Candle affect for AC dimmers

[tbone321]

Would it be possible to create a candle effect for a single channel AC dimmer type candles.  I did see the current candle effect but it didn't seem to do much with my 120V AC candles being controlled by an LE.  It could be that I just don't have a clue as to what I'm doing as there were no instructions for this effect in my version of xLights and none of the changes I made to the effect properties seemed to have any affect or change in behavior. 

I was thinking of something like Maximum and Minimum intensity and rate of flicker to be able to put the candle in different situations like indoors or outside and have the flame react correctly.  If this can already be done with the existing effect, please point me in the direction of whatever instructions are available to properly set the properties to get it to do these things. 

[keithsw1111]

 Have you tried setting your model to single channel red and use candle effect.

[LEDKeeper]

Have you tried setting your model to single channel red and use candle effect.

If you are using LED's then try setting the max. intensity around 35%, most LED fading is done between 0-35%. This should help in getting the candle flicker you want.

[tbone321]

That is the issue, they are not LED.  They are standard C7 120V candles.  Actually, the ones being used outside are just a length of PVC tubing with a C7 socket glued to the end and a power cord attached.  They were being controlled by a DLA LE.  IIRC, they were set up as white lights as they were just clear C7 candle bulbs.  Is this effect color specific? 

[keithsw1111]

That is the issue, they are not LED.  They are standard C7 120V candles.  Actually, the ones being used outside are just a length of PVC tubing with a C7 socket glued to the end and a power cord attached.  They were being controlled by a DLA LE.  IIRC, they were set up as white lights as they were just clear C7 candle bulbs.  Is this effect color specific?

Singly channel stuff is always sensitive to colour.

[Gilrock]

If you choose Single Color Intensity then the model will react to all colors.

[deplanche]

Try an "ON" effect.  For the color, right click on the color to select the color curve.  Put two of the little sliders on the color curve, and drag them to the two different sides (left and right).  Make one of them Black, and the other white.  Set the blend mode to Random.  The colors then look like a bar code, with lots and on and off.  They change so quickly that they will look like a flickering flame.  I used that in pumpkins for halloween and people though it was a real candle in there.

[tbone321]

Try an "ON" effect.  For the color, right click on the color to select the color curve.  Put two of the little sliders on the color curve, and drag them to the two different sides (left and right).  Make one of them Black, and the other white.  Set the blend mode to Random.  The colors then look like a bar code, with lots and on and off.  They change so quickly that they will look like a flickering flame.  I used that in pumpkins for halloween and people though it was a real candle in there.

While I appreciate the help, of you only had what amounts to a few hours of experience with this software, would you have any idea of how to do what you are telling me to do, because I don't.  Sure, I know what the "ON" effect is and I believe that I have seen the color curve but I have no idea how it works.  How would a beginner with the software ever figure that out without being told.  The point is that there is supposed to be an effect that should make doing this easy but it doesn't seem to work, at least not for a single channel prop. 

[Gilrock]

We've done our best to make the program newbie friendly but there will always be things you will need to learn.  The candle effect ignores the color palette but you can use the Hue slider on the color panel to shift the color of the output.  When you define a model as Single Color it will only react to that color.  I suggested earlier you could use Single Color Intensity and then it would react to all colors.

[keithsw1111]

Try an "ON" effect.  For the color, right click on the color to select the color curve.  Put two of the little sliders on the color curve, and drag them to the two different sides (left and right).  Make one of them Black, and the other white.  Set the blend mode to Random.  The colors then look like a bar code, with lots and on and off.  They change so quickly that they will look like a flickering flame.  I used that in pumpkins for halloween and people though it was a real candle in there.

While I appreciate the help, of you only had what amounts to a few hours of experience with this software, would you have any idea of how to do what you are telling me to do, because I don't.  Sure, I know what the "ON" effect is and I believe that I have seen the color curve but I have no idea how it works.  How would a beginner with the software ever figure that out without being told.  The point is that there is supposed to be an effect that should make doing this easy but it doesn't seem to work, at least not for a single channel prop.

Most beginners watch lots of videos. Join the Facebook group and ask open questions without the disdain. Maybe lor or vixen would be more suitable for you. XLights tried to span the noob through to shows with over 200000 lights. Consequently it make some common things easy but it can’t be easy for everything ... especially the uncommon. That’s where our community comes in on Facebook. Literally thousands of users with a wide range of experience happy to help.

[tbone321]

This is the part that I believe throws newbies like me.  You say I could use "Single Color Intensity" but I have NO IDEA what that even means.  I set the color of the candle to Red which was probably incorrect but how and what do you set to Single Color Intensity?  I realize that I have a lot of learning to do to become proficient with this software and it will take a while but AFAIK, there are no instructions for this Effect.  Now that the season is over, I will make time to work with the software to get a better understanding of what it is doing.  As for uncommon, what exactly is uncommon about making a single bulb flicker like a candle?

[keithsw1111]

Single colour intensity is set in the model properties. It tells XLights what you want the model to react to.

[Gilrock]

Since almost all our models default to an RGB string type I assumed you had to have already stumbled on setting String Properties to have set it for single channel.  Single Color Intensity is the option right below the one you picked.

[tbone321]

LOL, thanks Gilrock, now I don't feel quite as stupid.  That option does not exist for me.  I am using a circle as the model and setting it to a single node.  The list for string type ends at single color so I never saw Single Color Intensity.  I guess I need to download and install the most current version.  I am using the 64 bit version.  What version do you recommend I download to begin actually learning how to use it?

[deplanche]

Always go with the most recent version of the software.  Anything older and you are going to be missing options or possibly having bugs.