How do you setup a projector and Screen

[scuba]

I've search the forums for information on projector setup and most of what I found deals with the Xlights and FPP interfaces.  Since I use videos' in my current show, I think I'm ok with this part of the interface.

I just got a great deal on a 2800 Lum Epson projector and I want to integrate it into my show...I'll worry about content later, but for now I need help on the physical setup.... I remember seeing a lightship video of two "trees" with animation projected on the trees (I don't have a link to it); I was thinking I'd make a TREE shape and project various content onto the "screen".  I do a lot of video editing, but I know very little about projection.  Rear projection; front Projection; screen material; distances to the screen, lens....basically I know squat about projection fundamentals..

Is there a source or site I can review to help me physically setup my projection system...

[animal]

Hi scuba,
  I built a 8 foot mega video wreath about 7 years ago. Everything sequence I do is video. You can see my set up here
          http://www.christmastech.tv/
I ran the set up with FPP last year which was a god send. It was the first time in years that the video was in sync. Coming from LSP. It was a bit clumsy how to insert media to the sequencing. I use a Cristie 650 to rear project the video. If you go to how to's. You can see the layout, and look at 2014 sequence. You can get a Idea of the set-up.
             Let me know if I can answer any questions,
                                  animal

[scuba]

Animal!
I've been recovering from surgery and I've not been able to respond....

I went to the link but it had more data on the projector setup.  Is there additional information on the screen construction.  what material did you use?

[animal]

Hey scuba,
           I hope your recovery goes well.
             Here's where I got my idea from. http://www.nevadachristmas.com/megawreath.htm

Mine is made from electrical EMT. A lot easier to bend, and a lot lighter, plus, I don't have the wind issues here in Florida that he does. I used the same screen and mounted it the same way. My first year, I used a white shower curtain with a 3000 lumens in-focus projector. This was I think 2010. It really went well. As I changed over to LED'S. It was hard to see the picture due to the brightness. I was able to  put my hands on a 6000 lumens projector for an unbelievable price which made all the difference. I'm going to do a video tutorial on this. I'm just very behind on the website. If you decide to do this. It's a 100% commitment balancing the video and the lights. I really work hard on balance so the mega wreath never over powers the display. Sorta like the cherry on top.
                               Please get well, let me know if I can help in any way.
                                           animal

[babybear]

The screen I built also uses a shower curtain.  The frame I made is out of 1" x  2" porch screen material.  Its aluminum  it also comes in 1x1 and 2x2.  I roll the curtain in just as if it was window screen material.  You can find it in a window and door shop in your area.  I project from the back side.

[scuba]

I'm back to working the 2016 show and I'm going to add a 2800 LUM color and white projector....

I've been adding video to the show by coupling a video media file with the sequence file in FFP.  that's to say instead of a music file, I use a video file...works great but a bit limited.

I've not kept up with the video effect in xlights.....I was hoping that you could insert a video onto an object defined as a projector or monitor.  Don't see a way of doing that in layout...

How do you insert video in the sequence (or animated gif files) onto a projector?
Other work arounds?

[bwinter]

So far, I've had to create a matrix as a "stand-in" for my video/projection (albeit, killing my rendering time).  I would be nice to be able to insert a simple video-window that would "mimic" the video from the projector.

[sean]

i asked dan about the ability to put on a spot in the preview for videos. His answer not easy, not going to happen soon.

I therefore create a matrix 40x50. i set channel range above my channels. i drop a movie effect and play the movie. works fine . when playing the fseq file i just dont map those upper channels.

[scuba]

sounds good sean...fseq file will have video content but not mapped to physical chn's in the 40x50 matrix (BTW: is there a proper way to setup the matrix to mimic a projector).  how do i get FFP to play the video on the projector?  I use HDMI out to the projector.  do I assign the matrix to output to the HDMI port?...if so how?

[sean]

its simple on fpp.

examples: frozen.mp3 sound, frozen.mp4 movie
create a sequence frozen.xml, place mp4 on dummy matrix so you can see it during playback in xlights
save sequence as frozen.fseq

send frozen.fseq, frozen.mp3 to master,
send frozen.mp4 to remote

set a playlist to run frozen.fseq on master
it will start up playing fseq and sound file
remote will be asked to start
"is there a frozen.fseq on remote?" , No, nothing happens for light output
"is the a frozen.mp4?", yes, start movie on remote.

if you had 3 remotes, you could send frozen.mp4 to all of them and you would have 3 projectors running plus the sequence running on master

[scuba]

Thanks...that's what I did last year with frozen (used a 30" TV)....It was a single mp4 file.  What I'd like to do is send several different gif and short MP4 files to the projector.  Santa waving, frosty jumping, etc...move the 'video' segments to different locations (timing) in the sequence; export the model with the various vid's, send it to a remote Pi FPP. output the remote through the HDMI interface...Can this be done in the current versions of xlights and FPP?

I guess I could do that with a video editor,place the mp4 - gif at different times, export and play it thru the remote...although it would be a higher editor/creator burden.