The LSX tutorials thread!

[SaltyRobot]

Anyone know how these were made in the LSD Demo?

Looks like one was a triangle that was copied in an array around a circle. Is there an easy command to do this in PicEdit?

Second one is a spiral. How are spirals made in PicEdit?

Should I be looking for another program besides PicEdit to make these types of pictures for LSX?

[Sandstorm]

I believe it's done using rend2frame. Once the output picture is created by r2f, you can save it and use as distinct picture (PIC). The most fun is that it contains 3D information (that makes creating spiral pretty easy)

[colouredmirrorball]

PicEdit (the external program) also has a tool that allows you to use VisualBasic to create points. Look under Edit -> Script. There are a few examples.

I believe there used to be more programs that can read and write .pic files. I've figured out how to read them so maybe I'll add support in IldaViewer.

[colouredmirrorball]

1) LSX will automatically interpolate according to the settings in the Optimisation setup. This means, if you send a square with only 4 points, additional points will get added.

2) How do you use the RGBI event? Do you just check the red and blue channels? This effect is governed by the frequency, amplitude and phase buttons. Make sure the frequency of both channels is equal and adjust the "phase" value in the Phase expression window until you no longer see black spots.

[dkumpula]

1) if i have an ild file, should i increase its point count in ild sos before loading it in realtime if i want it to appear brighter, or does realtime add the points in between points to make the projection brighter automatically?
imagine a rectangle ilda file with only 4 points. will realtime send only the 4 corner points to my projector

In addition to CMB's reply, sharp corners generally require repeating that point several times. The number of repeats being dependent on several factors including size, scan speed, your galvos, interpolation and other optimization settings, whether or not you selected the optimize checkbox on the trickfilm's main tab and perhaps even the current phase of the moon!

When creating a new frame, your best bet is to test it and adjust as necessary to ensure you get what you intended.

-David

[dkumpula]

how can you get a random number to generate in your expressions in the range you want? i want to create an event and copy paste it in the timeline several time and have each event end up in different position in the view. is that possible?

Hi Zorn,

For a truly random number that changes every time it runs, use the Rand function in an expression. For example, for a random X placement of your frame, set the range that you want it to be random within e.g. -.25 to .25. Then set an expression to be Rand(1000)/1000 and set the steps to one. Each time it is played, you will get a new position within that set range. I use this approach for lots of random effects.

David

[colouredmirrorball]

There are four parameters in a sine wave (or cosine wave, or triangle depending on what source you selected):

amplitude * sin( frequency*t + phase) + offset

Amplitude is the size of the wave (1 by default = maximum size)
Frequency is how fast it oscillates back and forth (the higher the faster)
t is the variable you chose: x, y, z, point number, point distance or constant
Phase is the position of the wave, the "x-position"
Offset is the height of the curve , the "y-position"

The best way is to experiment along with these values. Apply the RGBI event with just one channel then open up the expression window of those values, click the = button and play around with the sliders.

Do you want those random values to be different each time you play it? If not, you can just set the Type of Animation to Random and the discrete steps to 1. Clicking on the random generator init (dice) button generates a new random value.
If you want them to be different, use this expression:

if(below(etime,prev), assign(a, rand(1000)/1000),0);
prev=etime;
result=a

(set discrete steps to 0)
It appears the preview curve for this expression is a bit bugged... but the result should be correct. You can transform a like you want, or use the lower and upper limit sliders.

dkumpula has it right, and it's much easier! The preview curve continuously jumps around when you do just rand(1000)/1000 so I thought it didn't work. But it does! The real output keeps having the same value. No need for the complicated expression.
BTW, the reason you need to do rand(1000)/1000 is because rand(a) picks an integer number between 0 and a so you need to pick a high number and then divide by it to get back to a value between 0 and 1. This means you only get 1000 possible values, but if you need more just use a higher number.

[dkumpula]

use this expression:

if(below(etime,prev), assign(a, rand(1000)/1000),0);
prev=etime;
result=a

(set discrete steps to 0)
It appears the preview curve for this expression is a bit bugged... but the result should be correct. You can transform a like you want, or use the lower and upper limit sliders.

This just goes to show how a clever fellow like CMB can find a new way to skin a cat!

[colouredmirrorball]

If you double click on the animation event, you can go to the Animator tab. Here you can see all morphing "events" again (Pre/PostMove, Size, Intensity, Rotation etc). A green square indicates an event is active: light green for linear, dark green for expression. Double clicking on the icon brings up the expression window.
It's an alternative way for people who don't like to shuffle events around.

[swamidog]

for simple color fades don't worry about any of those things.

in the "Modulate RGB Colors" event:
De-activate Red
Activate Green
Activate Blue

Set "Color Depends on" to "Constant" for Blue and Green.
Set "Waveform" to "Expression" for Blue and Green.
Click the "Expression" button.

For Green:
Set "Lower Limit" to "0" and "Upper Limit" to "1"
Set "Type of Animation" to "Cosine"
Set "Repeats" to the number of times you want your color cycle to happen.

For Blue:
Set "Lower Limit" to "1" and "Upper Limit" to "0"
Set "Type of Animation" to "Cosine"
Set "Repeats" to the same number you set for green..

Don't worry about Frequency/Phase/Amplitude/Offset.

For added special fun time effects, set "Modulate Master RGB/Palette Intensity":
Set "Color depends on" to "Z Coordinate"
Set "Waveform" to "Sine"
and click "Active"

Here's a little show file to get you started.

http://www.monkeyhands.com/images/ph...e-abstract.rtd

thanks.

Im still confused about the RGBI event. How can i make it fade between default blue (0,0,255) and green (0,255,0) without extremely darks shades of them?
I got an explanation i previous page, but:

"Offset is the height of the curve , the "y-position"".
So I would assume that it what i want to change. But when i set to to 0 it doesnt become completely black and if i set it to 100 it isnt always brightest blue.

"Amplitude is the size of the wave"
Whats the difference between Offset then? Doesn't height determine the size?
And again I'm trying very high numbers and there are still dark blues. Why?

Phase seems useless for this.

And then there's frequency which is just the speed.

So is there no way to limit how dim the colors can get? Because at this point the White makes my graphic about 50% dimmer overall because there are already dim colors generated by R,G and B.