Author Topic: One pixel, multiple universes  (Read 5459 times)

Offline robbiet

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One pixel, multiple universes
« on: April 30, 2019, 09:18:48 AM »
Can a single pixel be controlled by more than one universe?

I have a rather complex prop I’m trying to model using overlapping models in xlights. Due to the nature of the prop, some pixels would be shared by multiple xlights models with different universe channels.

I know I can control multiple pixels with a single channel but can I do the opposite and control one pixel with multiple universe channels?  If so, which universe would get the priority?

I hope this makes a bit of sense...it is a weird concept to explain.


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Offline Gilrock

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2019, 09:28:57 AM »
Forget xLights what controller do you have that will be capable of running a pixel from multiple universes?  All the cards I know of assign a single universe/channel to an output.  I don't think you can do this.

Offline robbiet

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2019, 09:38:36 AM »
That makes sense.  I need to approach this a different way.

So back to xlights... let’s say I have one of the built in models like say a matrix. Can I split that model into multiple universes?


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Offline Gilrock

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2019, 09:49:04 AM »
Almost all matrices are big enough that they span multiple universes.  There really is no good reason to not have the universes contiguous so that the channels will flow through the model with only assigning a start channel.  Controller outputs can be assigned any universe/channel so don't define the universe you want and then create the model; create your model and then assign the universes in the controller to match however they fell in the model.

Offline robbiet

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2019, 10:10:50 AM »
This thread is related to another of mine...

http://nutcracker123.com/forum/mobiquo/smartbanner/ads.php?referer=http%3A%2F%2Fnutcracker123.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D6301&code=d0a18063464aad231829656546758986&board_url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutcracker123.com%2Fforum&lang=en-US

I’m struggling with a way to model this that will not be overly tedious in xlights and will make sequencing easier.

My current plan is to use to sphere models superimposed which was easy to create in xlights. The issue is that a couple of the physical segments in the prop are shared across models. Now I could just run 2 sets of pixels for those segments but I think that will look weird. I’ve also considered using 22 arches but that seems like it would be painful to model in xlights and might not render very accurately.

Here is a picture of the spheres again.  Sorry, not trying to make two threads here...








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Offline Gilrock

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2019, 10:21:08 AM »
Like I believe I said before you could model that using a single PolyLine model in 3D space.  Just watch this video and then imagine doing it in 3D.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akYPIYg4AUo

Offline robbiet

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2019, 11:01:26 AM »
Ok, thanks...not the answer I was hoping to hear.  I will give it a try but I can envision pulling out several hairs trying to get all those curves and angles in 3D. Once set up, will it render in a similar way to the sphere model?


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Offline robbiet

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Re: One pixel, multiple universes
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2019, 11:42:56 AM »
I think I may have a solution. I’m looking at still using the two sphere models but not outputting the overlapping channels to the controller. Then I will submodel and create groups to handle the missing segments.

Thanks for your help on this as I think through it. I just got the wireframe yesterday and pixels coming from Ray on Friday so hoping to start wiring this weekend.


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