Okay,
So I am thinking of a new tool to streamline my operations. Before I started getting into this 3D thing, I used to work for a Stage Event/Lighting company. I have realized that there is no great tool (at least, that I know of) that provides comprehensive and extensive controls for lights in a scene.
Now, as such, I propose this: A script that will open a rather large panel that will fulfill this role. I hope to write the bulk of the code, but as always I am going to be asking for guidance often.
Furthermore, I want to try and get some input as to what Other people might find useful for this utility.
So far here’s what I have for controls. I am going to write a 12-Channel, a 24-Channel a 48-Channel version. (More will be made as needed).
Each channel will have the following.
- A textbox to give your channel a name
- A slider to control intensity
- A spinner to both display and control intensity
- A spinner to control the maximum level of intensity the slider/spinner will reach
- Light Color
- Hotspot and Falloff
- Attenuation
- Flagger – the flagger will be a radio button that will turn off all other channels but this one, and when its turned off it will return all lights to normal
Furthermore there will a GrandMaster which will be a multiplier for all lights. this will have the same Spinner and MaxSpinner as a standard channel intensity control.
I also hope to add a submaster system, this way you can bring up several channels in a premade way (This will be the hardest to code, i think).
(NOTE: Already thinking of a “Set, Go, Clear” button system. Put your lights to the settings you want, press a submaster’s [Set] button, change whatever you want, hit the [Go] button, the lights will return to their progammed setting, and the [clear] will remove that preset.)
I may also create a version that will support Moving-Head lights. (meaning, add a Pan and Tilt controller to a channel, depends on demand).
An alternative version (this depends entirely on how hard it will be to code) will have only the intensity controls on the main board. All the advanced settings will be placed to the side, where you will be able to move a slider to select which channel you want your advanced settings to go. This will be harder to code, however. So be it.
If anyone has any suggestions, comments or ideas, please don’t hesitate to post them.
Which layout would you prefer. What other controls would be needed? what controls can you do without?
Project Zodiac has begun.
The first installation will be Aquarius. a 3-channel lighting console. Perfect for your 3-point light rigs. Once I have something sizable, I will add screenshots.
Okay, so this is turning out to be harder than I thought.
Here’s what my method is, thus far: there are 2 scripts, in fact. A “Dimmer” and a “Console”
the dimmer is a modifier used to wire your different lights to the various channels’ settings. The Console (which will be a dialog) will then communicate to the “Dimmer”.
Now, what I am looking to do is make it so the Console can be opened and closed from the Dimmer with a CheckButton. Furthermore, is there a way to keep the settings after reopening the dialog?