Pixel Matrix Editor
Keyboard Shortcuts
The window comprises 3 sections: On the left is the Browser, in the middle the Pixel Matrix editing area, and on the right are the Presets panes.
The Presets pane can be hidden with the Tool Toggle button
Pixel Matrices
You may create as many Matrices as you like and any fixture can be used as a “pixel” in any Matrix but clearly those that can colour mix are the sensible choice, RGB LEDs being by far the best due to their large colour gamut and fast response. That being said, the software will render coloured media as grey scale on intensity only fixtures.
To create Pixel Matrices automatically from the Layout (recommended):
- Go to Layout
- Select the fixtures you want to include in the Matrix
- Press the New Pixel Matrix button on the Browser toolbar, the software will automatically create a Matrix with the fixtures correctly positioned and the Render Window cropped to best fit
- Name the Pixel Matrix
To create a Pixel Matrix manually:
- Press New on the toolbar, a default 50x50 Render Window (the pale grey area) will be created
- Populate the Render Window by dragging on fixtures from the Browser
- Adjust the size of the Render Window by using the Width & Height fields on the toolbar or the Crop button (see below) to best fit
- Name the Pixel Matrix using either the Properties window or right-clicking > Rename in the Browser
Typically you will place fixtures to mimic as closely as possible their actual layout, the software will compensate for gaps and irregularities in a matrix so that media will be rendered correctly. Fixtures that have been rotated on the Layout during Setup will be placed on the Matrix using this rotation although this is only relevant to compound fixtures. Such fixtures can be rotated separately for each Matrix by dragging them around when the cursor indicates rotate mode, note that the first element of a compound fixture is displayed a darker grey for easy orientation.
To remove a fixture from a Matrix:
Right-click on the fixture on the Layout and select Remove Fixture.
To break a composite fixture apart into individual pixels
Right-click on the fixture on the Layout and select Break Fixture.
Pixel Information
To find out information about a pixel, hover over the pixel, and a tooltip will appear showing the name, position and angle for all pixels at the current position.
Cross-Hatch pattern
Pixels which are potentially incorrectly positioned to either not receive any colour information (outside Render Window) or the same colour information as another pixel (overlapping fixtures) will be identified by a cross-hatching pattern:
Crop size to contents
Use the Crop size to contents button in the Matrix Properties dialog to trim the Render Window to fit the extents of the fixture array.
Manual sizing of the Render Window is provided by typing in appropriate Width and Height size values and it is perfectly allowable to undersize the Render Window to achieve effects such as picture-in-picture or oversize it to concentrate on a particular area of the imported media.
Import pixel matrix
You can use the Import button to import pixel layout from a CAD application via a CSV file, see Import Object.