2016, 10:42:20 AM
A controller can be defined as any device that connects to lights and makes them operate. Just because it involves the Pi does not mean that it is not a controller.

Generally people refer to 'controllers' as devices that have an onboard computer/processor that manages the data from some source to operate the connected lights. The Pi and Pi hat is just a miniature controller and even if you are true hacker and hook up the lights directly from the expansion connector it is still functioning as a controller.

A rose by any other color is still a rose. :)