Scanner positioning and fanning

[bluestarprod]

Hi all, my first post and I'm still trying to get to grips with it. But I have a few questions. Firstly could anyone let me know how I can set a default position for all my scanners? I have them lined up and I want to really set the centre position to a default value as at the moment when I set them all straight and centred they're all over the place!

Also I've checked over the fanning description on the site but I'm note sure I understand how to set the fixtures up for this? When I select a fixture (scanner 1) to set the fan the scanner doesn't move?

Scanners are the 100w Acme Dynamos

Sorry for the really noob question!

Hope someone can help.

Rich

[wardomon]

I'm pretty sure that you have to go into "Fixture Creator" to set the default values. Load your fixture, go to the Channel Description tab, set the locate and default values where you want them. Save the fixture.

Fan requires more than one fixture. It distributes the lights in a fan pattern according to the positive and negative %'s setting. Select all of your moving fixtures, center all of them, set positive and negative first and last amounts, press set fan. It should do something. I'll leave you to work out the rest of it.

[GaryBonaducci]

Hi Rich, welcome to the board!

...I have them lined up and I want to really set the centre position to a default value as at the moment when I set them all straight and centred they're all over the place!

You're talking about physically aligning an array of scanners, correct? You can compensate for a scanner's physical misalignment by entering correction values in setup.

Navigate: Setup > FreeStyler Setup > Preferences > Correction

Not only can you correct for physical misalignment in this window, but you can also use it to put a permanent fan to a row of scanners.

Also I've checked over the fanning description on the site but I'm note sure I understand how to set the fixtures up for this? When I select a fixture (scanner 1) to set the fan the scanner doesn't move?

If you're trying to do this using the Pan/Tilt fanning control, as Wardomon says, you need to select more than one scanner for it to have any effect. It calculates fanning positions using a mathematical average that's based upon how many devices are actively selected. Also, the fanning set by this control is "temporary" and only affects the sequence you're trying to build. If you want to set a "permanent" fan to a row of scanners, use the method above.

BTW, please complete your profile as best as you can. Thanks.

[bluestarprod]

Thanks Wardomon/Gary, I think, Gary you've hit the nail on the head... I couldn't find an individual correction as much as I looked! I'll check this one out tonight and see how I get on.

I did select all Scanners to try the fanning - but will give this another try tonight as well. As well as the permanent fan on the setup.

Thanks again
Rich

[wardomon]

How'd it work for you? I don't correct the fixtures. I set the default locate positions at 127-127 in fixture creator. Centering the lights in the sequence creator creates parallel beams and gives me a known point of reference. Aligning the lights to parallel when hanging them is easier than judging the uniformity of a fan. I just build fanning into the sequences where needed.

My fixture submasters have one page for positions and one for moves. I have at least 3 others set up with specials and one shot effects. I could use twice as many slots per submaster and still have spill over to other pages.

It's all in what works best for you. It's your light show, after all.

[GaryBonaducci]

I guess deciding to put a built-in fan using the correction values depends on a few things about your scanners and the way you've got them mounted:

1) The mirrors on my scanners are difficult to physically adjust and correct for misalignment because of the way the servo motors are constructed, so using software compensation values are much easier for alignment. (Out of the box and brand new, my scanners didn't all point straight!)

2) My scanners are spaced only ~18 inches (~45cm) apart from each other, so they look much better when they are physically aligned, rather than adjusted by their brackets.

3) My scanners have a ~15 degree beam spread. So since they're pretty close to each other to begin with, when you get to about 15~20 ft (3~6m) away from them, without fanning the beams merge into a "big glob" of light.

Using Correction values in FreeStyler and building-in a fan fixed all the above very easily. When my scanners are programmed to move in unison, each beam is well-defined. This helps them look good when they are all the same color, alternating colors, or have different gobos, etc.

[wardomon]

It's unfortunate that you scanners are misaligned. All of mine line up dead ahead and centered. I've got 3 Trackspots, then 4 Mighty Scans, then 3 Trackspots mounted in that order with just enough room to get my hand between to tighten the bolts and wing nuts. I use the "big glob" of light effect to create a "Red-Orange-Yellow-Green-Blue-Violet" rainbow. With the beams centered and merging...sweet. I just don't have a need for a permanent built in fan when it's easy enough to create the same look in the sequence creator.

That's what's great about lighting and why I like it so much. There's as many ways to light a stage as there are people doing it. The only times it's wrong is when the stage is dark and band is playing or the lights are on and the band isn't playing.