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    rochem
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How is Scroller Data Recorded?

So I've been wondering about this for a while now, and I've never really had a chance to experiment when I have scrollers in the rig to figure this out. What data exactly is recorded when dealing with scrollers? If I set a scroller to [Color] [13] and record a cue, is it recording Frame 5 of whatever size scroll you have, that specific color, or just the DMX value for that particular frame on that particular scroll? What if I set it using [Color] [3] / [161] (gel picker)? What's recorded then? If I for some reason get new scrolls, will the console recognize this and still go to frame 13, or still go to L161 regardless of frame, or something else?

What about calibration? If I record a couple cues, then realize my calibration is off, will recalibrating after the fact update the raw values in all those cues I've already recorded? Same question for Palettes. I tend to group my Color Palettes by color, so my L161 frame will be CP-161 regardless of whether that's frame 3 or frame 20, then I also have scroll-specific CPs at some higher number. If I go through and create all these references, then go back and calibrate each scroller, will it update? Or is it better for me to just ignore calibration and "calibrate" each scroll directly into my color palettes? On that note, do most people use CPs for scroll frames, or do you just find it easier to record the "F 5 L161" value (from [Color] [5]) directly into cues?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just curious. Thanks in advance!!

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  • While I don't know about the precise way in which scroller data is stored (that's a computer coding issue, not a light programmer issue!), I might be able to shed some light (pun intended) on your query.

     

    1) I find the best way to calibrate scrollers is to cut the gel for the scrolls accurately - read the scroller manufacturer's manual to find out the recommended widths of gel to cut. This saves a lot of time at the desk adjusting for uneven widths of gel. The reason for this is that most scrollers calibrate themselves - by having widths for each frame plus an extra width for the leader and trailer.

    Have a look at a scroller during its power-on cycle when it moves to one end of the scroll and then moves to the other: it is calculating where each frame is according to the total length of the scroll (integrating a bit for the leader and trailer). Note that if you 'fade' a scroller from 0% to 100% in DMX values, it will not reach the absolute ends of the scroll.

    2) Once your scroller has calibrated itself, you must tell your desk how many frames the scroller has. The desk will then use a proportionate value for the relevant frame.

     

     

    As to the use of colour palettes - I use whatever will give me the quicker programming method, which is usually by way of integrating colour scrolls so that I have physical groups of scrolls. For example, house-left scrolls will have each frame the same gel; house-right similarly... etc.

    If the first frame of every scroller was clear, then you could set that as the home value... or if each scroller had L201 in the scroll, then set that as a CP.

     

     

    The real answer, however, is "it depends on the design and how you want to program it". There are very many variables!

     

     

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  • While I don't know about the precise way in which scroller data is stored (that's a computer coding issue, not a light programmer issue!), I might be able to shed some light (pun intended) on your query.

     

    1) I find the best way to calibrate scrollers is to cut the gel for the scrolls accurately - read the scroller manufacturer's manual to find out the recommended widths of gel to cut. This saves a lot of time at the desk adjusting for uneven widths of gel. The reason for this is that most scrollers calibrate themselves - by having widths for each frame plus an extra width for the leader and trailer.

    Have a look at a scroller during its power-on cycle when it moves to one end of the scroll and then moves to the other: it is calculating where each frame is according to the total length of the scroll (integrating a bit for the leader and trailer). Note that if you 'fade' a scroller from 0% to 100% in DMX values, it will not reach the absolute ends of the scroll.

    2) Once your scroller has calibrated itself, you must tell your desk how many frames the scroller has. The desk will then use a proportionate value for the relevant frame.

     

     

    As to the use of colour palettes - I use whatever will give me the quicker programming method, which is usually by way of integrating colour scrolls so that I have physical groups of scrolls. For example, house-left scrolls will have each frame the same gel; house-right similarly... etc.

    If the first frame of every scroller was clear, then you could set that as the home value... or if each scroller had L201 in the scroll, then set that as a CP.

     

     

    The real answer, however, is "it depends on the design and how you want to program it". There are very many variables!

     

     

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