The LSX tutorials thread!

[colouredmirrorball]

Can anyone explain why sometimes, when creating independent SFX it saves CAT picture for itself, and sometimes it doesn't? I mean, when I load my own created SFX some of them bring in their own CAT frames into used catalog, and others don't bring in anything and has just empty frames instead... probably it depends on saving somehow, though I haven't figured out how.. and I've already lost some really usable effects..

Normally you should use cat slots >10, and use slots <10 for dynamic effects.

[swamidog]

that's a good idea! i am not so organized. my cat files are eye candy swiss cheese.

Normally you should use cat slots >10, and use slots <10 for dynamic effects.

[JasonB]

Some of you say you don't have this problem and some say they do. Those who don't, I'll ask again, can you please tell me what version of LSX you have? Mine is 20130401.

Good question ! How do you guys update your LSX version ? Do we have to e-mail Dr. Lava asking for an update or link just like the owner's manual which is a link to the LSX living manual on google drive?

Also I feel your pain on the 3D lissajou/abstract generator. Here is what is in the living manual now on this tool: "Lissajou Abstract generator. Mash buttons until pretty lights comes out (Swamidog™). Covered in chapter 6.8."

And section 6.8 is empty. Documenting projects is not 'fun', but I have to say.... If you don't document what you release the job is not yet finished. When I do a project at work its not finished until it is fully documented. I guess its up to us as a community to finish figuring out exactly what Andrew wrote ? Its a good thing Swami, CMB, and others are so helpful and generous with their time ! Its sort of fun 'mashing buttons' and making adjustments to 'see what happens' but at the same time I am disappointed the features are not documented.

-Jason

[dzodzo]

that's why it's "living" manual, anyone can contribute, if you figure out some functionality, don't hesitate and add your findings to the manual or if you don't have write access, ask drlava to add permissions for you

lissajou abstract generator is probably not covered because guys found another way to make nice abstracts via sfx loops and math expressions, i myself don't know how lot of features work, that's why there are so many (?) question marks in the text

[JasonB]

lissajou abstract generator is probably not covered because guys found another way to make nice abstracts via sfx loops and math expressions, i myself don't know how lot of features work, that's why there are so many (?) question marks in the text

OK, well don't get me wrong I am enjoying this learning journey; I'd rather have the tools without full documentation than no tools at all.... LOL I just realized you can do File->Open with the lissajou abstract generator and start from a pre-made abstract.... The possibilities are endless....

[dkumpula]

how do you guys create 3d shapes in the quick picedit?
whenever i draw some points i have to change the view and move each point manually to where i want it in the z axis, which is painfully long plus some points get in the way of each other.

Hi Zorn,

I'm sure that adjusting detailed objects point by point in Quick PicEdit is quite time consuming. I've spent a decent amount of time in both picedit (which comes with the basic and pro versions of LSX) and quick picedit over the past six months and I think the short answer is that quick picedit is the wrong tool for drawing anything but simple 3D shapes.

If you don't own the Basic or Pro version of LSX, you may want to consider upgrading. The full PicEdit program that comes with Basic and Pro allows you to see and manipulate 3 views of your object simultaneously so you can easily select the points you want to edit/move. The full PicEdit also allows you to extrude (e.g. copy a selection of points and drag them out on the Z axis) and something called Rotatary Body which allows you to make 3D balls, wine glasses, vases, etc. from a simple initial shape. For 3D objects, I start in PicEdit to build the PIC. Then I bring it into LSX to see how it projects at the intended target size and speed. I then add points, interpolate or pull points where necessary to achieve the desired look usually with the fewest points possible at the intended speed to keep flicker to a minimum.

Whether you use PicEdit or LSX's Quick PicEdit, be sure that you've read the associated manual on how to lock an axis. This will prevent you from drawing the object in the wrong location on the Z axis (or other axis) initially, and therefore save you some time.

Even if you only own the Lite LSX version (without the full PicEdit program), you should find it helpful to read the PicEdit manual as it contains more information on how to draw. (The vast majority of the functionality between the two programs is identical.)

All of this said, for 3D drawing, PicEdit and Quick PicEdit are very . . ermm . . basic tools as compared to the stuff the graphic artist folks use. Of course, those guys can have as many points in their renderings as they'd like, where-as laserists have to live with the physical limitations of how fast and accurately your galvos can move.

-David

[JasonB]

Just for reference, here's what swami said about rend2frame.

[23:10] swamidog make an event..
[23:11] swamidog then place a rend2frame event under it
[23:11] swamidog and stretch the rend2frame so it's the same length as the event
[23:11] swamidog double click the rend2frame event and it should open up a cat file browser
[23:12] swamidog scroll to an empty slot in the cat file and select it
[23:12] swamidog then take note of the slot number
[23:12] Galvonaut ok
[23:12] swamidog underneath the rend2frame, open a new animation event
[23:13] swamidog select the slot number that you used for rend2frame
[23:13] swamidog that's it
[23:13] swamidog here's what happens:
[23:14] swamidog when you use a rend2frame event, everything above it gets compressed and put into a single cat slot
[23:14] swamidog like using the "flatten layers" command in photoshop
[23:14] Galvonaut ok
[23:15] swamidog creating another animation event and selecting the slot # you used will show the resulting "layer"
[23:15] Arwyen You know swamidog, selecting the slot is much like making love to a beautiful woman
[23:15] Arwyen You've got to trick the burden
[23:15] Arwyen last the place
[23:15] Arwyen and finally refuse the companies.
[23:15] swamidog the fun thing is, this is all dynamic
[23:15] swamidog so if your animations have motion or other effects the data in the cat slot will update in real time
[23:16] swamidog so you could do a run text (text scrolly) stuff it into a slot with rend2frame than do some global color/motion effects on it
[23:16] Galvonaut so can I use the resulting animation into a morph event?
[23:17] swamidog probably

Arwyen nonsense left intact for the ones who can enjoy it.

Hey guys, I can't get this to work and need help figuring out what I am doing wrong. Every time I insert rend2frame it 'erases' the frames above it. I tried carefully selecting a slot at the END of my existing animations.... Does everything have to be inside of one single Loop or animation event for it to work ?

What I'm trying to do is take a 'chunk' of my timeline and get it into one "animation" by selecting the 'start picture number' in the 'animation setup and select CAT source' tab in an animation event.

...I think there is something I am not understanding correctly.... I wish the IIRC chat worked from my work PC .....

thanks guys,
Jason

[swamidog]

jason,

rend2frame is working properly. double click the rend2frame event and it will open a cat file requestor. click on an unused slot in the request to assign the rend2frame output to.

now place another animation event on the time line.. make sure it is below the rend2frame event (it will not work if it is above) and double click on it. this will open up the cat file requestor. set the beginning and end frame numbers to be the slot number where you put the rend2frame contents.

Hey guys, I can't get this to work and need help figuring out what I am doing wrong. Every time I insert rend2frame it 'erases' the frames above it. I tried carefully selecting a slot at the END of my existing animations.... Does everything have to be inside of one single Loop or animation event for it to work ?

What I'm trying to do is take a 'chunk' of my timeline and get it into one "animation" by selecting the 'start picture number' in the 'animation setup and select CAT source' tab in an animation event.

...I think there is something I am not understanding correctly.... I wish the IIRC chat worked from my work PC .....

thanks guys,
Jason

[Galvonaut]

.... LOL I just realized you can do File->Open with the lissajou abstract generator and start from a pre-made abstract.... The possibilities are endless....

Wht? Wow... cooooool!

I was showing a few people at UKLEM how it works and kept finding myself saying how many endless combinations there are (an endless amount in-fact), every time I use it I find something else that takes it another level of awesome!

[colouredmirrorball]

Indeed, Rend2Frame erases the output. Otherwise, you would have the original animation with the processed animation.