xLights Challenge - Layout and Mapping In Less Than 30 Minutes

[@therealscottfeldmann3019]

Great vid for those starting out! Shows each step. Can watch at their desired speed. Could have used several years ago!

[@xTremeSequences]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@wirekat]

You did it with time to spare. Thanks, there's so much going on in a matter of minutes. Great tips.

[@xTremeSequences]

Originally, the goal was 10 minutes, but that was not going to happen unless I said nothing and just did it.

[@wirekat]

@@xTremeSequences needs your voice to be more educational but yes, do one with no voice and time lapse it.

[@danjacobsen417]

Thanks Ron! We moved into a new home so I now need to determine what props will work at our new home and how to map whatever will map. This vid really helps. I haven't been doing this stuff for a few years, so will have to knock some rust off!!

[@xTremeSequences]

I'm glad it helped you. So many changes so quickly in xLights.

[@macleodjd]

One thing my 3d modeling/animation instructor recommended to me, a looooooong time ago, but I still use to this day, regardless of the type of file that I'm working on, when you save something, put a sequence number on it. ie, "New Sequence 01" The next time you save it, "New Sequence 02", "New Sequence 03." I've done this for a few reasons. You've worked on a file for days and you've been saving it with the same name, over and over. You somehow manage to delete the file with no backup there is no way to retrieve it. You've now lost hours or days worth of work. Using sequence numbering, you were working on and deleted "New Sequence 73." You still have "New Sequence 72" to go back to. Yeah, you've lost the last hour of work, but it's far better than starting from scratch. The more likely reason to do it, file corruption. You're working on your file. The power goes out or your application crashes or freezes. It totally corrupts "New Sequence" and days worth of work. Same as the previous example, you were working on "New Sequence 73," it is now corrupt, but you have "New Sequence 72" to go back to and lose minimal time and work compared to starting from scratch.

[@xTremeSequences]

I do not recommend doing this. You might want to look at xLights Preferences - Backups. xLights saves a backup of your sequence every time you open a sequence by default. These are named by date and time. You can also make it save a backup on every save if you really want to providing you hae plenty of harddrive. The naming convention you suggest may work for 3D modeling but why reinvent the wheel when xLights already offers a solution?

[@TownshendChristmasLights]

Hi Ron. Great video. I have a suggestion perhaps for a quick tip video. I have a Group called "All House" if I put an effect on it it applies to everything as you'd expect. But when I put another effect on a model or group, I can't see it as the "all house" effect is taking preference. I would love to see how you do this type of sequencing please.

[@xTremeSequences]

We will cover that in the xLights training class in Salt Lake City on the 13th and 14th of March.

[@gixster92]

im extremely new to all of this. This was amazing but you make it look so dang easy and from a newbie. Not so much. That 3d ruler was not fun to figure out but I did. I am building out a layout and sequence to get the WIFE approval before I move forward with this project and the virtual demo would be awesome. I know you used all GE stuff and mapping was easy with the matching, but what if you don't have those names for groups? or used different vendor by chance? how does all that work and where do you get a sequence to test out? I don't plan on doing an official Light show with music, just an advance light display for the house. Any and all pointers will be appreciated. Thanks

[@xTremeSequences]

This is a tough question to answer in a thread like this. I would email me at [e-mail]

[@markreed4906]

Where did you get the file for the GE Fuzion? I was going to add a Kings Ransom this year but may go with the Fuzion. Wanted to add both to my sequences to see how thy looked before I decided.

[@xTremeSequences]

I helped design it so that explains that. I looked for the download from xLights and didn't see it either. I've let GE know so check back tomorrow to see if it is there.

[@andrewm1967]

I have 2 double windows ,How would I go about setting them up in xlights seeing as teh window tool only does a box?

[@xTremeSequences]

You would need to either create a custom model or add the single strand to the model. Without seeing your layout I can only guess.