xx We can use your help to test Keith's Video Mapper

[sean]

We can use your help!

Keith Westley has almost finished a new feature for xLights. You will be able to run a special test sequence that will flash all the lights of a model. If you make a video recording of these lights he will make a custom model for you. You have a Snowflake that has 150 rgb lights, just create a video of it displaying the special sequence and feed it to the conversion process , you get a custom model. You wrap lights around your trees and bushes. Each bush you want to be a model. Enter start channel and total number of lights for first bush , run special pattern and record video. A few seconds of processing and you get a custom model.
I made a short video describing the steps below
https://vimeo.com/164128202


How can you help?
Keith needs some sample videos to test his current code.
Here is what you do

If you have a custom model now, and you have built a custom model for it then PROCEED to next steps

1) Download the special xlights (version 21 with a new option in TOOLS)
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/releases/xLights_Nutcracker_2016_21_special.exe
2) Go to "Tools, Generate Custom Model"
3) Enter start channel and number of nodes.
4) Setup phone to take video or a video camera. IMPORTANT! Do not hand hold the camera. It needs to be perfectly steady during recording. Prop it against something or use a tripod.
5) Click "Run Capture Program", Press Record on your camera. Press "OK" for pattern to start.
6) It will say "Running Light pattern"
7) When the pattern is finished, stop Video camera, press "OK"

Send
a) Your xlights_rgbeffects.xml (This has your current custom model)
b) Tell us the model name you made a recording for. Example: "SNOWFLAKE3"
c) Send the video files that unloaded from your camera. Please make a separate video for each model. If you have a snowflake and a star, call them the {modelname}.mp4 or {modelname}.mov or {modelname}.avi or whatever video format you have.

Send these files to xlights@nutcracker123.com with a subject line of "Generate Custom Model"

I will gather all together and pass to Keith so he can continue his development.

[flyinverted]

I can do the steps but not sure what the end result intent is. Can you elaborate?

[sean]

you create a video of your prop flashing lights. Keith processes all the frames of the video and determines when the first light is turned on and what its x,y location is within the frame. He then processes all the remaining lights from node # 1 to the end of your model. He then creates a custom model using the x,y locations scaled down to be the size our custom models uses.

When this works, you will no longer need to use excel to build custom models nor go into the custom model editor.

[Phrog30]

You guys will leave the current editor in place though, correct?  I like this feature, but there are times when the old fashioned way is better, even quicker.

By the way Sean, can you please start making links?

James

[JonB256]

I'll try to shoot a Boscoyo snowflake shortly.

The need for super stable video (tripod) is understandable.

During the Recording process, if every 10th pixel stayed ON, the identification software might be able to stabilize the video if it was just "a little" shaky.

Every 10 is just a guess. For a 200 pixel model, that's a lot of lights.
First, Last and Middle might be enough (providing that first and last aren't next to each other)

[sean]

You guys will leave the current editor in place though, correct?  I like this feature, but there are times when the old fashioned way is better, even quicker.

By the way Sean, can you please start making links?

James

We are not removing the editor. If the automatic one did a great job except a for a few pixels, you just open it and edit away. This is just a way to jump start the custom models. So
1) Use excel to paint picture, paste in custom model editor
2) Use video of prop to create the custom model, edit it with the current editor we have

What links James. On the releases page, inside of posts?
not sure what you are referring to.

[Phrog30]

I'm referring to clickable links in your posts.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[sean]

I'm referring to clickable links in your posts.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Ah, good point.
I normally create the first post in facebook. Paste that post into second xlights facebook and then paste it into
xLights. DIYC, DIYC.org, ACL

Ill try to remember to add the url tags before posting to forums. The links from facebook dont work.

I added links to my original post here

[Phrog30]

Sent files.  My videos were large so I moved to Google Drive and sent the share link.  Thanks for continually adding these cool new features!!

James

[sean]

Perfect James!
Your file was 180mbyte. I loaded it into power director and saved it at 6mbs instead of 24mbs.

The 180mb dropped down to 37mb.
Here is that video https://vimeo.com/164149075

Now we will see what keith can do with this (and the others).

As I should have mentioned before, be sure the top of your model is pointing straight up.

[arw01]

Got some stuff set up still, will make a video tonight to send in that should be a challenge for it.

[Phrog30]

Mine was pointing up.  I'm going to use my cell phone and send those as well.  Then you guys can compare.  Thanks for shrinking my files.  I should have done that myself.

James

[sean]

actually, james, i think keith wants all different kinds to try.
For example, if you had manual exposure you could have reduced the flare on each light.
BUT, we want people would normally use, not some special lighting and exposure.

thanks for being so quick.

[JonB256]

two videos of same boscoyo snowflake uploaded to Vimeo, with download enabled.
Send XML file to you.

https://vimeo.com/164195745


https://vimeo.com/164195993

only difference between the two is the light intensity.

[Phrog30]

two videos of same boscoyo snowflake uploaded to Vimeo, with download enabled.
Send XML file to you.

https://vimeo.com/164195745


https://vimeo.com/164195993

only difference between the two is the light intensity.

We you having an earthquake?