strings of pixels on actual trees

[pixelpuppy]

My lighting project for 2016 is to pixel-ize the inside house decorations.

First task is replacing standard light strings on the Christmas trees with pixel strings.   Traditional strings are usually wrapped around the tree rather than an up-down arrangement we use for the outdoor pixel trees.  Of course I could meticulously run the strings up and down in a similar way, but the chief decorator [wife] wants to hang the strings in the traditional way - which is best described as wrapping around the tree in a big spiral.  Although, many times she wraps back and forth, left to right then right to left, working up the tree.

This sounds like a horizontal matrix, but each horizontal strand is shorter than the one below it.  I don't know if there is a way to configure the horizontal matrix that way.

So I'm looking for ideas on how best to model this in xLights.  Looking for pros and cons of the different ways.  Here are some thoughts I have so far:

1. Custom model.  Pro: would probably render fairly well for most effects due to the grid-style rendering of custom models.  Con: Time consuming and would be custom/unique for each tree (we have 9 indoor trees)

2. Single string with multiple strands zig-zagging back and forth.  Pro: very similar to how actual strings are run.  Con: may be limited on how effects render with a single string model.

3. Same as outdoor pixel tree/vertical matrix.  Pro: easiest to model and all effects should render as expected.  Con: least desirable way to hang strings on tree according to boss = unhappy wife = you know the rest.

4. Other ideas?

[Phrog30]

My vote is number 3, minus the unhappy wife. I would think if you just lay the strings in the tree they wouldn't be that straight, so it would give you a random look but still close enough that most effects would be recognizable.

James

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[jnealand]

To keep the boss happy, sounds like color changes, sparkles and whatever other less fancy stuff works.  I have thought about doing this as well, but she who must be obeyed has not warmed up to this.  I may take an extra tree I bought and put it in the screen porch / sun room to play with.  We usually go by the rule that what is inside the house is hers and what is outside is mine, but she does not count the sun room as an inside room since it is not heated and generally lets me put whatever I want out there.  LOL

[bpducman]

This may be something to consider, They is a product out there called a color organ 3, 5 up to 10 channels I think.   For your tree you would get 2 strings of only red lights, 2 of only blue, 2 of only yellow, green and such. just 120vac lights not rgb's. Then the 5 channel organ has an output that you would put those strings on. The organ will have a control knob per frequency it is hearing and allow you to adjust the intensity per frequencies. Put Mannheim Steamroller in the bose radio run an output to your CO and adjust the lights per your liking.

It's not sequencing like we know it but it is Simple and Effective

Comes from the old hippie days   enough said

[arw01]

As others said it depends on what you want, standard led light controllers on strings of lights have what a dozen programs at most of chases, every other color, blinks, flashing etc.  None of those require knowing the order of the lights.

If you really want to make the lights dance you have to put in the time to model them.  Tracking into a voice recorder the node counts could make it pretty quick when you are installing the lights to the tree.

Another option is to leave the diy side of the project and go with a commercial set of Minleon lights and a wifi mini controller, they have a lot of built in effects.  Way more money compared to Ray nodes, but way less time.

[gadgetsmith]

Pixelpuppy, I'm planning to do a "holiday tree" this year. It is an artificial tree that I use for holidays, just changing the color of the lights. My plan is it convert it to c7 pixels this year, and wrap like a traditional tree, but keep track of which pixels are on each wrap. This way I can create a custom model in xlights.  Tweeking the custom model around until matrix type effects look good. With the new xlights features, there is no longer a need to create single strand models as that can be adjusted at the effect level when applying it to models.

[jnealand]

I'm thinking you could warp the tree then take a picture with all lights on.  Then use test mode to walk thru the lights one at a time and mark up a printout of the picture with where each node is and then make your custom model.  Lot of work though, depending on how big the tree and how many lights you put up there.

[JonB256]

I'm thinking you could warp the tree then take a picture with all lights on.  Then use test mode to walk thru the lights one at a time and mark up a printout of the picture with where each node is and then make your custom model.  Lot of work though, depending on how big the tree and how many lights you put up there.

The old Galaxia hardware/software used to do that, but it was automated. It ran thru all the pixels, 1 by 1, and mapped an array from video input.

[arw01]

Question that is more is a true then a statement.

You always hear in a long running post that anything that causes a house fire that is non UL rated, is grounds for your claim to be denied.

I do not recall ever reading that in CE classes, nor in a policy, but that might just be in my State.  What have others heard and seen proven that packing anything in from our hobby that is not UL listed could jeopardize our finances if the unthinkable might happen?

Alan

[jnealand]

The old Galaxia hardware/software used to do that, but it was automated. It ran thru all the pixels, 1 by 1, and mapped an array from video input.

Well that is one I've never heard about and I just tried a google search but to no avail.  Sound like something that would be useful  for making custom models of lots of stuff.  Build it and map it.  I like the idea.

[JonB256]

The old Galaxia hardware/software used to do that, but it was automated. It ran thru all the pixels, 1 by 1, and mapped an array from video input.

Well that is one I've never heard about and I just tried a google search but to no avail.  Sound like something that would be useful  for making custom models of lots of stuff.  Build it and map it.  I like the idea.

July 2008 - it was a hot topic (still searchable) on the D-Light.us forum. About the same time D-Light was releasing their Firefli pixels and LOR was first releasing their Cosmic Color Ribbons. 

I could not find anything online, either.

[sean]

I have thought of doing the automatic mapping. Video camera films tree as a group  of lights are turned on. x,y location auto calculated.

If it were my internal trees, i would not do that.
I would wrap them like i always do circularly from bottom to top.
I would create a single strand model. So i used 4 strings of 50. Then a model 1x200.

Now all of these effects would look cool
Bars
On
Colorwash
Fire
Marquee
Meteors
Single Strand
Spirals (Makes chases)
Strobe
Twinkle (This is prob the best effect for a xmas tree, i think)

I would use a raspberry pi as the controller. two gpio pins can drive 400 nodes of lights

You wouldnt be able to do pictures, text, and the other 2d space type effects.

If you wanted a complete setup, custom model, mark every light. Next year you would have to do that again.
I like the simple, just warp is with something like ws2811 nodes and be done.

[pixelpuppy]

Lots of great ideas from everybody.  Thanks to all.  Sounds like this may be new territory for most of us, so I guess I'll just start experimenting.

I would wrap them like i always do circularly from bottom to top.
I would create a single strand model. So i used 4 strings of 50. Then a model 1x200.
....
I like the simple, just warp is with something like ws2811 nodes and be done.

Sean, I'm thinking the same thing, at least for my initial trials.  I will most likely be using 4 strings of 50 ws2811 bullet nodes.  I get the single strand model part, but I'm not sure what you mean by "...then a model 1x200..."  Can you elaborate a bit more?

[gerry]

Sean, I'm thinking the same thing, at least for my initial trials.  I will most likely be using 4 strings of 50 ws2811 bullet nodes.  I get the single strand model part, but I'm not sure what you mean by "...then a model 1x200..."  Can you elaborate a bit more?

Clone the model so that you have the same channel range , but define it as one string of 200 . Then you can drop effects on either model (some will work better on one than the other) - and they will however output to the same set of pixels.