Singing faces - Pixels and dumb strings

[scottn3xcc]

I apologize in advance if this has already been covered, but I have been banging my head against the wall, but am STILL missing something.

I have built singing lightblubs that use normal cool white strings for the mouth movements, eyes, etc. I used 50 pixels to make the bulb outline so I can make bulb different colors, do fades, etc. (Photo attached)

My issue is that I'm not sure how to model these in xlights. I started by building a custom model with nodes as shown in the attachment. I then defined the faces to nodes as shown, but I couldn't put effect on just the globe.

Someone on another forum suggested sub-models. I attempted to make up sub models, but I can't figure out how to define the globe as pixels and the other "nodes" as single outputs for single strings.

I know everyone is busy trying to put their displays up and keep them running. (I had some water get into a controller enclosure earlier today) But any help would be appreciated. It sure sucks to have gone though all this effort, to not be able to light them up. 

[Gilrock]

Pretty easy.  Click on sub-models, create a new one name it Eyes and just type a 6 into the first row.  That submodel is done.  Then create another called Eyelids and type a 7 into the first row.  You just type in the node numbers for the nodes you want to make up that submodel.

[scottn3xcc]

Click on sub-models, create a new one name it Eyes and just type a 6 into the first row....

Yep. Did that. But those sub-models are appearing as tri-color pixels and NOT individual single-color strings.

I am using a ESPixelstick for the bulb outlines, and a ESPixelstick in Renard mode feeding LCC16's for the facial features.

Since the facial features appear as pixels, this makes mapping them to the LCC16 almost impossible.

[Gilrock]

Sorry but you can't mix string types within one model.

[scottn3xcc]

Sorry but you can't mix string types within one model.

So what is my path of least resistance?

Should I simply make TWO models (one mouths and base, and another with the globe) and then lay them one on top of the other in the layout?

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[Gilrock]

Those bulbs were meant to be built with all smart pixels.  Yes I would create 2 models, place them in Layout, the put them in a group.

[scottn3xcc]

Those bulbs were meant to be built with all smart pixels.

Not when you build them from scratch. 

Note the lipstick and eyelashes. These utilize a custom built controller that allows me to activate a channel and make them girls. I didn't go as far as putting bows in their hair though.

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[Gilrock]

Yeah I'd throw it away and get a Boscoyo bulb and smart pixels.  You see where this custom from scratch thing got you.

[scottn3xcc]

Yea, yeah. But I REALLY like the look of the mini lights for the faces. 😆

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[babybear]

I like the idea of the bulb... Looks like my back lit coro Bruno will have some one to talk to. I'll do a back lit Bulb, I was thinking of a star. It took a little bit to get Bruno to talk but he is now working great.