need some advice on my layout

[JasonPortwood]

For a few years now I've done my layout like the image attached.  It's just an example, partly done.  Does this layout work well with xlights or am I better off with just a real world "I'm looking at it from the street" view?  I've made this style of layout work but this year I started wondering if I should change it.  That is if I'm doing this in a way that hurts more than helps.

Thanks for any advice on this.

Jason

[Gilrock]

It really only matters when rendering the models in groups.  The effects are going to render based on the screen positioning when in a group.  And then it becomes how picky are you about one  model looking like it lights up before another or a color sweep having a perfect straight edge.  My feeling is don't worry about it cause things move fast enough a viewer doesn't notice.

[algerdes]

I agree with Gil. 

It is not an "xlights" or "vixen" or "HLS" thing.  It is using a 2D sequencing program in a 3D world.
Pick a "sweet spot" where it is the best viewing for your show, then have a go.  Even if we had 3D in the sequencer, can you imagine the thought processes necessary to figure out what to do when you have multiple "sweet spots" to view from?  Wow, what a headache that would be. 

[Gilrock]

Better get your Advil.  It's almost here Al.

[algerdes]

To borrow a phrase from the "kids",  OMG!

There is still only a single point of view, correct?

[Gilrock]

Eventually the goal is that you can create multiple camera angles and then create render buffers based on camera angle.  So you could render an effect from a top down view and cause a shockwave to appear to explode from the middle of the yard out or create a buffer that renders an effect for a view from the side of the yard.  Its a way to get some 3D rendering benefits without having to make all the effects have 3D rendering which would be 100's of times slower.  But initially yes it will still just be the 2D front view for rendering.  There will be some 2D enhancements based on this work so everyone should benefit.  The 2D preview can now be Panned and Zoomed and dynamically adjusts to your application window.  I'll be doing a demo tonight for the Sidney Mini.

[keithsw1111]

Can’t wait Gil. V5 right there.


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[JasonPortwood]

Thank you all for the information, it really helped me a lot.

Jason

[algerdes]

I saw the demo on Zoom tonight.  I'm impressed.  That looks great.

The different camera angles are intriguing.  I'm going to go over this (with another piece of software that has it already) and see if I can wrap my head around it.  Either way, it is by far some of the best news I've gotten in awhile.

Thanks for all the work Gil.

[Gilrock]

I saw the demo on Zoom tonight.  I'm impressed.  That looks great.

The different camera angles are intriguing.  I'm going to go over this (with another piece of software that has it already) and see if I can wrap my head around it.  Either way, it is by far some of the best news I've gotten in awhile.

Thanks for all the work Gil.

Haha....so today you already have another piece of software that does this.  Yesterday you said they were all 2D..lol.

[algerdes]

Two things,

1.  My local pharmacy is now out of Excedren.
2.  I've purchased stock in the makers of most of the headache pills.  I figure I'll be rich from the upswing in their use. 

Besides, I didn't really need those last few hairs on my head anyway. 

[Ebuechner]

I either tuned in too late or had to get off Zoom to go to bed too early and missed the demo.
Is there going to be a video of the demo available to watch before its release?

[Gilrock]

Keith posted a video of my demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oPJqETWuD4&feature=youtu.be

I was making last minute code changes right before the demo and one of them caused a me a surprise.  Not a big deal but the highlighting wasn't quite right.  I've got that fixed now and added several new features in the last 24 hours like group selection and movement in 3D and ability to align models to the ground.