RGB Channels: Difference between revisions

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Copied from HLS Getting Started Guide.
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Planned topic coverage on this page:
Introduction to RGB
Adding RGB Channels
Converting 3 Red, Green, and Blue Channels to one RGB Channel
Using RGB Channels to reduce other channels by 2/3


====Introduction to RGB====
----
RGB lighting, both dumb and smart pixels, have added a large amount of complexity and channel counts in displays.  HLS is very advanced in handling RGB channels. This section of the wiki will discuss setting up channels, converting multiple channels into one, and how to use the RGB features for other display items.
<br />


====Adding RGB Channels====
----


Let’s create a simple sequence with 8 RGB channels.  
[[File:HLS_AddRGBChannels_11V.png‎|350px|thumb|Figure 3-24]]
Start the sequence as usual and add a WAV file for the music. Choose the '''Manage Channels''' tab and select '''Manage Raw Channels'''. For this example we will create a special RGB arch. 8 outputs will be red, 8 will be green, and 8 will be blue. Because we are using RGB outputs, we will only need to add 8 output channels to our HLS sequence. Each RGB channel will control 3 outputs- 1 red, 1 green, and 1 blue.  
To add RGB channels, first, open the Channel Manager (Manage Channels -> Manage Raw Channels).
*Add the number of RGB channels that you will need.
*'''Note:''' Add the number of RGB "whole" channels you need, not the individual channel numbers. HLS will recognize that RGB channels contain 3 real channels automatically. So, if you have 50 pixels, add 50 channels, NOT 150 channels.
*Select the channels that will be RGB by clicking and highlighting them.
*Click the ''Set Selection RGB Flags'' to convert the channels to RGB. (See Figure 3-24)
*Assign the channels to a universe that is greater than zero.
*Click ''Renumber All Channels for Output'' to reconfigure the channel usage (i.e., 3 channels per RGB channel).
*If your channels have a GRB order, click the ''Set Channel RGB GRB Type'' button.
<br clear=all>


In Figure 1-92, 8 was entered for the number of channels. The universe was changed to 1 and channel numbering was set to begin at 1.
====Converting 3 Red, Green, and Blue Channels to one RGB Channel====
----
Figure 1-93.<br />
[[File:Figure1-93.png]]


Even when you don't have actual RGB strings, but are using "Mega Strings", or, strings composed of multiple strands of lights, you can make use of the RGB Channel abilities in HLS to reduce your channel count. For example, a tree with red, green, and blue strands of lights could be classified as ONE RGB channel rather than three individual channels.


Another example when this may come in handy is when you have imported a sequence from Vixen or LOR which contains three separate RGB channels that you now want to combine into one. 


Next the '''Add''' button was clicked at the top of HLS and the screen shown in Figure 1-94 appeared. Note that the channels were added. Note the column labeled RGB. In HLS an RGB channel will use 3 outputs. So if we make channel 1 an RGB channel it will use outputs 1, 2, and 3.
[[File:HLS_ChannelManager_RGBas3Channels_11V.png|350px|thumb|Figure 3-25]]
'''To convert three R, G, B channels into one:'''
Figure 1-94.<br />
*Open the Channel Manager (Manage Channels -> Manage Raw Channels)
[[File:Figure1-94.png]]
*Verify that the three channels you wish to convert are setup properly. (See Figure 3-25)
<br clear=all>


[[File:HLS_AutoConvertRGB_11V.png|350px|thumb|Figure 3-26]]
*Open the Converter for RGB (Click Manage Channels -> Auto Convert Channels to RGB. (See Figure 3-26)
*Locate the three channels you wish to convert.
*To move channels, Left-Click in the channel list, then Left-Click in the RGB section you want to move the channel.  It will become "grayed out" when it has been moved and cannot be selected.
<br clear=all>


[[File:HLS_AutoConvertRGB2_11V.png|350px|thumb|Figure 3-27]]
*Place the Red Channel in Red, Green Channel in Green, and Blue Channel in Blue. (See Figure 3-27)
*Click into the RGB column to name your newly created RGB Channel.
*'''Note:''' If you make a mistake, right-click the channel to move it back to the Channel list.
*Once all channels have been converted, click ''OK''.
<br clear=all>


We need 8 RGB channels (8*3=24 outputs). Figure 1-95 shows that the RGB box was checked for the 8 outputs. Note that the channels that are visible on the screen are still named as output channels 1-8. Note also that the names of the channels were not changed for this example they are still 1CH1 through 1CH8.
[[File:HLS_AutoConvertRGBConfirmation_11V.png|350px|thumb|Figure 3-28]]
*A dialog will open with information about how many channels have been converted. (See Figure 3-28)
Figure 1-95.<br />
*HLS will then shutdown to update channel configuration.
[[File:Figure1-95.png]]
<br clear=all>


[[File:HLS_ChannelManager_RGBas1_11V.png|350px|thumb|Figure 3-29]]
*Open HLS and open the Channel Manager to see the newly converted channel(s). (See Figure 3-29)
<br clear=all><br />


'''To Make the RGB Conversion Automatic:'''
*When you import multiple sequences from another program which have the same channel setup, you can automate the conversion process of R, G, B into one RGB.
*Open the first sequence and follow the conversion steps above.
*Once the conversion is complete, click ''Save Conversion Profile''.
*Type a name for your saved Conversion Profile and click ''Save.''
*Click OK.
*Open the next sequence to convert.
*Click ''Load Conversion Profile''
*Select the file to load and click ''Open''.
*Once conversion is complete, click ''OK''.
<br />


====Using RGB Channels to Reduce Multi-Color Channels by 2/3====
----


Click on the button labeled '''ReNumber All Channels for Output''' button and the screen shown in Figure 1-96 will show that the RGB channels were renumbered to take into account that each RGB channel controls 3 outputs. Note in Figure 1-83 that the first RGB output is now 1 (1, 2, and 3) and the second RGB output begins at 4 (4, 5, and 6). The last of our 8 RGB outputs begin at output 22 (22, 23, and 24).  
Red, Green, and Blue "mega strings" aren't the only grouped strings that can benefit from the RGB single channel conversion. If your colors are different from those, you can still use the RGB channel to reduce channel count by 2/3.  As an example, imagine a Mega tree with 16 strings of red, white, and blue lights (48 strings total). If those mega strings were converted to single RGB channels, the channel count would go from 48 to 16.   
   
Figure 1-96.<br />
[[File:Figure1-96.png]]


*Follow the conversion steps above to convert the multiple channels into RGB channels.  Except this time, Red goes to red, WHITE goes to green, and Blue goes to blue.
*When programming, use red effects for the red lights, blue effects for blue lights, and GREEN effects to control the white lights.
*If you program white in the RGB channel, then all three colors (red, white, and blue) would be on.
*Think of the RGB string as three channel control rather than only red, green, and blue control.
<br />
<noinclude>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3"| [[HLS User Manual and Reference Guide]]
|-
! align="center"|Previous Page
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! align="center"|Next Page
|-
| align="center" | [[Advanced Channel Management]]
| align="center" | [[HLS User Manual and Reference Guide#Channel_Management | Chapter 3: Channel Management]]
| align="center" | [[Configuring Display Groups]]
|}
<br /><br />


 
[[Category:HLS User Manual]]
Next we will save our changes and create a group for the RGB arch. Form the '''Channel Manager''' tab the '''Select Channels and Assign to Group''' was selected (see Figure 1-97). The 8 RGB channels were selected and the '''Check''' button was clicked to put checks in the work box next to each channel in the group.
[[Category:HLS]]
<noinclude>
Figure 1-97.<br />
[[File:Figure1-97.png]]
 
 
 
Next a name was entered for the group RGB_ARCH_1 (see Figure 1-98) and the '''Save Changes''' button was clicked.
Figure 1-98.<br />
[[File:Figure1-98.png]]
 
 
 
Next the '''Manage Channels''' tab was chosen and Select Group to Work on was selected (se Figure 1-99). '''RGB_ARCH_1''' Was selected and the '''OK''' button was clicked.
Figure 1-99.<br />
[[File:Figure1-99.png]]
 
 
 
Figure 1-100 shows the normal sequence programing screen. Note that the channels are labeled RGB-1CH1 through RGB-1CH8. Also note that each RGB channel now controls 3 outputs. So channel 1 is actually three outputs (output 1-red, output 2-green, and output 3-blue). Here is the fun part. If red is chosen for the color of the 8 RGB outputs and a chase effect is programmed, only the red outputs will do the chase. If I choose blue, only the blue will do the chase effect, and likewise for green. If white is chosen for the color- all of the outputs (red, green, and blue) will do the chase. If a different color is chosen the RGB will control each of the 3 channels at different levels to create the effect in that color. The default color for RGB is white.
Figure 1-100.<br />
[[File:Figure1-100.png]]
 
 
 
Two chase effects were created in Figure 1-101. The first one was done with the default RGB color of white. This would make all red, green, and blue lights turn on and chase on the arch. Then the programmer right clicked on the white effect for each channel individually and selected the Change RGB Color button and chose red. The programmer then created the second chase. The second one would just use the red channel for the chase effect.  Note that if a different color than white, red, green, or blue is chosen, HLS will vary the output level of the red, green and blue to produce that color.
'''NOTE: you must change the RGB color for the effect before you create the next effect. In the example in Figure 1-100 the white chase was created and then the RGB color was changed to red before creating the second red chase effect.'''
Figure 1-101.<br />
[[File:Figure1-101.png]]
 
 
 
RGB can also be used to program non-RGB lights to reduce the number of channels by 2/3. For example, imagine a Mega tree with 16 strings red, white and blue lights (48 strings total). Each RGB channel could represent 3 outputs, red, white, and blue. When programming, if red is chosen for the effect the red lights would be on. When green is chosen for the effect the white string would be on, when Blue is chosen blue would be on. If white is chosen for the effect color, all three would be on.

Latest revision as of 01:01, 24 March 2013


Introduction to RGB

RGB lighting, both dumb and smart pixels, have added a large amount of complexity and channel counts in displays. HLS is very advanced in handling RGB channels. This section of the wiki will discuss setting up channels, converting multiple channels into one, and how to use the RGB features for other display items.

Adding RGB Channels

Figure 3-24

To add RGB channels, first, open the Channel Manager (Manage Channels -> Manage Raw Channels).

  • Add the number of RGB channels that you will need.
  • Note: Add the number of RGB "whole" channels you need, not the individual channel numbers. HLS will recognize that RGB channels contain 3 real channels automatically. So, if you have 50 pixels, add 50 channels, NOT 150 channels.
  • Select the channels that will be RGB by clicking and highlighting them.
  • Click the Set Selection RGB Flags to convert the channels to RGB. (See Figure 3-24)
  • Assign the channels to a universe that is greater than zero.
  • Click Renumber All Channels for Output to reconfigure the channel usage (i.e., 3 channels per RGB channel).
  • If your channels have a GRB order, click the Set Channel RGB GRB Type button.


Converting 3 Red, Green, and Blue Channels to one RGB Channel

Even when you don't have actual RGB strings, but are using "Mega Strings", or, strings composed of multiple strands of lights, you can make use of the RGB Channel abilities in HLS to reduce your channel count. For example, a tree with red, green, and blue strands of lights could be classified as ONE RGB channel rather than three individual channels.

Another example when this may come in handy is when you have imported a sequence from Vixen or LOR which contains three separate RGB channels that you now want to combine into one.

Figure 3-25

To convert three R, G, B channels into one:

  • Open the Channel Manager (Manage Channels -> Manage Raw Channels)
  • Verify that the three channels you wish to convert are setup properly. (See Figure 3-25)


Figure 3-26
  • Open the Converter for RGB (Click Manage Channels -> Auto Convert Channels to RGB. (See Figure 3-26)
  • Locate the three channels you wish to convert.
  • To move channels, Left-Click in the channel list, then Left-Click in the RGB section you want to move the channel. It will become "grayed out" when it has been moved and cannot be selected.


Figure 3-27
  • Place the Red Channel in Red, Green Channel in Green, and Blue Channel in Blue. (See Figure 3-27)
  • Click into the RGB column to name your newly created RGB Channel.
  • Note: If you make a mistake, right-click the channel to move it back to the Channel list.
  • Once all channels have been converted, click OK.


Figure 3-28
  • A dialog will open with information about how many channels have been converted. (See Figure 3-28)
  • HLS will then shutdown to update channel configuration.


Figure 3-29
  • Open HLS and open the Channel Manager to see the newly converted channel(s). (See Figure 3-29)



To Make the RGB Conversion Automatic:

  • When you import multiple sequences from another program which have the same channel setup, you can automate the conversion process of R, G, B into one RGB.
  • Open the first sequence and follow the conversion steps above.
  • Once the conversion is complete, click Save Conversion Profile.
  • Type a name for your saved Conversion Profile and click Save.
  • Click OK.
  • Open the next sequence to convert.
  • Click Load Conversion Profile
  • Select the file to load and click Open.
  • Once conversion is complete, click OK.


Using RGB Channels to Reduce Multi-Color Channels by 2/3

Red, Green, and Blue "mega strings" aren't the only grouped strings that can benefit from the RGB single channel conversion. If your colors are different from those, you can still use the RGB channel to reduce channel count by 2/3. As an example, imagine a Mega tree with 16 strings of red, white, and blue lights (48 strings total). If those mega strings were converted to single RGB channels, the channel count would go from 48 to 16.

  • Follow the conversion steps above to convert the multiple channels into RGB channels. Except this time, Red goes to red, WHITE goes to green, and Blue goes to blue.
  • When programming, use red effects for the red lights, blue effects for blue lights, and GREEN effects to control the white lights.
  • If you program white in the RGB channel, then all three colors (red, white, and blue) would be on.
  • Think of the RGB string as three channel control rather than only red, green, and blue control.


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