Pharos ControlsPharos ControlsPharos ControlsPharos Controls
  • Why Pharos?
    • What is Pharos?
    • Applications
      • Bridges & Structures
      • Water Features
      • Landscapes
      • Urban Spaces
      • Cityscapes
      • Facades
      • Heritage Architecture
      • Video Mapped Buildings
      • Themed Attractions
      • Museums & Exhibitions
      • Art Installations
      • Son et lumière
      • Venues
      • Stadiums & Sports
      • Retail
      • Hospitality
      • Residential
      • Healthcare
      • Places of Worship
    • Features
      • Intelligent Programming
      • Extensive Fixture Support
      • Powerful Pixel Mapping
      • Sophisticated Triggering
      • Remote Management
      • Easy Integration
      • Endless Scalability
      • Intuitive Software
      • Extreme Reliability
  • Products
    • Controllers
      • LPC Family
        • LPC (Lighting Playback Controller)
        • LPC X
        • TPC (Touch Panel Controller)
        • TPC + EXT
      • VLC Family
        • VLC (Video Lighting Controller)
        • VLC+
      • Which controller do I need?
    • Software
      • Designer 2
      • Director
    • Pharos Cloud
    • Wall Stations
      • BPS
      • TPC (Touch Panel Controller)
      • TPS
    • Remote Devices
      • EDN
      • BPS
      • RIO
      • RIO A (AUDIO)
      • RIO D (DALI)
    • Accessories
      • SDI
      • CVD / CCD
      • EXT
      • POE
      • RDM
  • Showcase
  • Downloads
    • Software
      • Designer 2
      • Director
      • Migrating to Designer 2
      • Software Archive
      • Legacy Designer 1
    • Brochures
    • Documentation
      • Datasheets & Specifications
      • Manuals
      • Application Notes
      • Wiring Diagrams
      • Document Archive
    • Resources
      • Custom Presets
      • Custom Web Interfaces
      • Drafting Aids
      • IO Modules
      • Project Files
      • Script Examples
      • Timeline Presets
      • TPC Interface Themes
      • Web Interface Themes
  • Support
    • Online Help
    • Video Tutorials
      • Online Training
      • Designer 2 Tutorials
      • Webinars
      • Pharos Cloud Tutorials
      • Introduction to Scripting
      • Large Projects
    • Tips & Tricks
      • Designer 2 Quick Tips Videos
    • Troubleshooting & FAQ
    • Training
    • Contact Support
  • About Us
    • News
    • Upcoming Trade Shows
    • Careers
    • Stay in Touch
    • Contact Us

New in Designer 2.8 – VLC enhancements

    Home Tips & Tricks New in Designer 2.8 – VLC enhancements

    New in Designer 2.8 – VLC enhancements

    14 December, 2020

    With our continuous development of Designer software, we have upgraded a few of the capabilities of the VLC family Controllers.

    From 2.8.0, the following changes/additions have been made:

    • White space management; allowing a content target multiplier to scale content on arrays where there is a lot of physical space between pixels
    • Support for 60Hz
    • Improvements to 16-bit support to ensure full resolution available at low intensity master values
    • Finer precision on fixture rotation

    This post will cover these in more detail, as well as show you how to use them.

     

    White Space Management

    With the popularity of the VLC in larger facades and outdoor lighting spaces, we have had requests for us to be able to stretch a Content Target to a larger size than 1920 x 1080 for cases where they have fixtures laid out to a 1 to 1 scale, therefore leaving plenty of white space around them.

    To use this feature, there will be a new dropdown in the Mapping view, within the Content Target Properties panel:

    Content Target Properties

    Within the Transform section, you will notice the new tool; Multiplier. In the above example, we have set this to 2, which would mean we can create a content target up to 3840 x 2160. The multiplier can be set to a value of 1, 2 or 4.

    However, please note that the width and height will remain limited to 1920 x 1080, as that is what we render the content at, but the visual size of the content target will act as width * multiplier x height * multiplier.

     

    Finer Rotation Precision

    Within Pharos Designer, we can now support a rotation of 0.01 degrees, allowing for a much smoother rotation on larger Content Targets.

    This applies both to setting the rotation in the Mapping view, as well as with the Transition Target action.

    This can be seen in the screenshot in the White Space Management section, as well as below:

     

    Support for 60Hz Playback

    60Hz playback allows Pharos Controllers to process cycles at an even faster refresh rate than previously offered, enabling Triggering to respond at a more granular level, and Lighting Playback to support video that has been created at higher fps. This allows the controllers to match a 60fps video, group presets and, on the VLC family units, output Matrix effects at a higher refresh rate for improved visuals.

    Although this is available on all Pharos Controllers, it is expected to be more often used by installations requiring the larger controllers (LPC X, VLC, VLC+) that also have more processing overhead available. Please be aware that fully loaded smaller units may miss cycles due to the increased workload.

    The 60Hz refresh rate is optimised for outputting to the various eDMX protocols supported. When it comes to local or physical DMX ports (on the LPCs, EXT and EDNs) please note that only the first 340 channels of a universe can output at this higher frequency, based on the baud rate of the DMX specification. Please be aware the limit may also exist on third party nodes that receive and convert controller eDMX data too.

     

    Improvements to 16bit Support

    We have now implemented 16bit support for the VLC and VLC+, allowing fixtures to correctly use the full palette available to them as they transition from one colour to the next.

    Please note, this still only applies to crossfades between any two given colours; support for setting a colour in 16bit not yet supported.

     

    Designer 2, VLC

    Related Post

    • Feel Absorbed, Included and Enabled

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      In this Tips and Tricks, we’re going to look over the Triggers view to cover the generic properties that all Triggers share. Firstly, select or create a new Trigger, as shown below.   Each triggerRead more

    • Don’t miss a beat with Timeline Audio

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      Many jobs require lights to be active at the same time as an announcement or music. When your project is completed, and everything is all hooked up to Timecode, you want to make sure thatRead more

    • Real Time and Astronomical Timelines

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      Lighting design is often inextricably tied to daylight, twilight and dark. Whether it is an outdoor structure illuminated with ambient light in mind, or an interior space attempting to replicate circadian rhythm; planning and playingRead more

    • Keeping your colour controls in sync

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      Setting an override colour via a touch screen is a relatively simple task in Pharos Designer. You pick your colour on the colour wheel and use the Set RGB action to set your lights toRead more

    • Alternate Selection Methods

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      Designer has a number of alternative fixture selection methods on the layout plan view to allow for easier selection, as well as altering the current selection.   To see the selection method options, right-click in the space on the plan view (not a fixture) and you will see the followingRead more

    Pharos Architectural Controls Limited
    International House
    7 High Street
    Ealing Broadway
    London W5 5DB
    United Kingdom

    +44 (0)20 7471 9449

    sales@pharoscontrols.com

    Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2004 - 2022 | Cookies | Privacy Policy | Company registered in England and Wales no. 05286891
    • Why Pharos?
      • What is Pharos?
      • Applications
        • Bridges & Structures
        • Water Features
        • Landscapes
        • Urban Spaces
        • Cityscapes
        • Facades
        • Heritage Architecture
        • Video Mapped Buildings
        • Themed Attractions
        • Museums & Exhibitions
        • Art Installations
        • Son et lumière
        • Venues
        • Stadiums & Sports
        • Retail
        • Hospitality
        • Residential
        • Healthcare
        • Places of Worship
      • Features
        • Intelligent Programming
        • Extensive Fixture Support
        • Powerful Pixel Mapping
        • Sophisticated Triggering
        • Remote Management
        • Easy Integration
        • Endless Scalability
        • Intuitive Software
        • Extreme Reliability
    • Products
      • Controllers
        • LPC Family
          • LPC (Lighting Playback Controller)
          • LPC X
          • TPC (Touch Panel Controller)
          • TPC + EXT
        • VLC Family
          • VLC (Video Lighting Controller)
          • VLC+
        • Which controller do I need?
      • Software
        • Designer 2
        • Director
      • Pharos Cloud
      • Wall Stations
        • BPS
        • TPC (Touch Panel Controller)
        • TPS
      • Remote Devices
        • EDN
        • BPS
        • RIO
        • RIO A (AUDIO)
        • RIO D (DALI)
      • Accessories
        • SDI
        • CVD / CCD
        • EXT
        • POE
        • RDM
    • Showcase
    • Downloads
      • Software
        • Designer 2
        • Director
        • Migrating to Designer 2
        • Software Archive
        • Legacy Designer 1
      • Brochures
      • Documentation
        • Datasheets & Specifications
        • Manuals
        • Application Notes
        • Wiring Diagrams
        • Document Archive
      • Resources
        • Custom Presets
        • Custom Web Interfaces
        • Drafting Aids
        • IO Modules
        • Project Files
        • Script Examples
        • Timeline Presets
        • TPC Interface Themes
        • Web Interface Themes
    • Support
      • Online Help
      • Video Tutorials
        • Online Training
        • Designer 2 Tutorials
        • Webinars
        • Pharos Cloud Tutorials
        • Introduction to Scripting
        • Large Projects
      • Tips & Tricks
        • Designer 2 Quick Tips Videos
      • Troubleshooting & FAQ
      • Training
      • Contact Support
    • About Us
      • News
      • Upcoming Trade Shows
      • Careers
      • Stay in Touch
      • Contact Us
    Pharos Controls