Modeling a Star

[jeffl]

Attached is a pic of my 6 channel AC star on my Mega trees.  I'm trying to figure out the best way to model it and have a semi realistic look.  Any ideas?

Thaks

[jnealand]

I sold my star like that and went to the 3 layer RGB stare from Christmas Light Show. I used just 3 AC channels and modeled it as 3 separate stars and put them on the layout close together.  In my opinion the layout is only to give you an approximation of the show and to give you visual feedback that the lights are going on and off at the right time.  Trying to get 3D stuff to look realistic is an exercise in futility, IMHO.  The layout is for you and your audience is not going to see it.  You model it as 6 straight lines and get what you need out of it to assist you in sequencing.

[Gilrock]

You'll find you can't always make the layout look perfect.  Like I have pixels on my eaves and due to the perspective of a photo I just can't draw them to look exact when they wrap around a corner.  I have bushes and an angel that are modeled as rectangular matrices.  If you really want it to look like 3D then draw a custom model but with something like that your most likely going to have one star that is a vertical slice and several parts of most stars hidden.

[jeffl]

Thanks I'll do a flat rendition.  Just thought I would see if somebody had a better idea than what I had used before.  I just found the headache of modeling things that don't fit.  I have a corner display that runs about 200 linear feet.  I just setup my display in xLights that spans 2x28" monitors so that I can use effects that chase from end to end.

http://www.christmasinbrandon.com/