Image Console

The Image Console is a control device much like the existing Mini Console, only specifically for controlling LED elements.

It acts like a lighting console, media, or video server, enabling you to control color, intensity, and the image display of all patched LED surfaces that you have created with the LED Wizard.

This console enables you to control and test color, intensity, and image mapping independently or simultaneously in LIVE mode.

Note: It is recommended that you configure the Image Console first and then use the LED Wizard to create the LED grid that will display the image.

If you are going to choose multi-patch for color, single patch for intensity and you are going to use the Image Console to display an image on the LED grid, then it is recommended that you note the last patch address for intensity that is displayed in the configured Image Console and type this same address for the Dynamic Intensity Control Patch in the LED Wizard.

In the following example of a configured Image Console, the last address for intensity is 193, so this is the value you would type in the LED Wizard for the Dynamic Intensity Control Patch. For details on using the LED Wizard, see LED Wizard.

To configure the Image Console

Note: After you configure the Image Console, you configure and patch a grid of light-emitting surfaces using the LED Wizard. For details, see To use the led wizard.

For optimum image viewing, the patch settings that you have defined for both intensity and color in the Image Console must match those that you define for the LED grid. For example, if you choose multi patch for both intensity and color in the Image Console, then you must also choose multi patch for both properties in the LED Wizard.

1. From the Start menu, choose WYSIWYG > Image Console.

Result: The Image Console appears.

2. Click Show multi-patch numbering if you have enabled multi-patch and want to see a graphical representation of the numbering of the surfaces in the grid, either along columns/rows or in a serpentine pattern.

Note: The graphic appears only after you have chosen an image and clicked Apply.

3. Complete the following fields on the Dimensions tab:

• Height: Type the number of rows that you are going to configure in the LED grid.
• Width: Type the number of columns that you are going to configure in the LED grid.

4. Click the Intensity tab and complete the following fields:

• Enable Dynamic Intensity: Select this checkbox to control the intensity of the light emitting surface in LIVE mode when connected to a console. Then choose the patch properties below.
• Intensity slider: Use the slider to select the maximum intensity value of the light-emitting surface when connected to a console and viewed in LIVE mode, with 255 representing the brightest possible intensity. This value enables you to control the scale of the intensity over a series of light-emitting surfaces. (When you disconnect from the console, the intensity is fixed at the static value.) Note that the DMX intensity value is treated as a percentage of the dynamic intensity value. For example, a DMX value of 127 results in 50% of the maximum intensity value that you set.
• Single Patch: Select this value to apply a single address that controls the intensity of the surface as a whole, and then choose whether you want to use the Default Single-Patch Address or specify the port and channel of the single patch address.
• Multi Patch: Select this value if you want to use different addresses for each individual element in the grid. With multiple addresses, you can make different parts of the grid have varying intensity levels.

5. Click the Color tab and complete the following fields:

• Enable Dynamic Color: Select this checkbox to control the color of the light-emitting surface in LIVE mode when connected to a console. Then choose the patch properties below.
• Single Patch: Select this value to apply a single address that controls the grid as a whole, and then choose the color properties. For example, if you choose red from the drop-down color-picker, every surface in the entire grid will be red. You could use this setting to create a string of holiday lights with the same color, and then control the intensity of the lights as one string to turn them all on or off simultaneously. Then choose the default single patch address or specify an address.
• Multi-Patch: Select this value if you have chosen different addresses for each individual element in the grid. When you choose multi patch, you can apply a graphic to the grid, with the colors in the graphic mapped to each of the grid’s surfaces.
• Image: Click the ellipsis button (...) to browse for the image that you want to map to the LED grid in your plot. You can choose from multiple graphic formats such as .gif, .jpg., or .bmp. For optimum results, the image size should be proportional to the grid size. For example, if your grid is 20 columns wide by 20 rows high, then your image should be perfectly square. If your grid is 30 columns wide by 20 rows high, then your image size should be in the ratio of 3 X 2 (for example 600 X 400 pixels).
• Mode: Choose how the image is mapped to the surfaces in the grid. The 1:1 option is ideal for images that have the exact same dimensions as the grid on a pixel per row/column mapping (for example, if your grid is 20 x 20, then the image should also be 20 x 20 pixels). Choose Stretch to have the image stretched over the surfaces of the grid. Note that based on the image size, there might be distortion. Choose Stretch Preserving Aspect Ratio to stretch the image over the grid and keep its original aspect ratio. Note that this option is only suitable when the grid shape and image shape are the same. For example, if the image is rectangular, but the grid is square, some of the surfaces in the grid will remain blank because the image will not stretch to cover them.

6. Click the Multi-Patch Numbering tab and complete the following fields:

• Start From: For multi-patch, choose where you want to start the numbering of the surfaces in your grid.
• Number Along: Select the direction of the numbering, either along the rows or columns of the grid.
• Alternate direction for each row/column: Select this checkbox to have the numbering progress in a serpentine pattern throughout the grid.

Note: Click Apply to see a preview of your numbering choice.

7. Click the Advanced tab and complete the following fields:

• Device Address: Type the address of the Image Console. This name must match the Image Console address configured in the Properties window of the Device Manager. For details on using the Device Manager to connect the Image Console, see To connect the Image Console.
• DMX Channels per Port: Type the number of DMX channels required per port. Leave the default value of 512 for DMX universes. If you are using a universe with a greater number of ports, type the number of channels in this box. If you are using a protocol that supports more than 512 channels per port, type the value here.

8. Click Apply.

Result: A preview of the grid appears in the left pane. To change the look of the grid, adjust any of the values, and then click Apply again.

9. To save your settings so you can open the Image Console and use the same properties at any time, click the Save icon, and then type a name for the console.

What’s next?

If you are going to choose multi-patch for color, single patch for intensity and you are going to use the Image Console to display an image on the LED grid, then it is recommended that you note the last patch address for intensity that is displayed in the configured Image Console and type this same address for the Dynamic Intensity Control Patch in the LED Wizard.

In the following example of a configured Image Console, the last address for intensity is 180, so this is the value you would type in the LED Wizard for the Dynamic Intensity Control Patch. For details on using the LED Wizard, see LED Wizard.

To control a patched grid of LEDs with the Image Console

There are three prerequisites to this procedure:

• First you must configure the Image Console.
• Second you must create and patch an LED grid. For details, see To use the led wizard.
• Lastly you must connect the Image Console. For details, see To connect the Image Console.

1. Click LIVE mode > Shaded tab and adjust the view so you can clearly see the grid that you have created.
2. From the Start menu, choose WYSIWYG > Image Console.
3. To open a configured and saved console, click File > Open, and then navigate to the .lxi file containing your saved console properties. If you have not yet configured your Image Console with the image you would like to display, perform the steps in the procedure To configure the Image Console.
4. When you are satisfied with your settings, click Apply. Note the appearance of the LED grid in the Shaded tab. Adjust the properties of the Image Console as desired, and then click Apply again.