Color Shift

[Denny]

Over the years, I have purchased several pixel sequences made with SuperStar and ran them flawlessly with DMX.  These were not run with CCRs, but rather RGB pixels.  This year, I upgraded from S4 to S5 and have imported the sequences as shown on the tutorials.  They look perfect when played on the Preview screen, but when I play them on the actual pixels, there is a very noticeable color shift.  I am using the Pixie 16 this year.  I read how to correct this when sequencing in SuperStar, but since these are existing sequences, is there a way to correct the color balance.  Yellow is a green-yellow and white is a blue-white.  Can I change the color balance settings in SuperStar when I load the files for import?  Should I just open the files straight in SuperStar, without importing, and then resave with the new settings before importing into the sequence?

Problem 2:  Most of the "drawings" in the Superstar sequence, such as animated figures, are all washed out to the point of being white with no colors.  Is this some kind of an intensity problem where the pixels are just too bright?  If so, how can I tone the intensity down?  Also, have a third problem that may be related to overall intensity in that I basically have large dark, almost black, areas in some sequences where there should be an image.  I can clearly see the outline of the image in the sequence, but all the detail is gone.  Is this an intensity issue also?

As I mentioned, these sequences played perfectly when I was using DMX and the SanDevices (and similar) along with S4, but is a problem in S5 and the Pixie 16.  Thanks for any help or advice.

[dibblejr]

1- are you importing the S4 sequence in to S5?

You may want to look at your grid preview in S5 and ensure your RGB pixels are in the correct order ( I had similar problems just last week and discovered main problem was the pixels were not sorted properly)

2- try the SUP and use the S5 feature to add SS effect

They could alL be related to your pixel order so I would start there first.

Def not a pixie problem.

I would not change color in SS unless all else is ruled out

Dont rely on “one sequence is fine and all should work”.

I have a sequence with my CCR tree running upside down that ran fine in S4 show.

Keep is updated.

Thanks

JR

[k6ccc]

A couple questions to see if I can come up with an answer.

1)  Tell me exactly how you were (when it worked) getting from SuperStar into Seqeunce Editor - I assume legacy mode since you have an Advanced level license.  Then how are you Sequence Editor to the lights.

2)  Now, same detail now.

3)  Test color order.  Make sure that pure colors (Red, Green, & Blue one at a time) come out right.  Test that each possible stage starting at the Pixie then work backwards.  I don't know if the Pixie has built in test modes, but JR can answer that one.

4)  DO NOT adjust sequences to fix the problem - that is not where the problem is.

 

[default]

1 hour ago, Denny said:

I am using the Pixie 16 this year.

Just a thought. Are you sure the Pixie16 is set to RGB?

I sent a Pixie16 in for repair and I was given a new in it's place. I had my original set to RGB, and the new came to me GRB or something other than RGB. It was really confusing because all my colors were way off. It didn't make sense nothing in mysequences had changed. When I looked in hardware Editor at that Pixie16 I noticed it was set different. Might be worth a look.

 Alan...

[dibblejr]

2 hours ago, k6ccc said:

A couple questions to see if I can come up with an answer.

1)  Tell me exactly how you were (when it worked) getting from SuperStar into Seqeunce Editor - I assume legacy mode since you have an Advanced level license.  Then how are you Sequence Editor to the lights.

2)  Now, same detail now.

3)  Test color order.  Make sure that pure colors (Red, Green, & Blue one at a time) come out right.  Test that each possible stage starting at the Pixie then work backwards.  I don't know if the Pixie has built in test modes, but JR can answer that one.

4)  DO NOT adjust sequences to fix the problem - that is not where the problem is.

 

Yes, test and hold the reset button for a second  and it will chase pixel by pixel Starting with red, green and then blue

However it sounds like his pixels sorted incorrectly in the gridview

when this happened to my sequence I could see things were wrong, I could not make out any pictures, splotchy screen on the CCR tree

this was due to the colors being everywhere

once I sorted by channels and the strings were in order the tree worked then it was upside down LOL

But that happened because in my infinite wisdom to Make copy/ paste from a SS sup.lms easier I had grouped my strings just like the imported seq in to 16 rows

JR

 

[BrianBruderer]

From your initial description it sounds like your red, green, blue color order is fine. It's just that you see a slight color shift, ie yellow becomes a slightly greenish yellow, white becomes a bluish white.

Early on, I noticed the same thing in CCRs vs CCPs. Most CCRs have LEDs that are cool white. Most CCPs have LEDs that are warm white. In superstar there was a setting in the Preferences dialog for "cool white" vs "warm white." But this setting only gets used when exporting the sequence in the sequence editor like you always had to do in S4. At time of export a "color curve" gets applied to the data to account for the "warm white" vs "cool white" LEDs.

In S5, when superstar passes the data back to the sequencer it does not apply a color curve. Any application of color curve is done in the sequencer. In the "Prop Definition" dialog box there is a "color curve" setting in the upper left. The options are "none," "PixelCurve," and "StrobeCurve." "PixelCurve" is the equivalent of "warm white" in superstar. I actually don't know what "StrobeCurve" is, I will need to ask Matt Brown.

Now, back to your particular issue. It sounds like when you were using DMX the pixels were warm white, and now that you are using the Pixie16, the pixels attached to it are "cool white." If all you have is the .lms file for the sequencing, I do not think the sequencer has a way to apply a color curve to the data. Again, I will ask Matt to confirm that.

If you have the .sup file for the sequences then you could use superstar to export the sequence again using the "cool white" setting and then open the exported .lms file in the S5 sequencer.

[Denny]

Thanks Brian, I do have most of the .sup files for the older sequences, so I will try that and see what happens.

[Richard365]

My Question is. Is it worth going from S4 to S5. Right now most of my display are the Animated / Singing Elements . Trees , monsters, Skeletons.  I only have the 16 pixel tree program to go with the music. Getting ready to program the rest of my stuff, lights on fence,roof, candy canes and so on.

[PhilMassey]

The learning curve for S5 is a bit steep. It's also, IMO a bit late to be starting with new software, and yes I know it's only June.. 

If you have access to  a second machine, take some time to get to know S5 while leaving your 2020 show in S4 on your primary box.

You CANNOT have both versions on the same machine.

Import your S4 sequences into S5 and use the Visualizer .lee file to create the Preview and see how it goes, but you cannot go backward once you create the new Loredit files, hence the reason for leaving everything intact on your S4 machine.

If it goes well and you can figure it out, then you can decide if you want to stay with S4 or go for it. 

Plan C is to start in January.

Of course you will need to pay for the upgrade.

[Richard365]

ok, hate that I spent money and now its useless.  Seems like I been threw this before  when I used to DJ. bought all these Programs to play and mix music, videos and karaoke. After  about a year later they came out with new software . They didn't honor the old stuff anymore. forced you to buy new stuff or go to another company.

[k6ccc]

I'm with Phil on this one.  A bit late in the year to be starting with S5.  If I were you, I would plan on running your 2020 show entirely on S4, then start converting to S5 right after you take down your 2020 show..

Is it worth it?  In my opinion, yes.  Even though the SuperStar integration is more difficult than it was under S4, the ability to mix SuperStar and Pixel Editor (now called Motion Effects) on the same props at the same time makes it worthwhile..

 

[PhilMassey]

The upgrade  lasts for a year, but whatever level is current at that time will always work, so you don't have to keep paying for the version you have.

Let's say you just bought the upgrade. You will get any upgrades that come out until next June.

To continue getting updates you would need to renew the software license after one year. But the last version you were licensed for would run forever.

Many Licence Questions are answered here.

http://www1.lightorama.com/software-license-faq/

[dibblejr]

3 hours ago, Richard365 said:

ok, hate that I spent money and now its useless.  Seems like I been threw this before  when I used to DJ. bought all these Programs to play and mix music, videos and karaoke. After  about a year later they came out with new software . They didn't honor the old stuff anymore. forced you to buy new stuff or go to another company.

Not useless.

It has a lot of great effects built in. You just have to get used to it. I used it to run my covid show and it will be used to run my shows from now forward.

I started with it in January, went back to S4 and then in Feb S5 on my show computer and March 13 it ran the covid show flawlessly.

JR

[prevue12]

3 hours ago, Richard365 said:

ok, hate that I spent money and now its useless.  Seems like I been threw this before  when I used to DJ. bought all these Programs to play and mix music, videos and karaoke. After  about a year later they came out with new software . They didn't honor the old stuff anymore. forced you to buy new stuff or go to another company.

How long are you going hold this grudge, you posted you are using that other company now. 

[PhilMassey]

Wrong person I think.

[Denny]

On 6/11/2020 at 6:22 AM, BrianBruderer said:

From your initial description it sounds like your red, green, blue color order is fine. It's just that you see a slight color shift, ie yellow becomes a slightly greenish yellow, white becomes a bluish white.

Early on, I noticed the same thing in CCRs vs CCPs. Most CCRs have LEDs that are cool white. Most CCPs have LEDs that are warm white. In superstar there was a setting in the Preferences dialog for "cool white" vs "warm white." But this setting only gets used when exporting the sequence in the sequence editor like you always had to do in S4. At time of export a "color curve" gets applied to the data to account for the "warm white" vs "cool white" LEDs.

In S5, when superstar passes the data back to the sequencer it does not apply a color curve. Any application of color curve is done in the sequencer. In the "Prop Definition" dialog box there is a "color curve" setting in the upper left. The options are "none," "PixelCurve," and "StrobeCurve." "PixelCurve" is the equivalent of "warm white" in superstar. I actually don't know what "StrobeCurve" is, I will need to ask Matt Brown.

Now, back to your particular issue. It sounds like when you were using DMX the pixels were warm white, and now that you are using the Pixie16, the pixels attached to it are "cool white." If all you have is the .lms file for the sequencing, I do not think the sequencer has a way to apply a color curve to the data. Again, I will ask Matt to confirm that.

If you have the .sup file for the sequences then you could use superstar to export the sequence again using the "cool white" setting and then open the exported .lms file in the S5 sequencer.

Brian,

I did as you suggested with the Prop Definition and color curve.  I applied the "Pixel Curve" at the 30% level and it did help the intensity issue quite a bit.  The flesh tones are as they should be and not totally white anymore.  Much easier to see the details also.  I still haven't figured out how to adjust the green-yellow and blue-white color shift completely, although it is better than before I changed the intensity setting.  I haven't opened the .sup files yet and exported them, but is on the "to-try" list.  

Seems the "help" files have been significantly improved for the S5 version of LOR over previous editions.  Quite a bit of helpful info there although they haven't quite kept up with the updated versions, although with a little sleuthing, I can figure it out.  

Thanks for steering me in the right direction.