Question about Models and Model Groups

[nmiller0113]

So it looks like the button for "Build Whole House Model" that I've seen in previous xL4 videos is no longer available.  After looking in model groups I don't really think I need it as I can do the same myself there.  I was just curious if that was the reason the button was removed or was there another reason?

My bigger question was around whether there was an easily way to break a model into quarters.  I'll explain a bit.  My roofline on the front of my house is a set of 3 strips each with 50 nodes.  In the past with previous software like LOR and Superstar I've sometimes broken it into quarters or more to reflect counts in a song, or just to break up the effects on a single string into sections.  In LOR and Superstar you can just select the pixels you want to light up for that section in time.  Not quite the same for xL4 obviously since it is object based.  So my question was whether there was a way to easily do the same in xL4 still using a single string model, or do I need to break the single string model into multiple single string models that have the node counts I wish?  You can see an example of what I'm referring to here in one of my previous videos. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpz5JBAJDc8

This was all done in LOR and you'll notice I break it up beyond just quarters at different parts of the song.  Now if I only ever did it in quarters it's not so bad, but I tend to change it up based on the song and that could start to get painful.  So is there a better way, like maybe a grid or something I can select only a set of pixels on an object to apply an effect to at a given time?  If not, I'll get by...just curious.  Thanks!

Nathan

[Gilrock]

I can't watch the videos now but I don't even know how you would select the pixels for a quarter of a model in LOR.  Sounds like a painful way to sequence even when using a grid.  I think you just need to learn to be creative when using objects.  If I wanted to display a butterfly on one quarter of my entire house it's easily done using 2 effects.  Drop the butterfly effect and then insert a layer above that and I forget if it's On or Colorwash but you can size a rectangle to reduce where that effect draws and then use it as a mask which will hide the butterfly on parts of the model you don't want to see it.   I'm sure Steve can fire off an example real quick.

[nmiller0113]

Thanks Gil...when you watch the video it will make more sense.  It isn't easy to do anything in Pixels with the LOR sequencer to be honest Since things aren't in objects in the LOR sequencer I just tell it to turn ON with whatever color and select the pixels I want.  As and example...Let's say there are 160 (Number divisible by 4 for ease of explanation though that isn't realisitcally the case) pixels in my roofline string that I want to break into quarters and I want to light one quarter per second...I'd turn ON pixels 1 through 40 for the first second, then 41 through 60 for the next second...and so on.

Yes, still painful, but I can do it on the fly without having to create a bunch of models that fit the breakup patterns I randomly select per song...which honestly could be anything based on song counts, timing and inspiration.  You'll be able clearly see what I mean by the video I posted.

Thanks again for the quick response and I look forward to an example of what you're speaking of as an alternative as I'm not 100% following or familiar.  Still very new to xL4.

[Phrog30]

If it were me, I wouldn't try to "split" a model into smaller parts, rather, create models specifically for these parts.  So, for example, if your eaves were 100 pixels, create 4 models looking at the 25 specific pixels.  You can then create a group that has all 4 of these models.

James

[nmiller0113]

If it were me, I wouldn't try to "split" a model into smaller parts, rather, create models specifically for these parts.  So, for example, if your eaves were 100 pixels, create 4 models looking at the 25 specific pixels.  You can then create a group that has all 4 of these models.

James

Thanks James.  That is actually what I was inquiring about...whether or not the way you mentioned was the only way.  The challenge is sometimes I'd split it into 4's, sometimes it's more and I was looking for a way to be more dynamic with this.  If there isn't a quicker way, i understand.  I just wanted to ask before I burn time otherwise.  I know Gil mentioned a way but I'm not entirely sure it will meet my needs until I get more detail.

Does anyone have any comments on my first sentence talking about the button for "Build Whole House Model" being gone now?

Thanks!

[Gilrock]

Does anyone have any comments on my first sentence talking about the button for "Build Whole House Model" being gone now?

Yep its gone.  You can do the same thing using Model Groups now so it wasn't needed.

[nmiller0113]

Ok, cool.  That's what I assumed.  Gil, did you get a chance to look at that video and see what I was referring to on my roofline and what I was trying to accomplish in XL in what I hope would be as simple and dynamic as everything else is in XL

[Gilrock]

Ok look at the picture below.  On the left side is a single Butterfly effect on my group that has all the RGB stuff plus a few other things. Beside it to the right I'm showing how I used a 2nd layer above the Butterfly and I dropped a ColorWash effect.  I set the color to White only because I want to use it as a masking layer.  I unchecked the Entire Model checkbox.  Then Corner 1 was set to X=0 Y=100.  Corner 2 is set as shown X=50 Y=38.  I changed the blend mode for the Color Wash to "1 is Unmask".  Now you can see how the ColorWash effect acted as a mask to only allow the area under it to show through.  The result is it clips the Butterfly and limits it to the region of the ColorWash effect. 

[Phrog30]

If it were me, I wouldn't try to "split" a model into smaller parts, rather, create models specifically for these parts.  So, for example, if your eaves were 100 pixels, create 4 models looking at the 25 specific pixels.  You can then create a group that has all 4 of these models.

James

Thanks James.  That is actually what I was inquiring about...whether or not the way you mentioned was the only way.  The challenge is sometimes I'd split it into 4's, sometimes it's more and I was looking for a way to be more dynamic with this.  If there isn't a quicker way, i understand.  I just wanted to ask before I burn time otherwise.  I know Gil mentioned a way but I'm not entirely sure it will meet my needs until I get more detail.

Does anyone have any comments on my first sentence talking about the button for "Build Whole House Model" being gone now?

Thanks!

Honesty, there shouldn't be that much work. You can copy models and then rename and edit as necessary. Should be a few seconds. You can give them specific names to help keep track.

[Gilrock]

Actually looking at that video a lot of those effects where you only partially light up a roof string you can do with the ColorWash effect by itself.  Just uncheck the Entire Model box and then drag the sliders around to limit the area that is lit.  But now you should be able to do some pretty cool Morph effects on there.

[Phrog30]

Actually looking at that video a lot of those effects where you only partially light up a roof string you can do with the ColorWash effect by itself.  Just uncheck the Entire Model box and then drag the sliders around to limit the area that is lit.  But now you should be able to do some pretty cool Morph effects on there.

Gil, are there any plans to add the entire model option and sliders to any of the other effects? That would be cool if possible.

[flyinverted]

By using layers and masks, you can have the equivalent of turning off the entire model and setting an area. You can do that today without waiting for a programmer to find free time to do that if they even want to.

-Steve

[Phrog30]

By using layers and masks, you can have the equivalent of turning off the entire model and setting an area. You can do that today without waiting for a programmer to find free time to do that if they even want to.

-Steve

Yes, I get what you said. My question was just if there are plans. I've played with masking. It's just not the same. Take the bars effect. It doesn't take into account the mask, it's looking at the entire model. So, in that example it's not quite the equivalent.  Again, just a simple curiosity question Steve.

James

[Gilrock]

I think we will stick with providing the ability to mask all effects using 1 existing effect instead of adding tabs and 4 sliders to every effect.  You can mask bars just as easy as any other effect.

[nmiller0113]

Thanks everyone!  Looks great and you definitely answered all my questions!  I appreciate all the feedback!  As usual...great community here!