CCP spacing on pixel tree

[ebrown1972]

I will be using pixels not ribbons to build my pixel tree this year. My viewing distance will be around 60 feet away. I plan on using a metal frame with pixel mounting strips. I am trying to determine spacing for the pixels. I am doing a 12 string tree and will be purchasing 12 ccr sequences from holidaysequences. I planned on using 3 inch spacing which would make my string length 12.5 feet. In order to make my frame with this spacing I will have a lot more cutting and things such as that to do to build the tree. So now I am thinking of going with 2 inch spacing which would make my string length a little over 8 foot each. I will be using one of Brians stars for the topper which would make the tree a total of about 10 1/2 foot tall. My question is will the graphics look better with the 2 inch spacing or 3 inch? Is 2 inches to close? Or will it even make that much of a difference? Anyone with any experience please let me know what you think.

 

Thanks

[default]

I can't answer if 2 inch spacing is too close. I do have examples of what I did with 5 inch spacing and viewed at a distance of roughly 100 feet. Like you I struggled with pixel spacing, I finaly decided on 5 in spacing because I was going for as much height of the prop(s) as I could get.

Overall my tree is 10 ft 7 in. with the pixel spinner on top the overall height is 16 ft 6". Also something to consider is using a diffuser over the pixels. Without the diffuser (white loom) the pixels are too bright and detract from everything else imho.

 

My tree and pixel spinner is made up of  4 (LOR) CCP contollers. I ended up adding 2 high speed networks just to drive the CCP's for all 4 controllers, lag was an issue until I finaly used 2 CCP controllers for each network. That was all new to me as I had never had a lag issue with my existing 3 CCR's. The issue I had is that I had to go back into all my sequences and redefine what networks all the different props would be run from. It involved poking around in the .lee files.

In this thread half way down the page are some picture examples of my tree. I built mine using a 2x4 wood frame.

http://forums.lightorama.com/index.php?/topic/35203-pixel-spinner-cosmic-color-pixels/

Here is a link for the white loom (diffuser)

http://www.cableties...om/wireloom.php

Here is a link to some of my videos filmed roughly 100 ft away.

Just some food for thought.

Alan... Edited June 28, 2015 by default

[ebrown1972]

Thanks for the response Alan. I appreciate it. That spinner on top is really cool. Thanks for letting me know about the loom also.

 

Eric

[default]

In thinking about this, I remembered I have another video shot closer to the props.  As I said before the tree has 5 inch pixel spacing, but the pixel spinner has 3 inch spacing. This video was shot roughly 30 ft away. The dark gaps between pixels is noticable on the tree, but not so much in the pixel spinner. Pause the video while both are lit and you will see what I mean. Not to beat a dead horse, but the white loom helps the glow of the prop (helps eliminate the dark areas). This video was done when I was having lag issues so they are noticable also.

 

 

Alan...

Edited June 28, 2015 by default

[k6ccc]

My pixel tree is using WS2811 square node pixels with 2.5 inch spacing.  That results in a total length from first to last pixel of 122.5 inches or just over 10 feet.  I also have a Brian Bruderer star on top.  You can see photos at :

http://newburghlights.org/pixel_tree.html

[ebrown1972]

Jim,

I am building my tree after your design. I already have the metal purchased. Mine will be a little different due to using pixel strips. I am just wondering how the effects look with a closer spacing as compared to a larger spacing? Say 2 inch spacing compared to 3 or 4 inch spacing? Are the effects sharper the closer the spacing? I am just wondering before I start building.

 

Thanks.

[Denny]

Last year, my pixel tree was 3 1/2 inch spacing which worked quite well - viewing distance to the street was about 50 feet.  Adding a second pixel tree this year with 2 inch spacing as well as a 24x50 vertical matrix with 3 inch spacing.

[ebrown1972]

Well I have the frame built and I decided to go with 3 inch spacing which will give me 150 inches from the first to the last pixel. I plan on going with 10 inch spacing at the bottom horizontally and hope it all looks good when its done. I still need to mount the pixel strips and the lights and put together the star that I purchased from Brian. I hope to get it all done with a test run in a week or so.

 

Thanks for all of the input. Its much appreciated!

[Ron Boyd]

ebrown1972,

 

If you want to see what 3" spacing looks like, Take a peek at my videos from last year. 3" spacing on the right pixel tree, and about 10-12 inch spacing between legs. It chould give you at least an idea, even though mine is a 360° tree.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Ron Boyd

[ebrown1972]

Thanks Ron. That looks great. Are you using any wire loom on the right tree? It looks like the left one is but can't tell on the right?

[Ron Boyd]

The right tree is just straight nodes, no wire loom. Pixels are attached to the plastic banding like the Walter Monkhouse Color Motion Tree. http://www.magicchristmasnews.org/building_a_colormotions_tree_sm.pdf

I will be using the HDPE straps this coming year for the 180° tree. The 360° tree will be losing the wire loom and becoming a 90°, 2D tree, Like Brian's CCR tree, only using Nodes instead of strips. There are several different vendors for these HDPE straps. The original design is here:

http://boscoyostudio.com/products/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_6&products_id=2

The other vendors are:

http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/767.htm

http://www.christmaslightshow.com/RGB-pixel-strip-Christmas-tree-hardware-and-parts.html

http://www.seasonalentertainmentllc.com/store/en/pixel-node-installation-supplies/286-12mm-pixelrgb-node-mounting-strips.html

[saxon]

some people like fused look the loom brings to the table and it looks good. Others, like myself, prefer the crisp look of the pixels without the loom. I am sure it will look great either way.

Just food for thought and mho.

[Ron Boyd]

some people like fused look the loom brings to the table and it looks good. Others, like myself, prefer the crisp look of the pixels without the loom. I am sure it will look great either way.

Just food for thought and mho.

 

Thus the reason for me removing the loom. I didn't care for the look.

[ebrown1972]

I have my tree built and did a test run on it the other night. The 3 inch spacing seemed to be just perfect. It all looked amazing to me. I do not think I will be using the wire loom either. I too liked the crisp look of the lights. At the time of the test run I did not have the star put together yet but did finish it yesterday. I played the free sequence that holidaysequences gave out earlier this year (PTX Carol of the bells). It looked absolutely amazing. I plan on buying my sequences from them for the tree and then sequencing the rest of my props myself. Other than the tree I also have 2 ccp arches and 2 ccp circles.It is my first year using pixels. Next year I think I will end up diving into rgb and using both in my show.