LED Screen Tool: Curved Screens

[Andy Broomell]

It would be great if the LED Screen tool had a way to create curved screens, such as this:

 

 

Currently you can create flat screens with the LED Screen tool:

 

 

 

Adding the ability to create curved screens could be accomplished by:

• Adding a parameter to specify an arc diameter

• Adding a parameter to specify an angle between each column of modules (a common approach since there's often specific curving block hardware available). For example, I could say I want 7.5° between each column of my 500mmx500mm modules.

 

 

While I can model curved screens with simple extrudes like I did above, the LED Screen tool has many advantages, such as:

• Ability to extract data into worksheets. Flat screens and curved screens are all the same PIO.
• Built-in text labels.
• Automatic 2D representation with 2D solid fill.
• Mapping a single image texture across the modules.
• Automatic calculation of number of tiles within specified screen size.
• Most importantly... I can change from 500mm square tiles to 480mm square tiles and not have to start the whole process from scratch. Manually distributing the shapes accurately along the curve is a laborious process. If the LED Screen tool could do it all for me I would be a very happy camper.

[markdd]

1 hour ago, Andy Broomell said:

Mapping a single image texture across the modules.

I'm sure you know this already Andy, but if you add all your extrudes together as a Solid Addition, VWX should map an image texture across all the extrudes as 1 item. Otherwise I agree entirely , your suggestions would be a really good addition to the tool.

 

Mark

Edited August 23, 2017 by markdd

[Andy Broomell]

13 minutes ago, markdd said:

I'm sure you know this already Andy, but if you add all your extrudes together as a Solid Addition, VWX should map an image texture across all the extrudes as 1 item.

 

True, which gets us by for now .

 

One thing that's nice about the LED Screen tool (and other PIOs) is that it automatically stretches the texture as you change the size of your screen. It's a major time saver and lets you focus on designing rather than texture mapping (which as we know is seldom fast and easy in Vectorworks).

 

One other difference between the LED Screen tool and a Solid Addition is that the LED Screen tool allows you to still see the individual modules in wireframe, whereas a Solid Addition just looks like one solid mass. And in Hidden Line if I set my smoothing angle to 0° I can see the individual modules as well. This is helpful for construction drawings and drawings sent to video vendors.

 

[grant_PD]

Yep yep yep.  Also, labelling for this tool (and drape, which is its cousin via Landru Design) needs to be more flexible.  These labels need to be rotatable text objects, so that they can align better with other text objects in plan.  We need more ability to link Vendor specific information to it as well. 

[bcd]

I find the LED tool altogether too slow & cumbersome and prefer to model the led screens instead. 

Edited August 25, 2017 by bcd

[Ben3B]

no news on that feature ?

[Ben3B]

no news in 2023 ???

[Andy Broomell]

No changes that I'm aware of in 2023.

[ALegge]

If you want this to be actioned you will need to get more people involved, talk to fellow designers and if they are keen for this get them to upvote it.

[Tommy-Pixel]

On 8/23/2017 at 7:44 PM, markdd said:

I'm sure you know this already Andy, but if you add all your extrudes together as a Solid Addition, VWX should map an image texture across all the extrudes as 1 item. Otherwise I agree entirely , your suggestions would be a really good addition to the tool.

 

Mark

@markdd I have been down a path of plenty of trial and error and lots of searching the internet over past 24hrs. I am trying to show a stage with a continuous LED wall as is the preference of a bunch of festivals now. I can create the 3D shape no problem. The problem comes when I try to apply a single image across it. The image I have created is the right dims, but this is not the problem. The problem is that VWX sees each section of the extrude as a separate surface. I have tried extracting surfaces, converting to generic solids. Extracting nurbs curves from the edges and creating loft surfaces from a pair of those. I then found this post and thought *eureka* SOLID ADDITION because I always trust your posts to have neat, simple answers! But alas, VWX still sees the solid addition as having seperate surfaces where it switches from flat surface to curved. Any thoughts to help a weary drafter out!

[markdd]

@Tommy-PixelSometimes it’s best to see what’s going on. Can you either post the relevant objects and texture into a blank file and either post it here or message me with it and I’ll take a look this evening and report back.