RGB Channels

Introduction to RGB

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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

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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

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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

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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.

HLS User Manual and Reference Guide
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