M-III manual. M-III Manual (English)

Transcription

1

2 M-III Manual (English) 2

3 Inhaltsverzeichnis M-III user manual... 5 Lets get started!... 5 About this manual... 6 Contacts... 6 Glossary... 6 FAQ/Troubleshooting M-III in it s latest version Product introduction System requirements Installation Dongle and license File Menu and Handling General settings Show creation with M-III Show Info window User interface GUI The drawing editor Basics Tool bar Create a drawing Coloring of objects and frames Accents Editing of objects The context menu inside the editor Tracing of Logos ILDA Frames and Framelists The Timeline Overview Tracks Laser tracks in Detail Effect tracks in Detail DMX tracks in Detail Scenes Effect and control section Playback of frames and framelists Scene effects Rotation Scale and movements Scene types Color effects Scrolling text on timeline Output to laser projector Theory of galvo control Scan settings Playback control The preview window Virtual projectors

4 Routing/Mapping... Handling of interfaces/projectors... Color control... Color routing... Perspective... ILDA File Export... Geometry correction... Geometry adjustments... Timecode control... MTC and SMPTE... Live!... The Live! interface... Sessions and files... Control of "Live!"... Midi-control... DMX... Set up DMX... Creating DMX scenes... Safety Zones... Set up of safety zones... Display of time or countdown... Display time in laser... Automated countdown in laser... The DRC Design Rule Check... DRC in Action... LAN network operation... Implementation of NetPort cards... Select IP address... Store shows in memory

5 M-III user manual M-III Lasershow Workstation Mamba Elements V3 English version Aug 4, 2015 Deutsche Version The basic functions of M-III and Mamba Elements V3 are very similar, since Mamba Elements V3 is based on M-III. This manual can be used for both software versions, with some restrictions for Mamba Elements V3. Lets get started! Laser light probably is the most beautiful light on earth - we at MediaLas take this as our approach to life! That's because we believe that no other light has a similar impact on the viewer than unique and coherent laser light. With this in mind we don't mean to appear unfavorably or disrespectfully to other illumination methods but quite the contrary! 5

6 All we do is dedicated to the laser light, said Dirk Baur, founder and CEO of MediaLas GmbH. We bring a world to mind, in which we provide the optimum efficiency to those who work with our lasers, and in which the possibilities of laser performances are nearly infinite. At the same time our mission is guided by one simple rule: Developing the best possible performance on the highest possible level at a fair and affordable price. This is our path on which we invent our show lasers. On this path we created legends like the CATWEAZLE Galvos, Mystige show laser or the new and inspiring Infinity systems. Already being rewarded with two ILDA awards at market launch does not only make us proud but completely satisfied. However, this also means that a small group of technicians and engineers do not have anything else on mind but dedicating their lives to laser light. This passion creates legends! Our products aim to break barriers and transform the best possible laser technology with inspiring creativity into performance. Check out our Internet presentation or experience our creations firsthand during a visit at an exhibition or at our demo room! About this manual Mamba, Mamba Black, Mamba Elements and M-III are trademarks of MediaLas GmbH. This manual is exclusive intellectual property of MediaLas GmbH and is not allowed to be reproduced or be commercially used without permission, be it whole or in part. National and international law will prosecute any infringements. This manual is constantly being expanded and is therefor titled as incomplete. If you want to take part at this manual, we invite you to fill a yet empty section with life. Just create a Word file with you contents and send it to us. After examination we will transfer these contents to our online documentation, of course with the respective reference and your name if desired. Contacts MediaLas Electronics GmbH Vigtshalde 9 D Balingen Phone: Fax: software@medialas.com Video channel, with tons of help tutorial videos: Glossary Audience Scanning Beat markers When laser beams are pointed towards the audience. This can be very dangerous for your audience! Therefor ensure that laser safety regulations are complied! The M-III offers a very powerful tool called Beat Markers. While playing show music, beat marks can be set to the time line using the space bar. 6

7 Audience Scanning When laser beams are pointed towards the audience. This can be very dangerous for your audience! Therefor ensure that laser safety regulations are complied! Beat marks are positioned on the time line as small arrow icons with which scenes can be set later on. This enables an excellent overview of pending tasks. Obviously, these Beat marks can be deleted at any time. Blanking Turning off the laser during a projection is called Blanking. This way, two single objects need to be separated by one blanked line, in order to ensure that these objects aren't merged. M-III offers in its output routines extended handling functions of these blanking lines to ensure a clean controlling of simple Galvos. Time control of the laser modulations need to be adapted to the inertia of the system. This is because laser projectors usually use a mechanical deflection unit. This is done by a so-called Blank shift, which means an offset time while blanking the laser. With M-III this offset time can be set for every color separately and takes place with a test pattern. Blank shift Clipping Corner repeat If a frame or an object is moved throughout the projection area, its edges and corners will be cut off and faded out. This is called Clipping. However, massive usage of this function can lead to quality loss of the projection. Especially with angular objects like rectangles or polygons, the mechanical system of the galvo scanner will need some time to stop the mirror at the corner of the figure and to speed up into another direction. This process is called turning point. If this point is not temporally delayed, a round corner is created. In order to get this corner sharp, new positions have to be added. The more positions, the more angular but at the same time brighter the corner gets. The optimum for this should therefor be experimentally determined as one thinks best. Cue scene DMX, DMX 512 See scene The DMX protocol is a standardized, serial signal, which is primarily used for controlling of light. It controls 512 canals with a resolution of 8 bits each. Frame A frame is an image, which contains one or more drawn objects. M-III is able to manage any number of frames in frame lists. 7

8 Audience Scanning Galvo, galvanometer ILDA format ILDA standard Interface When laser beams are pointed towards the audience. This can be very dangerous for your audience! Therefor ensure that laser safety regulations are complied! A galvo, colloquially scanner, is the heart of a laser projector, because without a galvo it could not project. In principle a galvo scanner is comparable to a very fast servo drive. The scan speed of a galvo is given in pps (points per second) according to ILDA standards. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised! Some distributors offer galvo systems with fantastic scan speed, which are not comprehensible according to ILDA standards. The ILDA (International Laser Display Association) developed some time ago a transportable file format that is able to saves both separate frames and complete shows in form of frame lists. By courtesy of this format, it should be possible for show designers to exchange shows and frames among one another. The M-III is able for unlimited import and export of ILDA files. A complete show can be exported as an ILDA stream, too. Here the file format 5 is used, which saves colors as RGB values. The original ILDA format only saves colors as a palette. The ILDA has developed other standards besides the ILDA format, too. This also includes i.e. the ILDA connection or the ILDA test image, with which scan speeds can be measured and compared. Further information can be obtained at the ILDA website. An interface is a device between your computer and one or more laser projectors, which translates the digital information from the M-III to an analog control format. The ILDA standard has established itself as an international standard, which is, however, interpreted very individually by some Asian manufacturers. However, all MediaLas M-III interfaces are completely compatible with ILDA. Interpolation A methodology at the output algorithm. Inside the lines, support points called interpolations, are used to stabilize the output and enhance the image quality at the scan process. This method reduces both overshooting and overload to the galvos, which stem from too harsh position jumps. At the same time the brightness within the performed lines is going to be enlarged or stabilized. M-III offers a broad palette of adjustment possibilities for the treatment of interpolations of lines. Key frame morphing Morphing between frames can occur in different ways. Key frame morphing means that only two frames are going to be used for morphing, whereby the morphing happens between the first and the second frame. 8

9 Audience Scanning Logical projector When laser beams are pointed towards the audience. This can be very dangerous for your audience! Therefor ensure that laser safety regulations are complied! A logical projector is a non-physically present, virtual projector, who can be routed onto physical, thus present, projectors. By means of logical projectors different tracks can be summarized or appropriately distributed. This is a special and very powerful property of Mamba. A for one single projector only designed show, assembled with many tracks, can be rebuild into a multi-projector show within a few minutes by distributing the tracks to different logical projectors, which again control physical projectors. Modulation The term Modulation (of a Laser) refers to the on and off switching of the laser. There are two different ways of this laser modulation. TTL on/off or analog from 0 to 100 percent. The appropriate way used is determined by the quality of the laser projector. Both variants are represented on the market. TTL modulation is primarily used in cheap laser projectors, while analog modulation can lead to unstable laser function in cheap laser projectors. A proficient analog modulation can exclusively be found in professional lasers. A RGB laser with TTL is able to only display 7 basic colors, while an analog modulated laser can in theory display all available colors within its color range and also smoothly fade in or out. MTC Midi Time Code The MIDI time code (MTC) is an implementation of the SMPTE time code to the MIDI format. In contrary to the MIDI clock the MTC is pure time information, a conversion to a song. Positioning within this song and playback speed has to take place by the software. Non linear cutting There are many digital feeds, which master the Midi Time Code. Show production on time line at which one can intervene at any point. For example: You can start off with programming the end, then work on the beginning and the in-between. Thus, you programmed and cut non linear. Some older laser show applications use linear cutting. Here the cues are saved in a separate text file and played one after another. With non linear cutting it is possible to select any point in time on the time line. It is not necessary to do this one after another. If you want to, you can start with creating the end of a laser show before the beginning. Object-oriented editor 9 Drawings are separated into objects, whereat every object itself can be edited at anytime. A typical non-object-oriented editor is the drawing editor of LD2000.

10 Audience Scanning Picture repeat When laser beams are pointed towards the audience. This can be very dangerous for your audience! Therefor ensure that laser safety regulations are complied! During the distribution to the laser projector every frame is going to be repeated x times before the next frame will be banked. This often happens with very small image contents. According to the software and the output, picture repeat can be set separately. M-III does is however time-controlled, so that the picture repeat is automatically generated by the system. The user does not need to intervene. Point-oriented editor An editor at which drawings are rendered as points. These are very difficult to edit afterwards. A typical point-oriented editor is the drawing editor of LD2000. PPS (points per second) Points per second. This is a specification about the number of points per second, which are operated with by the graphics to the deflection. By now this speed information is admittedly very elusive. But the ILDA offers a reliable instrument for this issue with the ILDA test image in order to compare galvo systems by means of their scan speed in PPS or even KPPS (for 1000 PPS). This way, 30 kpps or pps do not have to be pps. Unfortunately there are many mass suppliers, who title their deflections by any numbers to generate a monetary advantage this way. Comparing the outputs to the real test images, the possible and real scan speeds have to be adjusted downwards drastically. Physical projector This is a real laser projector, consisting of hardware, scanner, laser and so on. See projector. M-III is able to manage any number of physical projectors. For sending data to a physical projector, a virtual projector has to be routed to the physical projector beforehand. The laser projector is a device, which consists of most of the necessary components for projecting a laser image or a laser show - the laser and of course power supplies. A projector can be built with simple design or built for professional use like i.e. an Infinity or Mystiqe. See galvos. The speed with which an image or a scene or a whole show can be played on a laser projector. It is measured in PPS (points per second). In Mamba the scan speed accounts between pps and pps. The faster the scan speed, the less the projection flickers. However, an overspending scan speed can lead to damage at the galvanometers. A scene is a snapshot over a short period of time, in which one or more frames as well as motions can be contained. Usually a show consists of numerous scenes, which are arranged on different tracks. Each scene can be any length. Projector, laser projector Scanners Scan speed Scene 10

11 Audience Scanning Time line Tracks Turning point When laser beams are pointed towards the audience. This can be very dangerous for your audience! Therefor ensure that laser safety regulations are complied! The time line contains several tracks and start at time zero, ending at an unlimited time. Starting point of the time line is at the same time exactly the starting point of the selected sound file. The sound file is going to be played synchronously and parallel to the time line. Tracks contain cues and scenes on the time line. Each track on the time line starts at time zero. Many tracks, in theory an infinite numbers of tracks, can be mounted to the time line. Cues and scenes, which point to different tracks and at different times on the time line, are going to be played at their exact starting time - never mind what's on the other tracks. If the galvo has to change the direction, we speak of a turning point. While this turning point a temporally long time non-moving laser point is emerged, which enhances the specific performance and the MPE. Attention must be paid to containing only few or weak turning points in one beam show. FAQ/Troubleshooting Where do I find my shows and frames after the These have been installed to the Windows library installation? under the folder Documents/MediaLas. The software often shuts down shortly after starting. Dongle not plugged - dongle not installed - dongle defect - wrong version to your dongle. Error message at the start: d3d.dll not found Your dongle key is your license. Every individual MIII version is coded to a single dongle and does only work with this single dongle. If the M-II is not able to find the dongle, software shuts down on its own. Caution! You have to plug the dongle permanently; otherwise the M-III will shut down itself after a while again. Possible changes at show or frames are going to be lost! DirectX not installed In order to use the 3D preview in the preview window; DirectX version 9.0c has to be installed. Furthermore, the DirectX file d3d.dll needs to bee in the program directory of M-III. If this is not the case, the M-III indicates this with a notification. In this case, the file needs to be copied into the program directory of M-III by hand. How can I set up a specific projection area? details.aspx?id=35 Set up a virtual projector and define position and size by geometry. After a virtual projector with a specific position and 11

12 Where do I find my shows and frames after the installation? These have been installed to the Windows library under the folder Documents/MediaLas. size is set up, all projections will be displayed exclusively within these parameters. How can I play a complete animation on time line? Set the scene onto the time line, pull the first frame of the animation into the scene and lastly select the last frame of the animation with the slider. To be continued M-III in it s latest version Overview Product introduction M-III was designed for a restriction free usage on almost any Windows computer, running on Win XP or higher. Unlimited number of individual interfaces (M-III) Unlimited number of tracks on the timeline (M-III) Unlimited number of frames Unlimited number of effects or scenes The only limitation or restriction, that will occur, is your computer hardware. So make sure, your hardware is in proper shape, and your experience with M-III will be limitless! Did we say, we hate restrictions? Overview for M-III Simple creation of a show 12

13 The multifunctional time line supports any number of tracks played precisely timed to a selected soundtrack. In addition, any number of sub-tracks with effects per track are possible. Highlight: All manipulations will be shown in real time on the time line and in preview window. This way you can always see what's happening where and at which time! Every scene, every frame or every animation can be moved on the time line and adjusted in length and starting time - to the 25th part of a second! After successfully creating a show, you can check for possible mistakes like overlaps or empty frames with the installed Design Rule Check (DRC). The DRC is able to find most of the inadvertent mistakes and enhances the professionalism of your show. Unlimited management of projectors M-III enables a simple and clear management of virtual projectors, which again can be mapped onto physical projectors. Sounds rather difficult? But it's not! By simple clicking a matrix is created, which routes onto any number of tracks on any number of laser projectors, totally independent from each other! This way different virtual projectors can be distributed automatically to any number of real laser projectors. If necessary, you can overwrite and independently adjust the global scan properties for each virtual projector. This can be useful if text and beam show needs to be displayed at the same time from one laser projector. The text gets its own virtual projector, same as the beam show, and both with different scan properties. This way both projections will be displayed optimally. Full DMX control via time line The new DMX feature enables the unlimited control of all DMX devices via events on the time line. Here the creation is as easily done as for scenes for the laser projector. DMX can be assigned to every track. Furthermore, different tracks can be routed on any interfaces so that any numbers of individual and independent DMX lines are available. Of course DMX is playing parallel and simultaneously with your laser show! Both the for the M-III suitable HyperPort USB Interface or the integrable NetPort LAN Interface card offer a wholesome DMW 512 output. Fast and easy creation of effects The effect editor of the M-III follows well-known video editing software and is therefor very fast and intuitive to operate. Rotations happen via controllers, shifts and zooms via size images. Gradients are easily made with color circles and are continuous. The recoloring tool is phenomenal. By simple loading of a colored background bitmaps colors and gradients are going to be taking over into the specific frame. 3D preview window can be disconnected from regular GUI The disconnectable 3D preview window not only can display one central point of projection but any, freely arrangeable projectors in the 3D room. Now an extremely realistic preview is possible without operating with many laser projectors. This way an explicit programming from home is possible. Therewith the projectors can be adjusted in position and projection angle as well. Cool! Powerful geo-correction The M-III can compensate a projection on uneven areas with a powerful real time-geo-corrector at any time. By courtesy of miscellaneous sliders projections can even be equalized on a ball. As a matter of course this function is available for every single projector. Extensive ILDA frame import and export M-III is open-minded! We accept ILDA standards, although we consider it outdated, and open M-III into all directions. This way it is possible to export a with M-III built show as an ILDA stream and in return to load streams or frames produced on other systems onto the M-III without any compromises or restrictions. Yet artists work exclusively belongs to the artist! Live! Interface for multiple projectors 13

14 The existent Live! Interface has been drilled up and in the main parts rewritten. Any number of projectors can now be addressed with individual cue lists. The linking to Midi control units has been drastically improved as well as some features at the effects. Midi keyboards with additional control buttons too are compatible and expand the features of Live! On the button previews you see a preview of the saved effect for a faster selection. System requirements In order to enable a smooth operation we recommend the following hardware: Windows-based computer Processor: Dual/Quad Core, minimum 2 GHz Memory: minimum 4 GB, better 8 GB or more Operating system: Windows XP SP3, Windows 7, Windows 8 Screen resolution: minimum 1024 x 768, recommended Full HD 1920 x 1080 Minimum 2 x USB 2.0 Since the M-III is a multi-monitor system, we recommend an operating with at least two monitor screens, where you can distribute the working windows on. This ensures an optimal operation. Depending on the Windows version it can be necessary to install different hardware drivers. You can find these on our web space. Installation Software installation The installation of the M-III is very easy and can be done by a non-professional within a few minutes. During the installation necessary drivers for the QuickPort / Dongle are copied and after plugging in the hardware installed, too. If your dongle is not plugged in correctly while the M-III is launching, software is going to shut down itself within a few seconds automatically! Insert the M-III CD into the drive. The installation routine will start automatically. Click on OK and follow the instructions below. Setup Assistant is going to open. By clicking on Continue installation of the software is started. The license agreement has to be confirmed. If you do not agree, the installation cannot proceed. The files and shows from the CD are now going to be installed. Please note the installation sites of the different files: - Shows installs all available free shows into your Documents directory - Frames installs all available free frames into you Documents directory The folder for program installation can be chosen arbitrarily. Shows and frames will be automatically taken over into the Documents folder. Where are my shows and frames? Those have been installed during installation into the Windows library at the folder Documents/MediaLas. 14

15 DirectX for 3D preview In order to use the 3D preview in the preview window, DirectX version 9.0c needs to be installed. Furthermore the DirectX file d3d.dll needs to be within the program directory of M-III. If this is not the case, M-III is going to notify you. In this case the file has to bee copied into the program directory of M-III by hand. DirectX download from Microsoft: Interface installation MediaLas Laser interfaces are easy to install. Drivers are signed for Windows 8, therefor it could be problematically to install for older Windows 7 versions. For this case we keep older, non-signed drivers ready. If you have got an older M-III installation version, you can download the newest drivers at any time from our web at HyperPort USB interfaces Usually drivers for HyperPort interfaces are automatically installed with the M-III. If this is not the case, you can download the latest driver software from our website. These are signed for Win 8. NetPort LAN interfaces NetPort LAN interfaces do not need any own driver software because they are addressed via network and the TCP/IP. Here you have two options: 1. IP address is assigned by your computer (DHCP mode) 2. Fixed IP Both possibilities have advantages and disadvantages. In a network with many other devices, DHCP mode is probably your best choice. However, it can take up to 2 minutes after connecting until DHCP addresses between computer and interface are assigned. For professional use we recommend you use a fixed IP address. In this case you need to set your network connection on your computer to Fixed IP. Read more Dongle and license Developing software costs money! Here we have people, who invest their working time on a daily basis to make the M-III better and even more stable. Unfortunately this costs hard currency since even a yet passionate programmer cannot buy bread from his bytes. This is why any illegal manipulation or transmission of this software is not permitted! M-III contains a copy protection dongle, without this a normal functionality of the software is not given. This dongle hence means a full license! We chose this protection on purpose to give our users the greatest possible mobility. This way is permitted to install the software on any number of computers and can be activated for use with the dongle only. Caution! 15

16 If the dongle is lost, the license is lost! That's just like you would have lost your cell phone. Gone is gone. If you lose this dongle, you have to purchase another dongle in order to operate the software. Therefor keep an eye on your dongle and use the enclosed strap to secure the good bit. Further on your individual dongle is adjusted to your individual software. Only this one software will work with this individual dongle. If you mix up different dongles with different software versions, it can be that because of the incorrectly connected dongle your M-III is not going to start anymore. Seriously. We chose this safety mechanism because of the following reasons: To prevent theft. If your dongle is stolen, the thief cannot do anything with it, because he lacks the suitable coded software. Simple transport from one computer to another. You can install the software on as many computers as you like and just simply activate it with your individual dongle. Doesn't sound that bad, does it? If you now notice that you do not agree with our license politics or you believe, that Software is out there anyway! and should be freely copied therefor, please send the unopened and complete package back to us within 14 days after purchase for a refund. If you already unpacked and installed the software, a return unfortunately is not possible anymore. Please note the license sticker on your software package for this scenario. File Menu and Handling File types in M-III M-III is able to save and load both complete shows and only single frames (images) or whole frame lists. A show consists on this occasion of at least one frame with an associated show file, which contains scenes and motions on the time line. Those two different files will be connected with other while loading the show and result in the actual and timed show. Further on there are so called sessions made for the Live! Interface of the M-III. In these sessions the to the buttons assigned frames or frame lists are saved, as well as the settings for each button. Frame files can be called: 1..ild - ILDA standard frames or frame lists 2..fra - MediaLas own frame format 3..fl - older MediaLas file format Show files can be called: xrs.xmb.shw.ani.mrs Live! session files can be called: 1..mls 16

17 File handling in a show Because a complete show may consist of as many frames and frame lists, caution at creating of the menu structure is required. To make a show transportable, which means easily to copy from one computer to another, we recommend to keep any frames, frame lists and music files in a common directory. If files from different directories are used for a show, then you have to copy this exact directory structure for transporting it to another computer because file paths are saved within show file. Create a new directory for a show and copy any desired frame files into this directory. Now you can load the frame files from this directory into the M-III and save your show again into this directory. If you want to pass on your show or copy it to another computer, you only need to copy one directory. Load and save a show Loading and saving is very easy and can be down via a drop down context menu in the upper program bar or via the graphic buttons right underneath it. Difference between shows and frames In principle a show consists of a show file, which contains the time line events, and at least on frame file, which again consists of drawings and images. Both belong together. Loading of a show Click on File, Open Show and chose a show to open. Please note that all shows and frames are copied into the Documents directory while installation. You can get there with the Windows button Libraries. Here you now find die library Documents. 17

18 In the Documents directory you find then again the folder MediaLas. Herein any frames and shows are located. We recommend keeping this structure in order to prevent restrictions from Windows. General settings M-III offers numerous possibilities for configuration, as well as in operation, the interface and the output quality. General options In General Settings the setup of the interface and of the software is performed. 18

19 Most important adjustment options: Interface (Choosing a skin) The drop down Interface lets you chose among about 50 different designs for user interface. Changeover takes place immediately. Language The drop down Language lets you chose among different languages, in which the interface is displayed. Restart of the M-III after changing the language is necessary! Automatic screen dimmer A very efficient tool. Once the box is checked, screen is going to be dimmed during the laser output. The level of darkening can be adjusted moreover at the panel Screen Dimmer. Interpolate Blanking If the box is checked, blanking lines will be interpolated. Normally this function should be checked on; potentially it can be necessary to turn off interpolation. This function should be treated with care in order not to destruct the galvos of the laser deflection. Activating Jog wheel buttons Highly interesting. If this box is checked, you can change the flow speed during a laser output with the left / right cursor keys. For further information about any function, please hover with your mouse over it. A so-called Note or Hint for each function will be opened. 19

20 Show creation with M-III M-III was developed for the most easiest and comfortable way to create a show within the shortest amount of time. To understand the fundamentals of M-III, here are some explanations. Creating a show A show consists of several frames (images), which are set on the time line with a linear and absolute time setting. It can be simply played or be manipulated and animated with various effects. The time line shows the absolute time starting at time zero to (in theory) infinite. Every second on the time line is divided into 25 frames. This results in 25 cues per second up to 1500 cues per minute. A show with a length of 4 minutes could possibly consist of cues. Every cue can contain one or more frames. The number of frames per cue is dependent on the length of the cue, the content of the frame (how many points per frame) and the scan speed. A quick example: Your frame (image) consists of 200 points, which is not much. Some frames can contain up to points, which in contrary is very much. A normal frame should consist of about 500 to 1500 points. Just for our example we assume that our frame consists of 200 points. Our scan speed is set to points per second. We now divide the number of points, which has been put out by our galvanometers (scan speed), with the number of points each frame contains. This way we get the repetition rate of our projection system. In our case: points per second / 200 points = 100 frames per second. The image we created is now going to be repeated 100 times per second. Since we learned that the M-III time line can hold up to 25 cues per second, we divide our 100 frames by 25 cues: 100 frames per second / 25 cues per second = 4 frames per cue Consequently each of our 25 cues holds 4 frames. The more points a frame has got, the less it can be repeated within a cue. Note: A cue is an absolute moment on the time line, which is going to be repeated 25 times per second. Frames are created with an adjustable start- and ending time on the time line. Each scene can consist of a different amount of frames. Starting with one frame only up to an unlimited amount of frames, which will be played on your laser projector after your start- and ending time. Many scenes can be attached to each other on the time line and played depending on the set time window, which you can see at the time line. Scenes are mighty tools in M-III to realize your ideas onto the laser projector. You can do much more in a scene than just playing a frame or a frame list. Animate scenes, let them rotate, zoom or move, transform, or create a scene with scrolling text or simply give out the current time. It's as easy as that! On the main screen of the M-III you can see the current time, at which your show is played. This time line is 100% parallel to your music. If you have selected a music file, time line is going to show you the exact time of your song with 25 cues per second. Scenes on the time line will be played at the exact time you set them to. Start- and ending time of each scene is freely adjustable and can be set to any time on the time line, even between different tracks. Simply drag the scenes with your mouse. A whole show consists of many scenes, which again consists of single frames, moving text, current time or pauses. Many scenes are counted among a show. A good and optimally timed show can easily consist of 20

21 many thousands of scenes within single cues. Sometimes less is more and sometimes a show lives through cues. This is not only depending on your taste, but also on your artistic intentions or on the used music genre. M-III contains a great amount of shows with different styles. Simply load a show and enjoy it while you watch the artist's impressions. After you watched the show, go through the time line and look how the show has been created by means of the many different tools and effects. It may be a bit confusing at the beginning, but once you get a feeling for the M-III (which happens quite fast from experience), you will find many ideas and your shows are going to be created within a few clicks. You will be amazed how fast professional shows with breathtaking effects can be created with the M-III. Show Info window The M-III allows the addition of any text information to every show. Here could be for example the author, suitable music files, contact information or anything else. The info window appears by clicking on the blue info button. Here you can only read, edit or add. The information will be inserted into the show file at the next saving automatically. User interface GUI With the M-III a new user interface with changeable designs (skins) as well as disconnectable windows has been introduced. Now more than 50 different user interfaces (skins) are available, which can be chosen depending on taste. This is done in General Settings. Every single working window can be separated and with a multi-screen system be moved to any screen you want. To do so you just grab the triple dotted line between the windows with your cursor and drag the window in the desired position. Blue overlay graphics will show the approximate position, where your window will be linked. Equally, the size and the position of a window can be changed, even if all windows are yet connected with 21

22 each other. To do so go over the window side with your cursor until it becomes a double arrow. Now you can change the size of the two bumped windows. Note: If you got tangled up in window settings or there is an error within a window, you can reset the whole interface into original state. This happens at the drop down menu Window. Here you can also switch windows on or off. Further information will follow. The drawing editor The drawing editor in detail Basics The drawing editor At the frame editor frames (images) used in a show are developed. Therefor numerous tools and functions are offered with which you can create drawings, logos or figures. Existing frames can be generously changed, edited or extended. The frame editor of the M-III laser workstation gives you a restriction free import and export function for ILDA (.ild) frames and frame lists. These can be edited as well as recolored like the M-III file formats. 22

23 Savind and loading of frames and frame lists It is very important to save frame lists after editing and even in between to prevent data loss after a software crash. To save one or more frame lists select the appropriate function Save Frame List from the top menu. Here you also find the recently used frame files (Recent files). For loading frame files please do the exact same, but select the function Open Frame List. Please note: Saving a frame list does not mean saving the show! If a show is opened, you can easily save it by means of the top menu. Frame Formats The frame menu also contains a few further more functions for frame modification or export tools. Frames can be saved into different formats, as an intern M-III format and additionally as different ILDA formats. For compatibility reasons the old 8bit color palette ILDA format has been integrated. If no downward compatibility is necessary to for example export to older software versions, we recommend strongly so save all ILDA frames as 24bit colored ILDA format. To export into different ILDA formats, save the frame lists with Save Frame List as Here you have the opportunity to select the various frame formats.. Object Frames (.fra) This is the internal M-III standard format that saves frames as objectoriented frames. ILDA RGB (Format 5) Latest 24bit RGB ILD Standard Format 5. Use this format for maximum quality at your frame export. Once you saved your frame lists as ILDA file, all object-oriented information will be lost and the frames will be converted to pure point-oriented files. ILDA Standard (Format 2) has been the first ILDA Standard for frame files. Uses a color table instead of real RGB data. Use this format for maximum compatibility when passing files on to users with older laser software. Note: Smooth fade-ins and fade-outs or color functions do not work properly in this format! Behind these different menu options in the menu you can find the according hot keys for each function. Experienced show programmer sure would like to fall back on hot keys instead of drop down menus. Tool bar Drawing editor offers many tools to create drawings, called frames. Clicking on the toolbar will activate those. Drawing tools can be selected one-time (click with your left mouse key) or permanently (Shift + Click with your left mouse key). At permanent selection the tool is active as long as another tool is going to be 23

24 selected. One of the most powerful tools is the polygon tool. Hereby new lines are set up until the end of a polygon line is pointed out with the right mouse key. Most likely logos and drawings should be done with the polygon tool in order to create as few as possible open lines. Open lines need blanking as well as stop- and start points, which again can slow down the output. The various tools Show and Selection tool (Arrow) With this tool objects will be selected, moved, enlarged, reduced and so on. Recoloring an area (pointed square) An area will be selected by means of a square. Any recoloring actions will only affect contents within this area. After selection, a color has to be picked from the palette. The selected area will now be displayed and put out in chosen color. Deleting Tool (Trash bin) Herewith all selected parts within a frames will be deleted. Works with DEL key, too. Click on the object > DEL > done! Zoom In (Magnifying glass +) After selecting these tools, you can zoom in into the images as often as you want to. In order to zoom a square will be drawn onto the desired area. This area will now be enlarged and modifications or details can be viewed and edited. The Zoom tool stays active as long as no other tool is selected. 24

25 Zoom Out (Magnifying glass -) Here again will be zoomed out in steps. The steps are equal to the zoom in-steps. The Zoom tool stays active as long as no other tool is selected. Rectangle drawer After selection of this tool, a rectangle can be drawn. To do so simply click on the first corner point, open a rectangle and anchor it with a second click. If you press SHIFT key while opening a rectangle, you will get a perfect square. Circle drawer After selection of this tool, a circle or an oval can be drawn. To do so simply click on the first corner point, open the circle and anchor it with a second click. If you press SHIFT key while opening, you will get a perfectly round circle. This tool will be reset automatically after it's been used once. You can lock it permanently at General Options. It will be locked one-time by SHIFT clicking. Line drawer With this tool a single line will be drawn. Not suitable for closed objects, logos or similar. Operation works equal to previous tools. Freehand Press and hold the left mouse key and move the cursor across the editor to draw a line. Press STRG key to adjust points to draw to a grid. The size of the grid can be edited in Options. Text Click after you have selected the text tool on the position you want your text to appear. A text box opens right beneath the drawing window. This text box enables you to choose a font family and to type some text into the line. Typed text appears in the editor immediately. This text as well as everything else is an object free to edit. Text objects can be edited at any time, even during a show. The Beam Tool is very efficient and is used for creating one or more laser beams in order to i.e. taking an effect mirror into account of your show. Every beam consists of a single point, which is repeated several times. Every beam is created with a repeat rate of 40 by default. How often every point is going to be repeated can be adjusted at the Accent Box (described later in this manual). A beam can be moved or change its color at any time. Loading background images M-III contains some powerful tools in relation with background images. You can quickly load a background image by pressing the corresponding button. This may be very helpful to create logos. Several bitmap formats can be loaded. But take care: M-III stretches BMP files to a square. If your file is no square, it will be stretched into one direction. Make sure that your file is available in square format. The easiest way to do so is using Paint program from MS Windows. 25

26 Show / Hide background image The laser will not display the image. It will be only used as background image for tracing logos or figures. With this button you can show or hide background images in order to i.e. take a view on your final result or to hide after use. Create a drawing Create a new frame Either you use from drop down menu Frames or the right mouse key at overview window. Click on New Frame and confirm. A new frame is now added to the list, but is not active in the editor. Double-click now onto the new frame at the overview window and it appears in the editor. Now you can draw a frame by means of the tools. You can add contents, change colors or adjust objects at any time at yet existent frames. This can also take place during an active laser output! A new frame in the same frame list will be created the exact same way. You can add as many frames per frame list as you wish. With the right mouse key pressed at the overview window you can additionally copy, insert or delete frames. Within the context menus you can see your options. NOTE: If you want to edit a frame, first select it in the overview window by double-clicking. Now it is active in the editor window, too, and can be edited. NOTE: If you want to see live at your laser what you have just drawn, create a scene on the time line via an active frame (Drag and Drop). Now select in output window the source scene, start the laser output and you can immediately adjust the frame in real time. Selecting drawn objects Click on an object (on a corner point or a line in between) to select an object. You can move or resize an object with the selections at the corner. If you press ALT key while selecting an object, you can resize it. To select several objects at once, press CTRL key or use the Region button. Group objects with the Group objects button. To check one or more objects on or off, hold CTRL key and click on the desired objects. After all objects have been selected, press the group button. Now all of your selected objects are grouped. You can edit this group with other tools like i.e. move, resize and so on. But yet within a group single objects may be selected individually. To select a grouped object press SHIFT key while selecting. To dissolve a group select the group and click then on the ungroup button. If you select a text object, you can edit the text, font size and font family at any time. Changes will be affected immediately - never mind if the show is running or not! 26

27 Automatic centering of objects You can center your selected objects by clicking on the individual object with right mouse key and selecting then the option Center Selection at the menu. There you can choose between different centering types, i.e. horizontally, vertically or both. Coloring of objects and frames M-III offers several possibilities to color objects and frames. To change colors at a selected object, click on any color at the color table. The color in the upper left corner is black, with which you can tint colored objects (or parts of it) black, which leads to blanked (faded out) lines. Double-click on one of the colors and you can change or exchange it within the color table. You can save or load color palettes, too. Click with right mouse key on the color palette and chose the desired function. The selected color stays active. Recently drawn objects will be drawn in the same color chosen before. If you only want to tint parts of the Frames, use the Select rectangle tool in order to select a rectangular area within the frame. Click on the desired color afterwards. An imported ILDA frame can only be recolored / tinted by the Region tool! Recolor from Background Another very powerful color tool is the Recolor from background tool. It can be selected with the right mouse key at the frame editor. Here you have the option to tint objects from background images. In the directory colors of the main menu of M-III you can find some examples for background images, which were created with CorelDraw. After a background images has been loaded, you can choose Recolor from background from the menu, which you can open with your right mouse key at the frame editor. If you have not selected special objects, all objects in the frame after the background image will be tinted. All other objects will stay in its original color. Example: Draw a simple rectangle in white. Open a new background image via Open Background. Chose a background bitmap file from the directory colors at the M-III main menu. Select your rectangle, click with right mouse key and chose recolor from background. Tinted Bitmaps can be created and afterwards imported at any time with several graphic programs of other manufacturers. Please take note that you final bitmap file should have squared format. Accents The option Accent at the object editor gives you another efficient possibility to make your laser show even better and to give out various objects with different scan speeds or point accents. But please be careful with this tool because laser safety could be compromised if single strong beams are being projected into the audience. 27

28 Select an object and change its accent value to increase or decrease the brightness of single points. Use the Pick color option and select a color from the color palette afterwards to give a single point within your figure another color. Note: Chose any accent color and tint your object black afterwards to only display single points of your object. To learn more about this mighty tool, simply draw some figures like circles or rectangles and play with the accentuation value during the laser output. Watch there while the laser output. Editing of objects As a result of the M-III editor being designed fully object-oriented, all herewith-created drawings can be edited and adjusted at any time. This does NOT work with imported ILDA files, because those only are available as seamless points. Every ILDA frame will therefore be handled as ONE object. The context menu inside the editor Tracing of Logos ILDA Frames and Framelists There are two options to import ILDA Standard from lists: - Opening the frame file at the Frame menu as a frame list IF a regular.ild frame list is opened with the option Open frame list, all frames of the regular frame list are available and can be used and edited like usual frames (for example for shows). The frames can be easily dragged onto the time line or inserted, but a scene or show must have been created first. This usually happens if a frailest contains different frames, which are not assigned to each other, i.e. ongoing comics, animations and so on. This method is further on used to open single ILDA frames. - Opening the frame file at the File menu with Show from frame list If an ongoing frame list created with another laser software is available, M-III automatically can create a show from this frame file. Example: Export of a complete show as ILDA frame file from another laser software with a fixed frame rate of 25fps ( Frames per second, images per second) and subsequent import of this show in M-III. The chronological sequence made for this show is also available in M-III. After selecting the desired file, M-III asks you for the frame rate. If a show has been created with an explicit frame rate, please adjust it to this value to make sure that the normal speed of the show can be reproduced optimally. 28

29 The Timeline The timeline in detail Overview Timeline The time line contains the chronological sequence of the show. Here effects and transitions are linked to frames of the frame lists and played at the exact time to the music. There are 25 cue-points per second available, effects can be set up to 40ms on point. Operation and cut takes place, similar to video cutting software, non-linear. This means changes can be made at any time that does not affect the effects afterwards in time. Each show consists of scenes and effects displayed here. The content of a scene and its process will be displayed and updated as soon as the scene itself or as soon as the scene acting effect is changed. Therefore scenes are arranged on different tracks. Every individual track plays concurrent at music timing. This way it is possible to display several laser effects at the same time. At the lower edge there is a time scale to simplify the navigation within a show. While playing music or a show a selection can be added by pressing the space bar. These selections appear as small upright arrows underneath the time line. Those can be set to striking positions, such as beats or pauses, in order to facilitate the programming of a show. At the lower right side of the time line there is the zoom tool (+/- buttons). With these you can show the display of the time line larger or smaller. Tracks Tracks 29

30 Time line can contain as many tracks as you like. Each individual track can again contain as many cues as you like. Each cue can be as long as desired but at minimum 1/25s. Creating a cue A cue can be created in two different ways: 1. With the buttons at the upper button bar. Button Add Cue. 2. Via Drag and Drop of a frame. Therefor a frame is dragged from the frame list overview onto the time line and dropped. Now a new cue with the length of 1 second is created automatically at the exact time and position, at which the frame has been dropped to. Length and position of a cue The position, start- and ending time of a cue can be controlled two ways: 1. Via mouse. If you slowly hover over a cue with the cursor, it changes in three different ways: o Cursor cross-shaped: a cue can be moved. o Arrow cursor to the left: a cue can be elongated forwards. o Arrow cursor to the right: a cue can be elongated backwards. 2. Via absolute values at the Cue effects tab. Here you can set the starting time, ending time and the length of a scene in absolute values. You can choose from minutes, seconds and 1/25 frame. Effect tracks Every main track can contain as many effect tracks (yellow line) as you like. Clicking on the upper button menu Add Effect Track again creates an effect track. The effect track is going to be added to the current active main track. For further information see Effect tracks in detail Trackhandling 30

31 We differentiate between laser tracks, effect tracks and DMX-tracks. On the left you can see an overview of the tracks currently displayed. With laser tracks the name of the assigned virtual projector is displayed, while with effect tracks the number of effects is shown. DMX-tracks are going to be marked as DMX. By checking a box you can activate individual tracks. Inactive tracks will not be minded, but the impact on the time line will still remain. If you want to make sure that an unintentional shifting of cues is going to be prevented, please check the Block Cue function. If this feature is active, you will not be able to shift cues or edit the length of a cue. By clicking on the track name while clicking the right mouse key a new context menu for the assignment matrix opens. Within this matrix you can create and route virtual projectors. Laser tracks in Detail Lasertracks Scenes will be displayed as put out later on by the projector at the laser tracks. Preview is calculated in real time as well as the colors. This way here you can view and adjust color manipulations subsequently. Any animations and scene effects will be displayed in real time as well. You can adjust the length of a scene or its position on time line with the mouse. Laser tracks are white be default, scenes will show a projection display of the output. A selected scene can be manipulated in many different ways at the control section. For further information see Effect and control section. Effect tracks in Detail Effect tracks Effect tracks are yellow by default, while contained effects will are displayed in blue. The length of a scene or its position on the time line can be adjusted with your mouse. A selected scene can be manipulated in control section. You can add as many effect tracks to a main track as you wish. However, things get easily crowded if too many effect tracks are added, so exercise caution. Two effect tracks on top of each other can interact. 31

32 You can choose from the following options for effect tracks: By checking the checkboxes you can switch already created effects on or off. The order of effects is freely selectable as well. Rotate: Allows you to rotate a frame, a frame list or a scene to rotate itself around all axles. Very helpful: If you use two different axles, both rotations will be added to interesting effects. You can select the axle (X, Y or Z) from the drop down box. Rotation can be adjusted with two rotary controls; repetition rate is set at the Rep box. The effect becomes active once the check box bottom left is selected. If the box is not selected, the effect is not as well. Move: Allows you to move a frame, frame list or a scene in direction of the X- or Y-axle. You can adjust the starting coordinates with both upper slide controls, and the ending coordinates with both lower slide controls. The effect becomes active once the check box bottom left is selected. If the box is not selected, the effect is not as well. Size: Allows you to adjust the size of a frame, frame list or a scene statically or dynamically. You can adjust the starting size with both upper slide controls, and the final size with both lower slide controls. The effect becomes active once the check box bottom left is selected. If the box is not selected, the effect is not as well. Spiral: The absolutely effect tool. It adds an adjustable spiral movement. You can adjust the effect with both slide controls. Initial Radius adjusts the big radius (at the start) of the spiral, while Exit Radius adjusts the smaller radius (at the end). The effect becomes active once the check box bottom left is selected. If the box is not selected, the effect is not as well. Sine: Adds a sine wave to your animation. You will be able to create fantastic laser effects with this one. Frequency and amplitude of the sine wave are adjustable with both slide controls. The effect becomes active once the check box bottom left is selected. If the box is not selected, the effect is not as well. DMX tracks in Detail DMX-Tracks DMX-tracks are light green by default, while scenes are displayed as empty scenes. The length of a scene or its position on the time line is adjustable via drag and drop. A selected scene can be manipulated in the control section. Adjustments at the DMX-values will be made not until the play of a scene. Scenes for constraining DMX-values are therefor not necessary. Scenes 32

33 Scenes are set on tracks, which can be temporally as long as you wish. Scenes may contain one or more frames, as well as motions, rotations, scaling or other effects. A scene marks the spot on a track, where this track has an impact on the show. The effect of this scene is depending on the track made on. Scenes on a laser track A scene on a laser track can be selected by the frame you want to be played. Further more a manipulation in different motions, sizes and colors is applicable. Every scene on a track has got its own position and an individual length, which is displayed at the bottom left screen area. You can adjust these values by clicking on the corresponding arrow icons, moving them around with your mouse or pushing their individual ranges to the desired spots on the time line. Those time markers are adjusted to the time line by pressing STRG key while moving the scene. To select a scene simply click on it. Select more than one scene at a time with pressed STRG key and left mouse key simultaneously. You can also select numerous scenes in between the starting and ending markers of the active tracks. Therefore, please us the Select scenes option at the local menu (right mouse key). Scenes below a laser track: The effect track A scene on an effect track can put various different effects like sine waves or spiral motions on a scene of the laser track. The effect track is always assigned to a laser track and cannot stand alone. Scene on a DMX-track A scene on a DMX-track can change the DMX-values. Every scene can adjust up to 16 DMX channels maximum at a time. Effect and control section The effect section in detail 33

34 Playback of frames and framelists Single frames or frame lists in total can be created on the time line very quickly and comfortably. A complete frame list for example can be an animation in total, consisting of any number of frames. The best example in this case is he.ild format. Single frame A single frame is easily pulled via drag and drop onto the time line. A new scene is created that contains this exact frame. Playing frame lists In order o put a frame list onto the time line, you need to pull the first frame of this list with drag and drop onto the time line. Next you need to select the last frame of it with the slide control End. At the same time you can see how many frames this scene contains. Now drag the end of the scene to the desired length of the animation. Please note that the animation gets slower the bigger the scene gets. The bigger the scene, the slower the animation is played. The same way you can undertake only a part of frames assigned to each other out of a huge frame list. Simply select the frames with the Start and End slide controls. Now the frames will be played one after another depending on the length of the scenes. The smaller the scene, the faster it gets played. Scene effects Scene effects Let's get things going, shall we? You are now about to getting to know the most powerful tool oft he M-III the effect editor. Adding effects to it can manipulate the content of each scene. The effect editor is therefor displayed underneath the time line after you have selected a scene. This tab contains settings for rotations; size and positioning of a scene, each with its own start and end value. The scene content is constantly changing from start to end value on the time line for its assigned time. Each scene on a laser track can be assigned with a scene effect. In addition to the various scene types you can now add scaling, rotations and motions. 34

35 In order to fix a start or end value of a change, you need to keep the SHIFT key pressed while changing the start value. To repeat this effect many times simply change the Rep value underneath each corresponding section. A double click on the rotation slider will set preset values (90, 180, 270, 380 degrees) if this value is 0. You can also see the following numbers on the slider, too: 90, 180, 270, 0. The values are changed by 5 degrees if you press and hold the STRG key. A double click on the motion / size-adjustment windows will set a size of 100% / 100% or center it again, if these has been changed before. Rotations The following examples will show a simple rectangle at the top half of the frame: Let's add a complete rotation over the z-axle. The scene now looks like this: The center of the rotation of the object is in the middle of the total frame. A complete rotation on the slider will lead to a complete rotation on the time line within the selected scene. Simply click on the slider, hold left mouse key and turn it around. Each and every click on the slider will let it rotate for 90 degrees. Double click four times onto the slider to create a 360-degree rotation. The first slider shows you the start value of the rotation; the second slider shows the end value. The numbers on the sliders show you the amount of complete 360 rotations made within a scene. If you read slider 1 and there's 0 displayed, this means you'll get one complete rotation. If the start value of the rotation needs to be adjusted, please adjust the start value first before adjusting the end value on the other slider. If an object needs to be rotated to a static value, please adjust both sliders to the same value. In order to change the center of the rotation, click with right mouse key on the slider. Now select Center from section from the menu. This allows you to adjust the center of the rotation to corner points or the center of some selected objects. However, select your rectangle at the editor and then select Center from the local menu at the rotation slider. Now the center of the selected object will be used as the rotation center. The object rotates not around the projection area anymore but around itself. The scene now looks like this: Rotation Rotation wheels (Encoder) 35

36 Here you can adjust the three different axles for rotations (X, Y, Z) as you wish. Even a multiple selection of one and the same axle is possible. This will be done by assigning start and end value. The number of completed rotations (360 ) will be displayed above the degrees. The value underneath the encoder shows how often the rotation will be repeated within the scene. You can increase this value by 90 with a simple double click. Doing so with pressed SHIFT key will decrease this value by 90. At values that are no multiples of 90, a double click will reset the encoder to 0. With pressed STRG key the resolution of the rotation will set to 5 (not at double click). Smooth Start/End The start or end of a rotation, motion or scaling is slowed by checking the check boxes. This applies to the effect in total, not to its repetitions. The following examples show a simple square in the upper half of the frame: Let's add a complete rotation around the Z-axle. The scene looks like this: The center of the rotation of the object is located at the center of the screen in total. A complete rotation on the slider leads to complete rotation on the time line within the selected scene. The first slider shows you the start value for rotations; the second slider shows the end value. The numbers on the slider show the amount of completed 360 rotations done within the scene. If you read 1 and 0 is displayed, it means that you'll get one complete rotation. If the start value of the rotation needs to be adjusted, please adjust the start value first before adjusting the slider for the end value. If an object needs to be rotated to a static value, please adjust both sliders to the exact same value. In order to change the center of the rotation, click with right mouse key on the slider. Now select Center from selection from the menu. This allows you to adjust the center of the rotation to corner points or the center of some selected objects. However, select your rectangle at the editor and now use enter from the local menu at the rotation slider. Now the center of the selected object will be used as rotation center. The object rotates not around the center of the projection area anymore but around itself. The scene now looks like this: 36

37 Scale and movements Motion areas Here you can assign the size and position you want the scene to have. The start value is on the left side; on the right side you can see the end value. Within the white square it is possible to move the grey displayed scene. Similar to a Windows window the size of the scene can be adjusted when taken at the edge of it. One double click on one of the areas will set the scaling; a second double click will reset the positioning. The values underneath the areas give you the number of repetitions made within the scene. Both left areas are for motion in X and Y, the three areas on the right site are for scaling in X, Y, Z. Motion sliders Right above the button at the upper side you can switch between a graphical and a value-based adjustment via slider. This also works with motion. A click on the area of a slider will change its value to the factor 25. A right click resets the value to zero. The slider can also be moved by mouse in 1% steps. In order to move frames from one position to another, please simply move the grey boy at Move/Scale. Place your cursor on one of these grey boxes, click on it, hold left mouse key and move it to any position within the projection area you'd like to. For example: If you want to move the previous frame from top left to bottom right, you need to shift the grey box at the start window to top left and the grey box end window at bottom right. Now the motion will be displayed as long as the scene is. At the edges of the projection area the figure gets faded out. This is called clipping. If you click on the edges of the grey box, you can adjust the size of the frame: 37

38 For a static positioning of objects please shift both grey boxed simply to the exact same position. Press SHIFT key and hold to adjust both values (start / end) at the same time. Move both boxes and sliders then to the desired position. Smooth Start/End By checking the checkboxes the start or end of rotations, motions and scaling will be slowed down. This applies to the effect in total, not for its repetitions. Scene types Scene types Scene types will be selected with 6 buttons at the Scene effect region. Herewith you chose how the scene handles frames. Play image sequence The selected frames will played one after another (sequentially). Time between all frame switches is the same. Pause This scene will not be played. This feature can be used to take individual scenes temporarily out of the show or as a placeholder for an effect programmed later on. Settings and frame selection will not be affected by changes of this type. (Morph first to last) M-III morphs the first frame into the last frame. All frames in between will be ignored. (Morph all) M-III morphs all selected frames one after another in its sequence. 38

39 Scrolling text A unique feature of the M-III is the possibility to create a simple scrolling text on a time line without having to create a frame for it first. You can type any text into the text area underneath the scene types and select in the next step, whether to have it displayed statically or in motion. You can assign the speed if you want a moving text, too. You can do this either relative to the length of the scene with the slide control (a value of 10 means one time from right to left; a value of -20 means two times from left to right and so on) or absolute (the speed of the text is not changed when the length of the scene is adjusted). If you want a static text, the slide control changes the horizontal positioning of the text. We have numerous special laser fonts for text available for you but you can use TrueType Fonts installed on your computer as well. Please note that TrueType Fonts are Outline Fonts in principle, which additionally strain the output. If you want to create a lot of text, we recommend using Inline Laser font (i.e. Stick). Comment Commentary scenes will be displayed as red on the time line with the commentary text of the text field. Color effects Color effects Fade in/out Individual scenes can be slowly faded in or out. This is assigned as a percentage to the total length of the scene. Use the Fade In / Out slide control to slowly fade in or out of the scene. The slide control shows the relative percent value of the effect length within the scene. Move the Fade In to 10%. Now during the first 10% of a scene the laser image will slowly be displayed starting at very dark to very bright. Fade Out works the same way round. Strobe Here you can define various different flash effects for every scene. The on and off times of the scene will be defined in 1/25s and can be changed by start and end values even linearly within a scene. 39

40 th Add a flash by entering the desired on/off time at Flash to the 25 of a second exact. Values like 25/25 mean one second laser on, one second laser off. Select to to dynamically adjust the flashing speed. Values like 0/25 and 25/0 mean that the scene starts invisibly, then slowly starts to flash and continues to flash faster until it's completely on. Layer invisible Individual layer from the editor can be switched off actively. All layers are visible by default. Color change By selecting a starting range that recolors itself to an ending range you can i.e. color an area from red to orange to green, while blue isn't a color displayed. White and Black will not be recolored. The color change can be repeated. With the Color Morpher tool you can select a color spectrum, which will be morphed into another color spectrum. The settings shown in the image above do select the whole spectrum (the second color wheel has been rotated once for 360 ) in order to go through all colors on the color wheel (both lower color wheels have been turned one and two times for 360 ). Note: You can choose these settings (complete morph) from the local menu (right mouse key on the color wheels). Here you can reset the values of each wheel back to 0. If you hold SHIFT key while spinning the left wheel, the right wheel will move simultaneously. Recolor The recoloring is done before the color changing. This way you can i.e. recolor a rainbow effect with color changes. - None: The frame will be taken as drawn. 40

41 - Selection: After selecting this feature you can select a color with the color picker at the editor window for the whole frame Rainbow: The whole frame will be recolored with a gradient. - Hint: An ongoing rainbow effect is done by powerful color tools very easily. To do so you color the scene with Recolor: Rainbow, click with right mouse key on Change Color color boxes and chose Complete Morph. Now all RGB colors will run through the image. Drawing in/out With Drawing you can slowly fade in / fade out a frame within a scene. By selecting Backwards, the drawing direction will be inverted. Drawing can be repeated. Use Draw in/out to slowly build a scene point by point. If you use this feature with texts, the text will be displayed like somebody is currently writing it in real time. Scrolling text on timeline Font By clicking on the buttons TTF (True Type Font) or MLF (MediaLas Laser Font) the font will be chosen. TTFs are default fonts of your computer, MLFs are simpler and for laser output optimized fonts. Static A text selected as static will always stay at the exact same position within the frame. The horizontal position can be adjusted with the sliders on the side. Scrolling The text is moving sideways throughout the frame. Direction and speed do depend on the slider. Positive values will have the text running against reading direction (first letter of your text will be displayed first), negative values will have the text displayed in reading direction. Relative 41

42 A text with a speed of 10 will run one time only against reading direction throughout the frame for the duration of the scene. A text with -20 will in contrary run two times in reading direction. Absolute The speed of the scrolling text will not be dependent on the length of the scene. Positive values will let the text scroll against reading direction; negative values will let it run in reading direction. Output to laser projector Output to the laser projector a complex topic Theory of galvo control An optimal control of mechanical deflecting units, so-called galvo scanners, is a highly complex, physical topic, which one could write his doctoral thesis about without ever completely working it off. In principle a galvo scanner is a very fast servo with a drive with the lowest friction possible and a positioning sensor as exact as possible. Those both electrical components will be evaluated and powered by a galvo driver like i.e. the MicroAmp. Because of its mechanical components the deflecting unit has got a relatively high mass inertia, which results of high voltage- and power peaks that needed to be accelerated and slowed down very quickly by the driver. The faster and the more precisely this works, the faster the mirror can move and the less flickering will be visible at the actual deflection. However, even the fastest acceleration phase takes a little time, as well as the following brake phase. Let's just imagine a line. At the beginning of this line the mirror axle will be accelerated as fast as possible. This is done with high voltage in order to load the coil of the galvo quickly and to feed it the highest power possible. Therefor voltages up to 30V will be fed to the galvo coil. Temporary peak currents up to 10A are possible. Once the axle is in motion, only little power is needed which at the end unfortunately is changed rapidly again. Here the so-called break takes place. The voltage at the coil will be inverted and again opened up highly in order to slow down the axle as fast as possible. During these start and stop phases deformations at the mechanic of the galvo occur, which will become 42

43 noticeable as an overshooting (first top shaft) or an undershooting (second top shaft). Because of the mass inertia, the mirror axle overshoots the mark (first top shaft) just to swing back again (second top shaft). The task of a galvo driver now is to level those over- or undershooting as effectively as possible and to suppress it. This is called damping, while the energization at the driver in acceleration- and brake phase is called gain. The higher the gain, the higher the powers at a position change. The time needed by the galvo system to initiate and complete acceleration and deceleration needs to be considered at the control of the software. Now you can imagine that these times do vary at all times, depending on how much deflection is demanded by the galvo. At a biaxial XY system a sort of integration therefor takes place by not exactly adjusted wait times. Corners will be rounded because the control is faster than the galvo can do. The task of the software now is to depict the electromagnetic system of the galvo scanner now as precisely as possible and to adjust itself to the inertia moments and driving speed. This is extremely difficult and varies from galvo to galvo and from driver to driver. Scan settings The output options of the M-III Herewith you control the output quality at the laser output. The numerous adjustment possibilities allow an adjustment to all ranges of galvo systems, whether fast or slow. Here also applies: Hover with your mouse over the individual windows to get a note shown. Window Repeat Settings for point repetitions. 43

44 Here repetition points at the current objects are assigned. Corners: First bright: Last bright: First blank: Last blank: Corner repeat Bright repetition points at the start of an object Bright repetition points at the end of an object Dark repetition points at the start of an object Dark repetition points at the end of an object Window Interpolate Here there distances of the interpolation points are assigned. Caution!! The numbers do mean distances, NOT the number of interpolations! Mathematically we assume that we have an output resolution of 4096 x 4096 px. An interpolation number of 70 means that all 70 pixels an interpolation support point is put. This is done in the background during the output and will not be displayed at the editor. Objects: Blanking lines: In between track blanking: Interpolation distance within an object Interpolation distances in blanked lines Interpolation distances between whole frames Window Overdraw This window affects any drawn objects. To enhance initial and exit points in an object invisible overdrawing can be added. The quality of the objects enhances, this at the same time affects the output speed because more points are being set. Start colored: Stop colored: Start blank: Stop blank: The figure will be expanded at the initial point The figure will be expanded at the exit point Additional dark points before initial point Additional dark points after exit point Maximum scan speed In this window the maximum scan speed can be assigned to the slider scan speed at the geometry settings. If for example a value of is set, the slider can be moved up to maximum. Digital intensity channel The M-III offers altogether 4 color channels, RGB plus a channel for intensity. This is a product of three color channels and should be used for unicolor projectors. Some manufacturers put their unicolor projectors on one of the RGB color channels. This is simply wrong. Depending on the projector the intensity channel can be set to analog or digital. If you have a projector with a TTL modulation, please check the box. Playback control The play back control is located right beneath the preview window. 44

45 The buttons underneath Play control are named Play and Pause. If you click on Play, the show or parts of it will start on the selected output medium (screen preview / laser projector) depending on the selected source. With Output to you chose where your show should be played (preview window and/or laser projector). If the laser symbol is not selected, only the show will be played in the preview window. If you notice that you computer gets slower while using the preview window, please turn off the preview. Loop plays the show in a continuous loop. Do not use this during a normal laser show, otherwise your show will start right at the beginning. If both buttons (play & pause) are selected, you can move the position marker on the time line manually by clicking on the ruler or the overview. This allows you to skip through your show. At the same time it allows you to skip from frame to frame by the help of the right and the left cursor keys at your keyboard. With the up / down keys it is possible to do 10 second skips. If music is available for playing, this music will also be played. Source selection The buttons at the source tab select the types of playback, which will be played at the preview window or on the laser. - Play whole show : The whole show will be played from start to end - Play selected scenes : Currently selected scene will be played - Play current editor image : An individual frame currently visible at the editor window will be played - Play selected area : User time from start mark to end mark. These will be set via STRG + B for start mark and STRG + E for end mark. This also works at the export from the time line to a file! Loop If the loop button is pressed, the output plays in a continuous mode. This way a show will be repeated after it ended, equally as the scene or a selected area. Output is equally in loop mode with an editor image. Music and Sound You can select a song that should be played altogether with the show. Therefor open a song with the Folder button. Now chose a.wav or.mp3 file or even a song from a music CD. Press speaker button to turn on the output of the song. Now the music starts, irrelevant which output has been selected. It yet skips automatically to the correct time window if another source than play whole show is selected. We recommend the use of uncompromised.wav files because it offers you more advantages. On the one hand the processor will be less strained with decompression, on the other hand the scrolling on the time line will be much faster and more exactly. An audio CD should only be used in emergency cases. 45

46 Jog Wheel Control A highly interesting feature is the so-called Jog Wheel control. If this feature is activated, the play speed of a show can be adjusted during play, faster or slower. At the same time it is possible during a live show to adjust the laser show to on the fly made song variations. The preview window For a 3D preview at the preview window DirectX version 9.0c has to be installed. Further on the DirectX file d3d.dll need to be at the M-III program directory. If this is not the case, the M-III notifies you with a warning. In this case the file needs to be copied into the M-III program directory by hand. The 3D preview can be rotated via mouse into all directions. In this case either the room or the thereincontained laser projectors rotate and allow a perspective view of the laser show. Both positions of the projectors and beam direction per projector can be assigned for an as perfect simulation of the show as possible. With the mouse wheel you can zoom into the show. With right mouse key the context menu opens. Here you can select among other things, whether the beams in the room should be visible or not (fog effect). Beams should be turned off for graphic view. Caution! Depending on the graphic card the 3D preview can slow down your computer! Yet on Intel chips contained HD4000 processors are already fast enough for a smooth display. You can see the features of the play buttons and source selection at our chapter Play control. Virtual projectors 46

47 A high-performance and unique feature of the M-III is the so-called Virtual Projectors. Herewith you can create highly complex animation zones very easily and route them later on through simple visual matrix to the actual laser projectors. Any number of tracks on the time line can be routed to any number of virtual projectors. Every virtual projector is equal to a projection zone and can contain completely different output settings. This allows you for example to assign different output settings to a graphic output than to a beam show output, either way in output speed and geometric equalization. Virtual projectors can be created freely. A limitation is not present. Example: One single laser projector at the middle of the room is available. This should project one by one or at the same time either graphic projections on a canvas, as well as beam shows into the whole room. Two separate settings will be needed, one for the canvas and one for the room: 1. Virtual Projector Graphic The projection setting will be set to projection canvas. Because the canvas has got smaller dimensions than the whole room, the output size and position need to be adjusted. At the same time the output speed can be increased to prevent flickering at the graphic. Additionally equalization needs to be selected because the canvas is mounted to the ceiling. 2. Virtual Projector Beam Show The beam show should be available in the whole room; the output settings therefor need to be completely different as with the virtual projector graphic. Because of the higher deflection angle the scan speed will be reduced a little bit and the projection size will be adjusted to the room. Now that these two projectors are set, both will be routed on the mapping matrix at the laser projector. Now you don't need to have an eye on adjusting single frames or scenes during the creation of the show. This is done by the individual virtual projector. Routing/Mapping 47

48 Excessive mapping of several virtual projectors on various physical projectors. Because of the cross matrix this assignment is very easy to create and also largely openly arranged. Every track seen in the upper matrix window can be mapped to any number of virtual projectors. Any virtual projectors can as well be mapped to physical devices (lower matrix window). Simply checking a box at the particular allocation window does this. The mapping dialogue can do much more than only mapping. By clicking with right mouse key on a physical device, a context menu again opens with another important and mighty tools. Handling of interfaces/projectors 48

49 By clicking with right mouse key on the particular name of a projector a new context menu with very interesting and important features opens. Right click on virtual projectors: On one hand you can add a new virtual projector here. By clicking with right mouse key on a virtual projector you can easily delete or rename it as well. Right click on physical projectors: Set Friendly Name : Every MediaLas Interface or every MediaLas Projector can be named freely. This is an advantage while working with numerous projectors. Here i.e. you can name the projector in the middle Center, both sideway projectors Side or however you'd like. Open In Browser : This does only work with MediaLas networking devices. Every MediaLas networking device has got its own integrated web interface. This will be opened in Browser. Here you can edit the networking device, set IP addresses and so on. Save Projectors stub : A special feature while not programming at the actual physical projector. Color control Efficient and excessive color control with the M-II 49

50 Here again we have some extra feature available for you and the generous color control of the numerous laser projectors. What we support here are even projectors with irregularly matched RGB proportions, which are therefor not able to produce a clean white. With Use Full Color we give you a tool to produce a nice white tone as well as full brightness at the same time! Please select the projector to adjust from the left drop down list first. Check the box at Use Full Color. Now an additional slider for full colors appears. You are now able to perform a white balance with the normal color sliders. As long as you used mixed colors in your drawings, the color settings of the color matching will be used. Once you use full colors like clear blue, clear green or clear red, the settings of the full colors sliders will be applied. You again have full brightness, no matter how your color matching has been set. Color routing Color routing in M-III A very efficient tool for the setup of numerous projectors including unicolor projectors, is the internal color routing of the M-III. An example: You own an RGY projector without any blue. If you now have a full color output, all blue parts of your show would not be transmitted to the projector. Parts of your show would simply go missing! Here the M-III now offers the possibility to route all blue proportions to one or more other color channels. Please select the projector to set up from drop down first. Now check the box at Internal Blue to Output Green and/or Output Red. All blue color proportions now will be routed to Red and/or Green and you've got all contents displayed again. Perspective Special Feature: Perspective (Persp) Another special feature has been integrated to our play module: the Perspective slide control. It's fascinating to play around with these sliders because you can't damage anything on your show. The usual scenario or if the slide control is at its default position at the left, all rotations, motions and other 50

51 3D features will be displayed in a parallel perspective without an imaginary view of the Z-axle. A square rotated over X or Y axle only changes its size throughout the axle. All sides are parallel during a rotation. That's not very applicable for graphic projections but massively for beam shows. If you now adjust the value with the Perspective slide control, an imaginary Z-axle will be added behind the normal projection. The exact same square rotated over X or Y axle now changes in its size at 3D, at the central perspective, where an end of the square rotating towards the imaginary exit point will become smaller. The end rotating towards the audience will be enlarged. Rotating parts now are not parallel anymore. To learn more about this slide control, simply draw a square in the editor, drag it on the time line and let it rotate for 360 on X axis. Now play this rotation at repeat mode and adjust both Perspective slide controls, as you'd like. Interesting, isn't it? ILDA File Export M-III is capable of exporting any kind of files, frames, framelists or animations, to standard ILDA format. There are no restrictions. Did we already said, we hate restrictions? Exporting frames and framelists Single frames or complete framelists can be exported to an ILDA file within the drawing editor. Exporting complete animations or shows as ILDA framelist An entire show can be exported to an ILDA framelist. There are several options available for the export. One of the most important options is the fps (frames per second) adjustment. By setting the fps adjustment to a desired value, the show is exported in perfect timing, since the frames per second are fixed. This means, 51

52 exporting with 25 fps means, that there are 25 frames each second. If you share your show with someone else, then the import should be set to 25fps, to exactly match the original timing of the show. Right click on the timeline to open a context menu. Here select "Export Output as Framelist" 52

53 As you can see, there are several options to export framelists as single tracks, single virtual projectors, or simply complete. In the lower section, the export framerate is selectable. The higher the frame rate, the larger the file size. A frame rate of maximum 25fps is recommended. Additionally, you can select to export with or without geometric correction. The exported files are located in your "documents" folder. Geometry correction Geometry correction, position, size Geometry adjustments 53

54 The geometric correction At the geometry correction projections can be adjusted in its size and position and in case of keystone be equalized by slide controls. The equalization has been programmed to never be corrected throughout the whole projection area because this would not make any sense at any time. Any corrections will be performed within the whole projection area. Overview of different types of geometry correction To adjust a keystone projection you should load a check board pattern from the test images and adjust the projection area with this pattern. Timecode control Control of a show via external time code MTC and SMPTE MTC (Midi Time Code) und SMPTE 54

55 The M-III is designed to receive time code data from another Midi device and to synchronize with it. Therefor a midi input has to be available. SMPTE can be used equally, however, an external adapter needs to be plugged in because SMPTE is an analog format. MTC Delay (Setting Starting Time) With a double click at the window MTC Delay a new window opens where you can set MTC Starting Time. Example: A laser show only is a part of a whole show with fireworks, lights, laser, video and so on controlled by an external MTC player. If the laser show needs to be started at a specific point of time, the desired starting time will be set at this window. Laser show starts as soon as the M-III receives the correct time code. Perfect synchronization! Possible MTC sources Usually you can use any digital recording device with midi ports. We work with Tascam because even the very favorable 8-track Tascam supplies a Midi time code port. We equally tested numerous 19 hard disc recorder of Fostex, Tascam and many more. Live! The Live! User Interface 55

56 The Live! interface The Live Interface in M-III 56

57 In M-III a very powerful live interface is available which also can be control by general Midi. Furthermore, the control via touch screen or remote desktop is also available. Live! can play any sort of frame lists, whether ILDA or.fra. By clicking on the particular button with right mouse key a new context menu opens, where you can assign frames or frame lists. This way up to 48 keys can be configured. Once the configuration is done, the session can be saved. Sessions and files Loading and Saving Sessions and Files at Live! By clicking with right mouse key on the particular button a new context menu opens where you can assign frames or frame lists. The frame list will be loaded to cache completely and be played from cache in real 57

58 time. This way a very fast selection of different effects and frames is possible. Once all buttons are configured as desired, this configuration can be saved as Session and be loaded at any time. Therefor please use Load Session and Save Session. Control of "Live!" Retrieving Frames in a Session Once the session is loaded all 48 buttons can be addressed with your regular computer keyboard, mouse or touch screen. To activate the output and route the output on the laser projector, please press the laser button at the play control and then Start. At the same time you can watch the output at preview window. Switching between buttons almost takes place in real time. This way there are no delays between the effects. Numerous Live Sessions are supplied with the M-III distribution. Additional Effects On The Buttons For each and every button you additionally have the option to add more effects and animations. This results in very creative effects. Therefor please shift the effect slider located at the right window area. After every saving of a session the positions of the sliders will be saved as well separately for each and every button. Holding Effects At the upper region you can see a box to check called Hold. If the box is checked, the output plays in loop, which means that every button will be played as long as a new button is going to be pressed. BPM Automatic Again a very interesting method to play automatic live shows. It's virtually the human beat detector. By clicking on this area with left mouse key or space bar a beat can be configured and be activated at the beat with the play buttons. The more precisely the beat suits the music, the more precisely the effects will be started. Selection of the play buttons will be changed with the radio buttons Next or By Chance. Midi-control The Live! Interface can be control with an external midi device very comfortably. Please note that not every midi device is suitable in this case. Ideally control is done with a piano like keyboard with 49 keys. 48 keys will be used for controlling the individual frame buttons; the leftover button can be used as blackout. 58

59 Jog Wheels or programmable sliders can be assigned with different features. This way for example a fade in / fade out can be controlled easily with the volume sliders. Please make sure beforehand that the midi device is connected to Windows and is displayed as midi device. Then select the midi device from the Live! drop down list. Select you midi channel at which the device is connected. If you are not sure about this, please select All Channels. Caution! Eventually MTC may not work anymore. Press Learn and press the last key at the right at your keyboard. Now Live! knows which is the last midi key. This now works as blackout. DMX DMX control with M-III Set up DMX M-II can control any sort of DMX devices because of its open structure. The control of DMX values is equally to laser scenes, freely adjustable on the time line. DMX events and changes of their values can be played absolutely simultaneously on any DMX512 worlds. An independent DMX512 world per installed interface is available which means ten interfaces and ten independent DMX worlds! That's extreme! Every track on time line can control up to 16 DMX channels. If all 512 channels need to be used, 32 tracks are necessary. Setting up DMX output devices and tracks Before setting up and editing the DMX tracks on time line, the DMX device and the routing need to be set up first. This is how you do it: Declaring a track 59

60 DMX commands are located on DMX tracks. Therefor you need to declare a DMX track beforehand. Please create a new track or declare an already existing track as DMX. The track will be created and is displayed as green. Creating a Virtual Projector Equally to laser tracks, a virtual projector for routing the DMX track needs to be created. This is done as usual from the context menu with right mouse key. Name the projector accordingly. In this case too the projector should be declared as DMX. 60

61 Routing to Output Device In the lower matrix you now rout the DMX projector to the desired output device. If you have created many virtual DMX projectors, every single one of these can be routed to an extra output device. This is how you get numerous independent DMX universes. Creating DMX scenes Equally to laser tracks, as many DMX tracks as you want can be created. The length of the tracks can be set freely. Every scene can control, crossfade and alter up to 16 DMX channels. Every scene can be assigned a DMX basic address in addition. Furthermore, you can now select how many DMX channels the scene may contain. Fog machines for example often only have two channels. The Number of Channels setting will therefor be set to 2. Now two sliders will be available. 61

62 For assigning crossfading or morphing between initial and exit value, please check the button Initial value first and set the initial value of the scene. With this values or DMX positions the scene now starts. Now you've got two options: Static Values During A Scene For the output of simple static values (fixed DMX values) for example for fog machines, please check the box exit values and copy and past the value of the initial value in here. Dynamic Values (Crossfading) During A Scene In order to adjust the values one by one during the play of a scene, please set the desired initial and exit values and drag the scene to the desired runtime. The values will be morphed throughout runtime. Here you can i.e. move a DMX dimmer or a Moving Head (RoboLas DMX). The output of DMX values is executed at the interface routed for this track. Please check! Safety Zones Setting up safety zones Set up of safety zones The Safety Zones in M-III A very important feature of the M-III is the completely and extensively adjustable safety zones in which the power will be reduced. This way you can perform safe scans and projecting to the audience even with very powerful laser projectors. Creating a safety zone and setting it up is done very easily and logically. You can set as many zones with any size and position as you want to. Those zones can be assigned other types of dim-out too and can be assigned from 1% to 100%. This way even zero-zones are possible. Select the Safety Zones tab. Here you can activate calibration mode. Now draw a rectangle at the editor. 62

63 This will later on be our safety zone. Assign an output to the laser and move the projected rectangle at the editor window exactly to its position you want your safety zone to be at. By increasing or decreasing the rectangle at the editor window you can set up the area precisely. Usually this rectangle will be set to audience zone. Now set the dim-out rate. 20% would mean a dim-out of 20% and a brightness of 80% of total output. By checking Apply Dim-out Zones you now set the safety zones. You will recognize it as the grey rectangle at the preview box. If you want to add additional zones, please repeat the steps shown before. By clicking on Apply Dim-out Zones you create another safety zone. Now you can deactivate calibration mode and work on as usual. Safety zones are now active. Deleting Safety Zones By clicking on the button Reset Dim-out Zone all safety zones will be deleted. Hint: It's common that we get calls from our users like my projector does not have any power anymore. Usually we find it that safety zones have been set and forgotten. We therefor recommend checking this tab regularly to avoid any mistakes. Hi9nt: If you want to record a laser show with a camera, please draw a small safety zone around the camera to avoid damaging of the image sensor. Display of time or countdown Display of Real Time with M-III Display time in laser M-III supports an automatic time display. The programming or activation is performed at the text input window of the editor. Therefor please select the text tool. You can now enter the following basic commands in the text box: <date> <time> A further formatting of the time output is possible as well: yy yyyy m mm mmm mmmm = d dd ddd dddd = Year with 2 digits (i.e = 14) = Year with 4 digits (i.e = 2014) = Month without leading zero (i.e. January = 1) = double-digit month-statement (i.e. January = 01) = month-statement as short name (i.e. January = Jan) month-statement as long name (i.e. January = January) = Day without leading zero (i.e. Monday = 1) = double-digit day-statement (i.e. Monday = 01) = day-statement as short name (i.e. Monday = Mon) = day-statement as long name (i.e. Monday = Monday) c h hh n nn = = = = = 63 short date format hour display without leading zero double-digit hour display minute display without leading zero double-digit minute display

64 s ss z zzz t tt = = = = = = second display without leading zero double-digit second display millisecond display without leading zero triple-digit millisecond display short time format long time format Examples: <date> creates <date,yy-mm> creates <time> creates <time,n:ss> <time,hh:nn:ss>creates Mar 16:02:25 creates 2:09 14:02:09 Furthermore clear texts can be added. Example: It's <time,hh:nn> o'clockcreates It's 04:02 P.M. Date <date,dd/m> creates Date 3/12 Automated countdown in laser You can create an automatic countdown similar to time via input at the text box at the editor. This countdown lasts as long as the scene is long on the time line. Therefor a new frame will be created. Now you need to enter the following programming with the text tool at the text box: <countdown> Now with this frame a scene will be created on time line. (Click on the frame and drag it to the time line). The length of the countdown is depending on the length of the scene on time line. Example: If a 10 second scene is created on time line, a 10 second countdown will be displayed at the laser output. Here, too, you can format time commands with output: c h hh n nn s ss z zzz t tt = = = = = = = = = = = short date format hour display without leading zero double-digit hour display minute display without leading zero double-digit minute display second display without leading zero double-digit second display millisecond display without leading zero triple-digit millisecond display short date format long date format Example: A countdown of 10 seconds needs to be created. The countdown should only display seconds. <countdown,s> Furthermore even clear text can be added Example: 64

65 Only <countdown,s> seconds left! creates Only 10 seconds left! Only 9 seconds left! The DRC Design Rule Check Powerful - the design rule check DRC DRC in Action 65

66 The DRC (Design Rule Check) is a powerful tool to detect small but eventful design errors at a show. Especially while working fast it often happens that scenes may not be completely connected to each other (Micro gaps), effects may not be created parallel to a scene or further errors or anomalies have been developed. DRC detects those and even better is able to automatically correct it most of the times. Click with right mouse key on a detected error. This way time line will be set to the time of it and you can directly view it. If the box Keep Window at Foreground, the DRC window will be displayed permanently while time line shifts to the desired point in the background. LAN network operation Implementation of NetPort cards M-III offers a uniqe method of implementing NetPort cards into your regular IP network without any additional interfaces. Since Netport cards are usually integrated into a laser projector, there is no need for any analog control signals, like ILDA cables or USB interfaces. Any projector equipped with a NetPort card, can be connected to any network directly. We recommend a gigabit network, however, it will also work on older 100MBit networks, if there are not too many projectors connected to the same network. The IP configuration can be both fixed or automated DHCP. If a fixed IP is used, the IP address can be set individually on each NetPort card. With DHCP, the IP address will be given by the network host, router or Win computer. 66

67 We recommend to set your system to fixed IP. This will increase your connection speed, and after any case of lost power, the card will implement itself into the network an M-III within seconds. M-III will recognize the return of the card by itself, also while a show is already running. Example: Your intranet lies on address range xxx. Now set each laser projector to an address within this range, for example The control computer gets a lower IP, such as or similar, to avoid any address conflict. Each further projector can be increased by one number, and so on. Please note, that each NetPort card needs its own address, there should not be two cards with the same IP in the network. In theory, there is an unrestricted number of NetPort cards in one network possible. Did we say, we hate restrictions? Depending on the speed of your network, the data rate per card can be limited by the computer system. We already tested 16 independant NetPorts in one GB LAN network without any problems. With M-III, all MediaLas interface types can be mixed. HyperPort, NetPort, or QuickPort can be run at the same time. MediaLas Projectors Many MediaLas projectors are delivered with NetPort cards. Here, an immediate network operation is given. The switching between ILDA input or LAN input runs automatic, when an ILDA cable is connected. OEM NetPort cards NetPort cards are available as OEM parts, for existing projectors and projects. There is a power source of 912V / 500mA necessary. Select IP address As already described, each NetPort card can handle automatic IP (DHCP) or fixed IP. The adjustment can be done via web frontend from the NetPort card. However, the IP address needs to be known, or the card must be switched to DHCP, to have access to the web frontend of the card. The web frontend is simply recalled from a browser, or directly from M-III, see "handling of interfaces" 67

68 In overview, you can see all settings and addresses of each NetPort card. Each card can be configured individually. As you can see, this NetPort card is set to DHCP. It will be recognized automatically by Windows computers (XP3 or higher). This takes up to 2 minutes. You can also see the serial number and the firmware version. In the left menu, further settings can be made. Under "network settings", the setting of IP mode can be set. This function is self explaining. Be sure to press "Apply" after any change, then reboot the card by switching power off and on. 68

69 ATTENTION! If the card is set to "static", the make notes of the IP address. If you forgot your static IP address, it is pretty hard to find the card again in your network! Store shows in memory The "large" NetPort cards (not NetPort LC) offers the DMX controlled playback of prestored shows from the cards memory. Up to 256 shows or animations can be stored, and recalled from DMX. Furthermore, there are various manipulations available, such as rotation, zooming, offset, and more, which are again controllable by DMX channels, for any live show control. The files are uploaded into the cards memory via network host. With the menu point "Show management", the interface can be accessed. First, the selected ILDA animation files are stored onto the memory inside the NetPort cards. Select your file, and upload it to the memory. The file will show up in the file list. Now, this file needs to be routed to a DMX value between 1 and 255. Now set the correct value of the Speed (pps). If you are unsure, how fast you can scan, start with 15,000pps, and then slowly increase. You can change this setting at any time. Do not forget to store the settings with "Apply". If the card should run in DMX playback mode, you need to set the cards mode to "Player mode". Press apply, and reboot the card by switching pwoer off and on. AUTOPLAY A nice feature is the autoplay function. A show or animation will be displayed immediately after switching the cards power on. Simply set the DMX value of the automated show to "0". 69