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--- fixture_creator_-_par_cans_dimmers [2010/01/31 14:26] – Added Limitations and work arounds section Onge
+++ fixture_creator:tutorial:par_cans_dimmers [2013/03/11 04:02] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ====== Fixture Creator Tutorial - Par Cans, Dimmer Packs, Switch Packs ======
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 The **Locate** field is used to set a value for this channel to be sent to the fixture when you are in FreeStyler and you right click on the fixture and the select **Locate selected fixtures**, this makes it easier to identify where in the real world they are "located". I have set the "intensity" to 128 or 50% so it will not be to bright but will be enough to see it clearly.\\
 The **default** field is used to set a value that will be used by FreeStyler when we first start to program them, normally 0 (zero) but for example on a moving head or scanner you might want to set the pan/tilt to 128, which would be a centre position.\\
-More info on these values can be found here on the [[fixture_creator_-_channel_description|Channel Description]] page.
+More info on these values can be found here on the [[fixture_creator:channel_description|Channel Description]] page.
 {{:images:fixture_creator_tutorial:parcan:00006.png?nolink|}}
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 That is it, we have just created a fixture for a 1 channel Par Can and you have learnt about some of the fields, tabs and options you can use in the Fixture Creator.
+If you wanted to you could create a fixture for multiple numbers of Par Cans by changing the number in the **Total channels** field and the **Description**, **Locate** and **Default** values fields on the **Channel description** tab, but there are problems with doing it this way, see **Limitations and work arounds** below.
 ===== Dimmer Packs =====
+A dimmer pack is device that allows you to control the intensity level on a fixture that does not have a built in dimmer. Most Par Cans do not have built in dimmers and would need to be connected to a dimmer pack.
+So to create a 1 channel dimmer pack you would do exactly the same as explained above for the Par Can.
+To create a multi-channel dimmer pack you would just increase the number of channels in the **Total channels** field, and the **Description**, **Locate** and **Default** values for each channel on the **Channel Description** tab.\\
+There are problems in doing things this way and I will explain in the section titled **Limitations and work arounds** that follows later in this tutorial.
 ===== Switch Packs =====
+Switch packs are similar to dimmer packs but they only have two value that can get accepted from the DMX controller and that normally is 0 (zero) and 255, which would be used as off and on, which is why it is called a switch, use a switch pack if you want to control a fixture that cannot be controlled by DMX and is normally controlled by a press off/on switch on a remote.
+This sort of fixture is not really suitable to be created by the **Parcan, dimmer,...** option of the Fixture Creator, but it can be done, just in the same way as described above for a Par Can or a dimmer pack, but you would need to ensure that the values used would be only 0 or 255 to trigger the switch.
+As you can see this is a bit of a problem and you would really want something to ensure you hit those values everytime and easily. I will explain more in the **Limitations and work arounds** section below.
 ====== Limitations and work arounds ======
+As mentioned above there are problems in creating multi channel versions of Par Cans or Dimmer Packs. There are problems trying to create either a single channel or mult-channel switch packs.
+Multi-channel Par Cans and Dimmer Packs will not actually have available the "**Lamp**" panel in FreeStyler. So you will only have control of the channels using the sliders at the right edge of the screen. The **Blackout** button and **Master Intensity** control still work.\\
+Possibly the most sensible way would be to patch a single channel fixture profile for each of the fixtures that are connected to the dimmer pack channels rather than a multi-channel fixtures, but that does depend on your screen "real-estate" and how many fixtures you are trying to control. Trying different ways will tell you the most efficient way for you to work and control the fixtures.
+Switch Packs, the best way to create these would be to use the "**Other** fixture type as seen below.
+{{:images:fixture_creator_tutorial:parcan:00012.png?nolink|}}
+Select the **Other** button.
+{{:images:fixture_creator_tutorial:parcan:00013.png?nolink|}}
+Enter a ** Manufacturer**, **Fixture Name**, **Total channels** to **1**, set the **Shutter** channel to **1** with values of **0** for **Off** and **255** for **On**. This will enable the fixture to react to the **Blackout** button and you can use the **Shutte** control on the **Lamp** panel.
+{{:images:fixture_creator_tutorial:parcan:00014.png?nolink|}}
+On the **Macros** tab I have created two macros, one for **Off** and one for **On** as alternate method to control the switch.
+Again if you are using a multi-channel switch I would patch single channel switches for each of the channels on the multi-channel switch, to give you more flexabilty of control.
 ====== Downloads ======
 {{:images:fixture_creator_tutorial:parcan:generic_par56_red.pff|Generic PAR56 Red Fixture File}}
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