Wanted: DL2 Programming tips

Here is what I learned from using 6 DL.2's in Colllage.

-Make group palletes for each layer on every fixture (all of the layer 1's of every fixutre, layer 2 of every fixture, etc..) as this is how you will bring up content on the collage array.
-When setting up all your custom content, if there is a lot of it, put it all onto one fixture, set the addresses for all the content, then make an archive of the DL.2 (right click on the fixture in the CMA and select "Create Archive"). Now deploy the archive to all of the other fixtures on the array. This way you don't have to set everything up on each fixture one at a time.
-When setting up the collage, I open up the DMX output window so I can see the raw values of the fixture because a you only see a percentage if your dialing it in on the wheel.
-Generally when I am programming Digital Lighting, I like to have a "home" pallete. To create it, I release all cue stacks so all the layers are at their default position. I then "touch" the layer and save the pallete using color and beam. That way, if I'm doing wacked out FX, movement (x, y, z), etc., I can get back to normal instead of trying to figure out everything I messed with.
- When doing a "slide show", I pre-load all the content onto the layers and fade each one up starting with the layer on the bottom. Once all the layers have been faded up, my next mark cue will change the content on layers 1 & 2. I now fade layer 3 out to reveal layer 2. Rinse... Repeat.. In revrse that is...
-Try to avoid doing too many things in one cue. For instance, in the same cue you fade in layer two over layer one, you put a delay on the content to change in layer one. It gets rather messy when you try to change the timing of the fades because now you have to change the delay times of only certain layers of all the fixtures. Sorry... does that make sense?

Anyway, have fun with that kind of array. Just for kicks, when I had my array set up, I created a piece of my own custom content with my name/logo on it so I could see it being projected that big (and snapped a photo of it too..)

hope that helps...

Here is what I learned from using 6 DL.2's in Colllage.

-Make group palletes for each layer on every fixture (all of the layer 1's of every fixutre, layer 2 of every fixture, etc..) as this is how you will bring up content on the collage array.
-When setting up all your custom content, if there is a lot of it, put it all onto one fixture, set the addresses for all the content, then make an archive of the DL.2 (right click on the fixture in the CMA and select "Create Archive"). Now deploy the archive to all of the other fixtures on the array. This way you don't have to set everything up on each fixture one at a time.
-When setting up the collage, I open up the DMX output window so I can see the raw values of the fixture because a you only see a percentage if your dialing it in on the wheel.
-Generally when I am programming Digital Lighting, I like to have a "home" pallete. To create it, I release all cue stacks so all the layers are at their default position. I then "touch" the layer and save the pallete using color and beam. That way, if I'm doing wacked out FX, movement (x, y, z), etc., I can get back to normal instead of trying to figure out everything I messed with.
- When doing a "slide show", I pre-load all the content onto the layers and fade each one up starting with the layer on the bottom. Once all the layers have been faded up, my next mark cue will change the content on layers 1 & 2. I now fade layer 3 out to reveal layer 2. Rinse... Repeat.. In revrse that is...
-Try to avoid doing too many things in one cue. For instance, in the same cue you fade in layer two over layer one, you put a delay on the content to change in layer one. It gets rather messy when you try to change the timing of the fades because now you have to change the delay times of only certain layers of all the fixtures. Sorry... does that make sense?

Anyway, have fun with that kind of array. Just for kicks, when I had my array set up, I created a piece of my own custom content with my name/logo on it so I could see it being projected that big (and snapped a photo of it too..)

hope that helps...