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

Utilising layout keyboard shortcuts

    Home Tips & Tricks Utilising layout keyboard shortcuts

    Utilising layout keyboard shortcuts

    21 October, 2019

    When working with fixtures in the layout, there are many keyboard modifiers that have been added to make your life easier.

    Here’s just a few of our favourites. For the full list, take a look in Help.

    For starters, a useful tool to re-centre the whole layout and zoom-to-fit the entire layout is activated by pressing CTRL/CMD + F. This is useful as a quick way to reset your view. This can then be combined easily with clicking the middle-mouse button and dragging an area. Designer will then zoom into that area.

     

    Another useful keyboard shortcut is the TAB key. This will  move the selection to the next numbered fixture; this is useful to show you the order in which objects are created and laid out, which if done in the same order as the fixtures are patched, can make patching easier.

     

    Also, if you need to make small position adjustments to individual, consecutive fixtures, it is very quick and ergonomic to nudge a series of fixtures with a combination of TAB and the arrow keys. Set the grid spacing to a useful nudge length (or use SHIFT with the cursors for a 1 pixel adjustment, see below). And don’t forget, SHIFT + TAB will select the previous fixture!

     

    When placing fixtures, we, by default, snap to a grid. This allows our users to create an easier to layout view, ensuring fixtures that are in straight lines can be shown as such, and helps to generate correct pixel matrices. However, there are times when some fixtures don’t need to abide by that rule – say if they are in an irregular or circular shape.

    Instead of having to go into the Layout settings, turn off snap to grid, add your fixtures, then turn back on snap to grid, the user can hold down SHIFT while placing the fixture. This will allow it to bypass the Snap to Grid rule, and can be placed freely.

    This same functionality applies to nudging with the arrow keys; pressing the arrow keys will move the fixture by 1 grid space (if Snap to Grid is enabled), but holding SHIFT, then pressing the arrow keys, will move the fixture by 1 pixel.

    Designer 2, LPC, LPC X, 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