Messages

1

Enhancement Requests / Re: Camera Scene Record

« on: September 24, 2021, 12:29:36 AM »

Way points for the camera during sequence is also on my list of things I would like to add.

Was thinking you would save a bunch of camera positions then put them on the timeline at certain points then as sequence plays camera would interpolate between them.

Keith,

Did you make any headway on this?

2

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Color window lock up

« on: September 23, 2021, 05:36:14 PM »

Cruising along, programming and every once in a while the Color window locks up and will not change pallets when clicking on "Load" button.

Why?

3

Enhancement Requests / Re: Camera Scene Record

« on: January 25, 2021, 09:41:38 AM »

" Building 2 Barton arcades, finishing a new Joust arcade, configuring my virtual pinball machine, laying block for my fire pit, etc....lol."

OMG!

4

Enhancement Requests / Camera Scene Record

« on: January 24, 2021, 10:44:43 PM »

Gil/Keith/Dan,

Playing around in 3d now that I have my sketchup model in xlights.  Is there a way or work-a-round whereby I can create "camera scenes" in xlights like you can do in Sketchup?

Just throwing this out there?

Maybe value curves in the layout page on the Mesh's Scale XYZ and/or Rotate XYZ?
Maybe modifying the text file of an .obj to reflect the XYZ moving around?

Right now I am doing this in Camtasia Screen Capture while manually panning around in xlights during the record session.  It is a very inaccurate way to do so.

I can also create, say 6 different screen captures in xlights with different camera views, then import all 6 captures into my video editing software and transition from one to another.  Very time consuming.

Charles

5

Enhancement Requests / Re: Multiple Layouts

« on: January 19, 2021, 04:11:40 PM »

Gil,

Update:  I had been modeling in Sketchup Free which does not offer exports.  So, I had to make my model and upload it to 3D Warehouse, which I could then download into my old version 2016 Sketchup Make.  From there, I could export it to .obj with the .mtl materials.

It was at that point that I tried to bring it into xLights 2021.01 and I got the pastels.  So today I downloaded Sketchup Pro; brought in my model, added materials and exported it to .obj with .mtl materials file.

Brought that into xlights and all is well.
______________________

6

Enhancement Requests / Re: Multiple Layouts

« on: January 17, 2021, 09:50:38 PM »

Gil,

I am using 2020.33

Attached are the .obj and .mtl files.  They look OK to me, but I don't look at these kind of files everyday.

Charles

7

Enhancement Requests / Re: Multiple Layouts

« on: January 17, 2021, 02:44:37 PM »

Gil,

I am working on 3D at the same time, but have run into a different problem with that.

I have a model made in "Sketchup 2017 Make", added materials to the model.  I then exported the .obj file and the associated .mtl file and put them in an "images" subfolder of my xlights "3d" show directory.

When I click the little "Add obj" button, select "Add Mesh", click the OBJ file and navigate to the .obj file and select it, the model shows up on the grid, but in very pastel washed out colors.

How do I get it to load the materials also?

8

Enhancement Requests / Re: Multiple Layouts

« on: January 17, 2021, 01:09:32 PM »

Keith/Gil/Dan,

I am making a demo for a city and the target house has two viewable faces.  I would like to use the same models on both faces, since they already exist; North face on "Default" preview and East face on newly created "East" preview.  There are lots of models and I don't want to have to create a bunch of duplicates or make new ones.

I want to assign a model in the Default preview to position "A" and the same model in "East" preview to position "B".  This doesn't seem possible OR I am not doing it right.

If I am not doing it right then show me how.  If this is not possible then suggest how I should go about accomplishing this.

Thanks, as always,

Charles

9

My Show Setup / Christmas Drone Show

« on: December 03, 2020, 09:27:05 AM »

Our company is doing the backend work for the Walmart/Intel Christmas Drone Show in both Dallas and San Antonio, this weekend and next.

We are doing the audio for the 800 car "drive in" set up and the media server interface and other behind the scene stuff.

Check it out!  https://dallasinnovates.com/walmart-and-intel-are-bringing-their-holiday-drone-light-show-to-dallas/

10

The Water Cooler / Stuck on modeling mini trees with odd numbered zig zags

« on: September 11, 2020, 03:44:47 PM »

Gil/Keith/Anyone,

I am adding Gilbert Engineering mini trees with mini stars this year.

I am doing 180 degree trees and only want to use 100 pixels per tree with 20 pixels for each star thus I am using one 120 pixel string per tree.

I can do 8 vertical rows of 13 for 104 nodes or
I can do 8 vertical rows of 12 for 96 nodes

Neither of these model well with the built in tree template (unless I don't know how to do it)

I need 8 rows to cover the viewing areas in a form that leaves me with 20 nodes for the mini-stars.

I can use the polyline and make 8 alternating segments of 12 and 13 and come out with exactly 100 nodes but the spiral and other effects don't make the correct pattern (I tried all the available buffer renders)

Suggestions?  As always, I give my appreciation in advance.  I have tried lots of combinations, so I make have myself confused....

Charles

11

Free Images / Re: Software advise needed

« on: March 03, 2020, 08:45:18 AM »

Try Piskel

Gil,

Pixelmash is pretty cool also.

Charles

12

My Show Setup / Re: 2019 Video Mapping Concept

« on: December 25, 2019, 11:09:22 AM »

Gil,

Merry Christmas!

Yea, I got an email last week from the show producer wanting me to participate in 2021.  The problem with projection mapping is that the ABC lawyers want to vet every single gif, jpeg, mp4, and png file in the show and make sure they don't get sued for copyright infringement.

I went through that process once, probably will not do it again.  Even though we create the little characters in a couple of the RealIllusion programs, I also pull random content from all over the place.  Some I modify, some I don't.  I guess I could keep a log of where I grab stuff, but I don't.

Charles

13

My Show Setup / Re: 2019 Video Mapping Concept

« on: December 23, 2019, 04:46:22 PM »

Nice work as always.

Gil,

Thank you.  I couldn't do it without your help.  Your guidance is much appreciated.

Charles

14

My Show Setup / 2019 Video Mapping Concept

« on: December 22, 2019, 02:21:45 PM »

This is our 2019 Display, utilizing a video mapping concept along with several motorized props, including a dancing water fountain we created in our front yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47lo7WPhxP8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwVtCXUc7NQ

Charles

15

Xlights Setup / Re: HELP! My House preview screen is gone

« on: December 05, 2019, 01:15:29 PM »

Directly editing the xml file is a risky behaviour.

Keith,

I just looked to see if something stood out.  So what do you suggest?

Charles