Model a real tree in xlights

[koolantz]

Hi all,

I have started setting up my show.
This year I have wrapped the branches of the large tree in front of my display in seed pixels.

I would be keen for any advice or shortcuts on how to model this in Xlights?

Many Thanks
Anthony

 

[merryoncherry]

I would just take note of which controller ports, and how many pixels per string, and which branch they follow. Then, since this is 2D, make a polyline that follows the branches (on background image) and assign that many pixels. You can assign the counts per polyline segment if it ends up off to any noticeable degree. I think you won't really get any value out of compensating for the fact that it's wrapped around, rather than a series of line/curve segments.

There are other things I've seen done, like a custom model for the tree, but that may not be easy to build since some of them are wrapped behind the tree?

 

[koolantz]

I would just take note of which controller ports, and how many pixels per string, and which branch they follow. Then, since this is 2D, make a polyline that follows the branches (on background image) and assign that many pixels. You can assign the counts per polyline segment if it ends up off to any noticeable degree. I think you won't really get any value out of compensating for the fact that it's wrapped around, rather than a series of line/curve segments.

There are other things I've seen done, like a custom model for the tree, but that may not be easy to build since some of them are wrapped behind the tree?

Thanks, I will give that a try.

The seed pixels are 5cm pitch and probably used about 80m so would be painful to do manually.

 

[merryoncherry]

Are they counted or not counted?

 

[uncledan]

Never used the feature but xLights can generate a model.
View: https://youtu.be/UlbiPWm0veI

 

[koolantz]

I have not counted then number of seeds on each string yet, there are 9 strings. Job for this evening.

 

[merryoncherry]

Never used the feature but xLights can generate a model.
View: https://youtu.be/UlbiPWm0veI

I used it once a couple years ago. It was helpful, but the pixels have to show up in the video. I assume in this case half of them are on the back of the tree...

 

[merryoncherry]

I have not counted then number of seeds on each string yet, there are 9 strings. Job for this evening.

Light up every 20th one green and every tenth one red or something, that will help you see how many meters/pixels pretty quickly and you won't have to manually count them, except the last few if you care to be that accurate.