How did you set up your stakes in xLights?

[jollyzee]

I am planning on adding Peace Stakes/pixel forest/pixel stakes - whatever you want to call them, this year. I was thinking of 35 stakes with 7 pixels each and 3ft in between each stake for this year and maybe expand in the future.
My question is about the setup in xLights. I see 2 ways (I'm probably wrong!!) that they can be set up; first as a cube model and second as a set of strings. I've tried both ways and I don't see that much of a difference as far as looks when viewing the display.
The setup of individual strings is a little cumbersome, I agree, but I can place the stakes in a more random layout in the yard. Placing them in a group and programming them as a group, not individually.
The cube model seams more of the ridged layout (seams to me anyway) as far as placement of the stakes in the yard. Programming is straight forward I think, not much different then the strings in a group.
Looking for advice on pitfalls I may encounter with either choice.
Thanks

 

[merryoncherry]

That's pretty much it. The wiring on a cube is less flexible but probably does what you want, custom 3D model does most of the rest. Submodels can be used to treat the cube in various ways.

Several icicles, matrix, or polylines, or a lot of little lines, or custom models are all options vs the cube, but some effects that would apply to the whole cube are harder to do in this case. Of course, yes, you have fine control over (and have to fiddle with) placement.

(And you can combine both by using a shadow model.)

Controller wise, aside from a Hinkspix in "universe per string" mode trying to do too many little strings, I haven't heard of any problems to stay away from.

So yep, lots of ways to do it that pretty much work. Have fun!