Creating DMX screens
Working with DmxScreens is the easiest way to get DMX output with Designer. They behave like regular screens, but each pixel’s colour and/or brightness information is sent out directly via DMX. Designer has no understanding of what kind of fixture is accepting this DMX stream; it sees them only as pixels.
DmxScreens are suitable for LED fixtures that accept RGB or luminance only signals and have no extra control channels.
DmxScreens are not suitable for fixtures that have complex personalities including on/off commands, moving heads, CMY colour mixing lamps, etc. For these kinds of fixtures you should create a DmxLights, which allows more complex fixtures to be modeled. For more information please see the following sub-chapter DmxLights.
Creating a DmxScreen
The DmxScreen is added in the same way as any other screen type. Please see the sub-chapter Creating/removing screens for step-by-step instructions on how to add a screen to a stage, and select DmxScreen from the menu of different screen types.
DmxScreen properties
The DmxScreen properties are similar to the Screen properties, but with an extra tab called addressing which controls the way each pixels channel number is assigned. Therefore all of the DmxScreen properties not related to addressing can be read in the sub-chapter Editing screens.
DmxScreen has the same properties as a Screen but with an extra tab called Addressing (explained below)
Channel
The start channel number of the first pixel to be assigned. You can fill in numbers ranging from 1 to 512.
Universe
The start universe number of the first pixel to be assigned. Valid universe numbers start from 1.
Status
This is either mute (not sending DMX ) or active (sending DMX ). Because it may be dangerous to send DMX for an incorrectly addressed screen, the default status is mute. When the screen is addressed correctly, set this to active.
Fixture type
This specifies the fixture type. Options are rgb, monochrome (which computes a weighted sum from red, green and blue), monochrome max (which computes a single luminance from the maximum of red, green and blue) or rgbw.
Neutral white
This enables the user to color correct the pixels using a paletter or precise RGB value.
Array
Starting from the origin (see below), the assignment algorithm steps horizontally or vertically, increasing the channel number as it goes. This property controls whether the step is horizontal or vertical .
Origin
This controls the starting point for channel assignment. If set to top left , the top left pixel is the first to have its channel assigned; if set to top right , the top right pixel is the first to be assigned; and so on.
Universe step
For large screens, the total number of channels in the screen may exceed 512, the maximum number of channels in a universe. When this happens, the channel assignment algorithm will jump up a universe and resume assignment. If this universe step happens within a row or column, this may prove inconvenient for physical wiring as two cables will have to be run to the row or column. For this reason, Disguise allows a row/column option which ensures that the universe number will not step halfway through a row or column.
Universe size
By default, a universe is assumed to be 512 pixels. If you want, you can set the size to something smaller. This allows a portion of the universe to be used for other fixtures or control channels, if required.
Always show channels
When set to yes, superimposes the universe and channel number for each pixel over the pixel in the Stage Visualiser. Left-clicking a channel number allows you to edit it using the mouse wheel. Note that changing the colour, array, origin or universe step properties will reassign the channel numbers.