BundyRoy
Dedicated elf
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,026
Whilst waiting for quotes over the long weekend I thought I would draw up my plans for the pixel tree so I can better visualise how things fit and the layout of the pixels.
I also thought this drawing may help me down the track if I try to sequence a particular shape into the tree. I can put the shape on the drawing and see which pixels/channels need to be turned on. May be of no use to me, I don't really know yet but I like to work with drawings and it doesn't take long to do.
Anyway in the process of aligning my led strips I realised that if I get a nice spread at the bottom and narrow it at the top so it looks like a good Christmas tree shape, then the pixels will no longer align in the horizontal plane. I figure this must have been overcome by many before me I just hadn't thought of the issue yet.
I realise if I align the middle pixel I can half the misalignment at each end as opposed to aligning the base and having a bigger misalignment at the top.
Just checked my drawing (after writing above) to see how much the misalignment was. I've drawn my tree (10 strips x3m) so that there is 80mm between strips at base and 20mm at top. This doesn't give a very tree like shape (needs wider base). With this layout the alignment is out by about 1/2 pixel (15mm) at top and bottom in the vertical axis. I guess it's not worth worrying about now I measure it. But it would get worse if I tighten the top spacing or spread the base to make it more like a Christmas tree shape.
I guess the issue now becomes how far can the strips be apart before you loose the ability to make clear shapes like santas face.
Sorry for bringing up an issue that has probably been solved many times before. It's new to me and I figure it is best to work with the collective experience if possible rather than get the experience by trial and error (and maybe still not come up with the best solution by myself).
I'm starting to think I may have to let go of the engineer in me a bit. Maybe it's alright not to have everything perfectly aligned or maybe I would be better off either giving up on the idea of images or just do a matrix with close spacing.
I also thought this drawing may help me down the track if I try to sequence a particular shape into the tree. I can put the shape on the drawing and see which pixels/channels need to be turned on. May be of no use to me, I don't really know yet but I like to work with drawings and it doesn't take long to do.
Anyway in the process of aligning my led strips I realised that if I get a nice spread at the bottom and narrow it at the top so it looks like a good Christmas tree shape, then the pixels will no longer align in the horizontal plane. I figure this must have been overcome by many before me I just hadn't thought of the issue yet.
I realise if I align the middle pixel I can half the misalignment at each end as opposed to aligning the base and having a bigger misalignment at the top.
Just checked my drawing (after writing above) to see how much the misalignment was. I've drawn my tree (10 strips x3m) so that there is 80mm between strips at base and 20mm at top. This doesn't give a very tree like shape (needs wider base). With this layout the alignment is out by about 1/2 pixel (15mm) at top and bottom in the vertical axis. I guess it's not worth worrying about now I measure it. But it would get worse if I tighten the top spacing or spread the base to make it more like a Christmas tree shape.
I guess the issue now becomes how far can the strips be apart before you loose the ability to make clear shapes like santas face.
Sorry for bringing up an issue that has probably been solved many times before. It's new to me and I figure it is best to work with the collective experience if possible rather than get the experience by trial and error (and maybe still not come up with the best solution by myself).
I'm starting to think I may have to let go of the engineer in me a bit. Maybe it's alright not to have everything perfectly aligned or maybe I would be better off either giving up on the idea of images or just do a matrix with close spacing.
