VideoScreen 2. build 2.3. manual

Transcription

1 VideoScreen 2 build 2.3 manual

2 Landru Design, USA Jonker & Wu, The Netherlands VideoScreen is an idea by: C. Andrew Dunning, Landru Design Written by: Gerard Jonker, Jonker & Wu - and - C. Andrew Dunning, Landru Design VideoScreen 2 is a VectorWorks Plug-In that enables you to insert 2D and 3D models of Video Devices (such as projection screens, plasma televisions, CRT monitors, and LED arrays) into your VectorWorks drawings - complete with easily-customizable screen images. Using the VectorWorks Object Info Palette, Video Device formats can be defined and changed on-the-fly. Screen sizes can be easily changed as projects evolve. VideoScreen 2 also places projectors in 2D and 3D space - based on screen size and on projector lens ratings. VideoScreen 2 comes packed with a series of standard projector, stand, and case symbols. p a g e 2 o f 1 8

3 VideoScreen 2.3 requires VectorWorks and RenderWorks 12 or later. If you are using older versions of VectorWorks, use the older version available on the Landru Design server. If you haven t done so already, contact Landru Design at main@landrudesign.com or Jonker&Wu at Post@jonker-wu.nl for a link to the download page and a password for either version. By downloading and using any version of VideoScreen, you agree to the following: 1) You agree that you are using VideoScreen 2 under a license granted by Landru Design and Jonker&Wu. 2) You agree that all title, ownership, rights, intellectual property rights in and to VideoScreen 2 and all copies thereof, regardless of form (including, but not limited to, computer or source code and any related documentation), are owned or expressly licensed by Landru Design and Jonker&Wu. Such rights extend to all updates of VideoScreen 2 and any related derivative works. 3) You agree not sell, rent, lend, loan, lease or otherwise transfer or distribute the VideoScreen 2 software. Furthermore, you agree not modify, dissemble, decompile, or reverse-engineer the VideoScreen 2 software. 4) You agree that a download/license of VideoScreen 2 is intended for a single, individual user. Please contact Landru Design or Jonker&Wu for multi-user/site licensing. 5) You agree that this license may be terminated by Landru Design or Jonker&Wu if you fail to comply with its terms and conditions. You agree that, upon such termination, you will destroy (or permanently erase) all copies of VideoScreen 2. 6) You agree that VideoScreen 2 is provided "as is" and is provided without warranty of any kind, either express, implied, or statutory, including but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. You agree not hold Landru Design and Jonker&Wu - or any of their owners, personnel, subsidiaries, or affiliates responsible for any damages of any kind resulting from the use of this software, including but not limited to, inaccuracies, loss of data, loss of goodwill, work stoppage, computer or software failure or malfunction - and all other direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damage and losses. In the event that Landru Design or Jonker&Wu is found liable to you, you agree that such liability shall not exceed the amount of fees paid by you for the use of VideoScreen 2. p a g e 3 o f 1 8

4 New to VideoScreen Version 2.3 < Code has been modified to make VideoScreen compatible with VectorWorks New to VideoScreen Version 2.2 < A Coverage Zone feature has been added to aide users in the sizing and placing of screens. < Models (including appropriate aspect calculation modifications) have been added for projectors on their sides. < More stock lenses have been added to the projector lens list - along with a custom lens feature that allows users to input specific lenses that may not be on the list. < The projector placement calculations have been improved to compensate for projector height relative to screen height. Part of this is an alarm that is triggered if a user tries to place a projector higher than is possible to get a given image size. < A few new stock screen images have been added, including color bars. < The VideoScreen Floor feature was updated to allow screens and projector stands to have different settings. < A few minor bugs have been fixed. New to VideoScreen Version 2.13 < "3:4 custom," "9:16 custom," "4:5 custom," or "1:1.89 custom" screen sizes have been added, providing automated screen Width or Height calculation when creating standard-aspect screens that are flipped 90 degrees. < 3D projector models can now be tilted when using Front and Rear Projection types. < A few minor Object Info Palette parameter visibility bugs have been fixed. p a g e 4 o f 1 8

5 New to VideoScreen Version 2.11 < VideoScreen will now create round Front and Rear Projection screens, with adjustable screen diameter and border dimensions. < For Plasma models including stands, the stand height is now adjustable. < New plasma models have been added with portrait orientation. < A toggle to place the different elements comprising a VideoScreen model into different classes has been added. < 5:4 and 1.89:1 aspects have been added for Front and Rear Projection screens. < The application of custom textures to projection models has been improved. < The placement of projectors in 3D space has been improved. < For projection screens that are taller than they are wide the projectors will be placed based on the screens heights. < FastFold Dress Kit parameters are now adjustable, including pleat depth and width, leg width, and valence height. < The name of the PIO has been changed to VideoScreen 2. New to VideoScreen Version 2.0 < Minor installation changes were made to adapt to changes made in VectorWorks versions 11.5 and 12. < The 2D screen border/frame (for Front and Rear Projection screens) texture is now changeable through the Attributes palette. < A multiple projector option has been added. Projectors can either be stacked or placed side-by-side. < RP and FP screen formats now have a FastFold leg option. Included with that option is an toggle to draw a standard screen dress kit, in one of three standard colors. < The method of placing projectors for the FP and RP formats has changed. In addition to the previous method, users now have the option of specifying one of the included stock floor stands (scaffolding, AV carts, tables), placing projectors relative to desired flown trim heights, or aligning them with the tops or bottoms of their screens. < 3 caged projector types have been added. < RP screens now show the reversed image on their back sides. < Options have been added to place different PIO text in the drawing: screen dimensions, lens rating, distance to the screen from the lens, and projector ID. < A Hide Screen option has been added that will place projectors and draw the projection cones, but will hide the screen geometry. p a g e 5 o f 1 8

6 Installation VideoScreen 2 comes in two files: VideoScreen 2.vso and VideoScreenStorage13.vwx (or,videoscreenstorage11.mcd or VideoScreenStorage12.mcd for VectorWorks 11 or12). The *.vso file is the actual Plug-In and the *.vwx (*.mcd) file is the file that holds the screen images, the projector and monitor symbols, and other textures and hatches. The 11," 12," or 13" corresponds to the VectorWorks version you are running. ( 13" is for VectorWorks 2008.) Copy the VideoScreen 2.vso file to the Plug-Ins folder of your VectorWorks folder. Copy VideoScreenStorage13.vwx (or VideoScreenStorage12.mcd) to the Libraries folder, found in your VectorWorks folder (or VideoScreenStorage11.mcd to Object Libraries for VectorWorks 11). Note to all users: VectorWorks should not be running during this installation process. Note to previous users: The above installation instruction for is a change from previous versions of VideoScreen. Also, it is important that you are using the new Storage file - whether you are upgrading from VideoScreen 1.x to 2.11 or from 2.0 to 2.3. If you have added custom symbols or screen images to your old Storage file, create a back-up of the file and add them to this new one. Next, add the VideoScreen 2 icon to your favorite Workspace. If you've never done that before and are not near your VectorWorks manual: 1) Click...[Tools]...[Workspaces]...[Workspace Editor]. Make sure "Edit current workspace" is selected and click "OK." (In VW11.5, the menu path to the Workspace Editor is [File]...[Workspaces]...[Workspace Editor]. ) 2) In the resulting dialog, click the "Tools" tab. 3) Scroll down the available tool section (the left side) until you see the "Landru" section. Click the "+." 4) Either drag the VideoScreen 2 icon to an existing palette or create a new palette and drag the icon there. 5) Click "OK." p a g e 6 o f 1 8

7 Using VideoScreen Choose the VideoScreen 2 icon from the tool palette to which you added it earlier. A ghost image of a default screen and a projector will appear. Click in your drawing to place the VideoScreen object. Rotate the screen to the desired angle (like placing VectorWorks symbols). Depending on your version of VectorWorks, an initial settings dialog box may appear. If one does, click OK in that box to make it disappear. With the newly-placed screen object selected, use the Object Info palette to make adjustments. If the Shape tab is not in the forefront of the Object Info palette, click it to make it so. To keep the interface clean, not all of the VideoScreen 2 parameters will be visible in the Object Info palette for every format. Some will be seen for only 1 or 2. Some of the formats resize dynamically and some use pre-set symbols. Where appropriate, VideoScreen 2 will give dimensional feedback through the Object Info palette. VideoScreen 2 s different parameter settings are detailed in the pages that follow... Please forgive any discrepancies between this manual, its illustrations, and reality. It is often easier to make software fixes and/or additions than it is to keep a manual current. p a g e 7 o f 1 8

8 The Front Projector format is the default for VideoScreen 2. Information on the other formats will be on following pages. Class, Layer, X, Y, Z, and Rot: Settings similar to other VectorWorks symbols and objects. ( Z is the distance from the drawing s ground plane to the bottom of the screen border or casing.) Screen Type: A popup with format choices: CRT Flat, CRT Curved, Plasma, LCD/TFT, LED, Rear Projector, and Front Projector. Reset VS: Click the checkbox to regenerate the VideoScreen object. Aspect Ratio: This pop-up menu parameter has 3 modes: S If 4:3" or 16:9" is chosen, the Diagonal parameter (below) will be revealed and will give you a list of stock screen sizes from which to choose. The corresponding Width and Height will be calculated. S If 4:3 custom, 16:9 custom, 5:4 custom, or 1.89:1 custom is chosen, entering either a Width or a Height will cause VideoScreen to calculate the other value, based on the chosen aspect. S If rect. all custom dimensions, you can enter both a Width and a Height. VideoScreen will then calculate and display the resulting aspect. S If round custom, the Diameter (Image) parameter will be revealed. Diagonal: A popup menu listing stock diagonal screen sizes. (Hidden if a custom aspect is chosen above.) Width and Height: Width and Height of the screen (not including border or frame). Depending on the Aspect mode, these parameters will either be feed-back only or will be editable. If you have chosen one of the projection types (front or rear) and rect. all custom dimensions, AND the screen s height dimension is greater than its width (such as stock screen rotated 90 to portrait orientation), the resulting screen aspect will be displayed. A drop-down list will then be revealed, this one containing possible aspect ratios FOR THE SCREEN S PROJECTOR. If a right-side-up projector is selected, VideoScreen 2 will place the projector based on its aspect and the screen s height - and will account for the image overshoot due to the orientation difference. Image Dim. On Drawing: Toggle to place image size text on drawing. (See following pages.) Show Coverage Zone: Will draw the viewing area for the screen based on the screen size. Toggling this will reveal different adjustable settings. (See following pages.) Hide Screen: Toggle to hide the screen geometry while still drawing the projector and projection cone. (For users projecting onto scenery or other non-screen surfaces.) Add Folding Legs: Toggle to draw folding legs and feet. Will reveal the Add Dress Kit toggle. The folding feet and the bottom of the dress kit will be placed on the PIO s ground. (See VideoScreen Floor, below, and following pages for more information.) Screen Tilt: For the LED and Projection screen modes, this allows you to set the tilt of the screen, in degrees. Positive values tilt the top of the screen away from the viewer and negatives tilt it toward the viewer. For the other screen modes, this parameter is feed-back only. ( Screen Tilt will disappear if Add Folding Feet is selected.) Screen Image: A popup menu with a wide choice of different stock textures - as well as a custom option. If you choose Custom, apply a texture to the PIO through the Render tab, just as you would for a 3D object. Adjust Image: This toggle allows you to change the image s scale and on-screen position. (See following pages.) Show Projector: Toggle to hide or show the projector. Only available for Front Projector and Rear Projector. Projectors: A pop-up menu to choose from a list of generic projector types. Only available with Show Projector toggled on. Proj. Tilt: Only available when Show Projector is toggled on, this sets projector tilting relative to the horizontal plane. This parameter works only when working in views other than Top/Plan. p a g e 8 o f 1 8

9 Front Projector format parameters, continued... Proj. Vert. Pos.: Only available with either Show Projector or Show Cone toggled on, this pop-up menu parameter has 6 modes for placing projectors: S Screen Center: Center of the projector lens is aligned with the screen center. S Align to Top: The top of the projector body is aligned with the top of the screen border. S Align to Bottom: The bottom of the projector body is aligned with the bottom of the screen border. S Stand: Reveals the Stand Symbol drop-down list. This list contains stock projector stands, including scaffolding, AV carts, Safelock stands, and tables. The chosen stand is placed on the PIO s ground. S Rigged: Reveals the Trim (Bottom) parameter. This places the projector at the given height, as measured from the PIO s ground to the bottom of the projector body. S Specific Shift: The projector is shifted vertically relative to the screen center, as measured from the center of the projector lens. VideoScreen Floor: Sets the PIO s Floor relative to the drawing s Ground Plane - so that options like Rigged, Stand, and Folding Feet work. Projector Shift: Only shown if Proj. Vert. Pos. values of Stand or Specific Shift are chosen. For the former, this is the difference between the VideoScreen Floor and where the Stand is to be placed. For the latter, it is the difference between the screen center and the center of the projector. A note about the above two parameters: VideoScreen Floor allows the user to do things like have a VideoScreen object placed on a stage with the stage floor at a different Z value than the drawing s ground plane. For example, for a screen mounted on folding legs that raise it 48" from its floor - but that is placed on a 36" stage (that is measured up from the Ground Plane) the VideoScreen object would have a Z value of 48" and a VideoScreen Floor value of 36". This would place both the screen legs AND the projector stand on the 36" stage. By giving Projector Shift a value of -36", the projector stand could be placed on the Ground Plane and the legs would still be placed properly on the stage. Multi. Proj.: Toggle to place multiple projectors for a single screen - either stacked or side-by-side. (See following pages.) Lenses: A popup menu to choose from a list of of standard projector lenses, including zoom lenses. Only available with either Show Projector or Show Cone toggled on. Zoom factor: Lets you enter a specific in a specific lens zoom value. Only shown if a zoom lens is chosen. Cust. Lens Value: The user-defined custom lens value. Only shown if a Custom lens is chosen. A note about VideoScreen lenses and projector placement: The stock lenses listed are based on manufacturers' stated distance-to-width ratios only. Because actual lens performance varies between manufacturers, you may have to select a different lens from our list or use Custom to reflect the true performance of the particular lens you are using. Therefore, it is also important to consider VideoScreen s projector placement as an estimate only. Lens Info On Drawing: Toggle for placing lens info text on drawing. (See following pages.) Show ID: Allows the user to give projectors ID Tags that can then be used in VectorWorks Worksheets. (See following pages.) Show Cone: Hides or shows the projection cone. Only available for Front Projector and Rear Projector. This is per-instance specific. Toggle Video Cones Class: Toggles the Video Cones Class visible, invisible, or grey. Only revealed if you have the Class Video Cones in your drawing. Unlike Show Cone, this is a global toggle. p a g e 9 o f 1 8

10 Front Projector format parameters, continued... Frame: Draws a simple box or a black border. Appears only for the Projector and LED modes - or if no Casing is chosen for the CRT, Plasma, or LCD modes - and for Frame values other than None. Bord./Frm. Width: The width of the frame or border. Depth: Thickness of screen frame. Edge: Distance between screen and front face of screen frame. Sep. Classes: Toggle to place the different elements comprising a VideoScreen model into different classes. VS Build #: The build number of the VideoScreen PIO. A note about build numbers: To eliminate users having to replace objects in drawings as new VideoScreen versions are released, the version name/number shown in the PIO title will be VideoScreen 2" and will not change. The incremental build numbers will be shown here. p a g e 1 0 o f 1 8

11 These two parameters appear when you click the Image Dim. on Drawing toggle: Dim. Vert. Align: Controls whether the dimension text is placed above or below the screen. Dim. Horiz Just: Controls whether the dimension text is Left-Justified, Centered, or Right-Justified relative to the screen. These two parameters appear when you click the Adjust Image toggle: Scale %: The size of the image. 100% matches the image s width to the screen s width. Move Horizontal %: Sets the horizontal displacement of the screen image. Negative values move the image to the left; positive, to the right. Move Vertical %: Sets the vertical displacement of the screen image. Negative values move the image down; positive, up. These two parameters appear when you click the Show Coverage Zone toggle: Width/Diagonal: These are the reference options for coverage area calculations - either the screen s width or diagonal measurement. View. Angle: The maximum viewing angle for the screen, relative to dead-on. Ref. Near Mult. & Ref Far Mult.: The multipliers of the reference dimension to determine the extents of the Near and Far Coverage Zones. If the Far value is larger than Near, both zones will be drawn. Otherwise, only Near will be drawn. These parameters appear when the Multi. Proj. toggle is checked: Multi. Layout: Two options are given for displaying identical paired projectors for a single screen: S Stacked: Projectors are placed so that one is right above the other. S Side-By-Side: Projectors are placed side-by-side. Proj. Horiz. Space: Appears when you choose the Side-By-Side layout option. This is the distance between the projector bodies. Inc. Dist. ToScrn.: Appears if Lens Info On Drawing is chosen. Toggles the inclusion of the projector lens-to-screen distance along with projector lens info. A reminder: Because of the multitude of variables that go into placing projectors, it is important to consider VideoScreen s projector placement and this distance as estimates only. Lens Text Pos.: Appears if Lens Info On Drawing is chosen. The options listed place the text in different positions relative to the projector. ID Text and Note: Appear only if Show ID is checked. ID Text is the text that is placed in the drawing. This text is intended to be a short tag (such as a projector number) and is set to be placed within the confines of the projector body. Note is for text that is not displayed on the drawing, but can hold other information that a user may want in a Worksheet (such as a manufacturer and model number). These parameters appear when the Add Folding Legs and Add Dress Kit toggles are checked: Dress Kit Color: A pop-up menu of standard color options (black, gray, or blue). Drape Leg Width: The width of each of the dress kit pieces on either side of the screen (the legs). Drape Valence Ht.: The height of the dress kit piece above the screen (the valence). All of the dress kit elements start at the edge of the actual screen (not its border or frame) and are created going out from the screen. Pleat Width and Pleat Depth: The reference width and depth of one of the pleat sections of the dress kit curtain. p a g e 1 1 o f 1 8

12 This is the Object Info box for the LED format. Note that the projector and related parameters are hidden. This is the Object Info box that you see when you select one of the cased formats: Plasma, CRT, CRT Curved, and LCT/TFT. These are different from the projection and LED screens in that they are comprised of fixed-size pre-existing models with dynamic screen content. To create an object using one of these formats: S Select Plasma, CRT, CRT Curved, or LCT/TFT from the Screen Type dropdown menu. S Select the desired aspect from the Aspect Ratio drop-down menu. S Select the case from the Casings drop-down menu. The menu will automatically be populated with available VideoScreen cases that will work with the chosen aspect. These casings do not resize dynamically. If you desire to use a casing not in this list, you can create your own, as detailed later in this document. ** If you select a Plasma model with w. Stand in its name, the Screen Height parameter will be revealed. This parameter is the measurement from the base of the stand to the bottom of the screen case. As with other VideoScreen 2 formats, the Object Info box also displays feed-back dimensions, based on chosen cases. p a g e 1 2 o f 1 8

13 Custom Images It is possible to use your own screen images in addition to the ones provided. To create a new image: 1) Create a new texture in your drawing using Image Color. Use the Constant Reflectivity setting. 2) Select a VideoScreen object in the drawing. Use the Texture drop-down menu on the Render tab in the Object Info palette to assign the new texture to the object. 3) Return to the Shape tab of the Object Info palette and choose Custom from the Screen Image pop-up menu. This makes the VideoScreen object look at the attached texture rather than the predefined textures. As it is a change in the data for the object, it forces the VideoScreen object to regenerate. After rendering, if you do not see your desired image on the screen, select a stock image and then re select Custom. Do the same or click the Reset VS box if you ve changed custom textures for your screen object. Assigning or changing a texture will not regenerate the VideoScreen object. If you would like to use the VideoScreen tool to create paintings, edit the textures that load into your file when you choose them in the Screen Image popup and turn off Constant Reflectivity. Because your changes are only in your file they will not effect the textures in the VideoScreen Storage file. p a g e 1 3 o f 1 8

14 Adding Custom Images to your Stock Image List You can store your custom screen images and have them appear as stock images for your installation of VideoScreen 2. To do so: 1) Open the VideoScreenStorage12.mcd (or VideoScreenStorage11.mcd) file that you copied into your Libraries (or Object Libraries) folder when you installed VideoScreen. 2) Make or import a texture in the Storage file as described on the previous page. 3) On the Textures layer are several 3D polygons. Assign your texture to one of them (using the Render tab of the Object Info box). 4) Create a symbol of that object. Name the symbol with what you want to call the image, but with an s preceding the name. (For example, a symbol representing an image you want to refer to as Logo should be named slogo. 5) Save the file. 6) Open the Vector Script Plug-In Editor. 7) Select VideoScreen 2" from the list on the left side of the dialog.. (Type a v to scroll to the v part of the dialog s list). 8) Click on the Parameters button, then textures (in the list), then Edit, then Choices. Add your image s name to the list (without the starting s you used for the symbol name). Make sure you don t delete the Custom option. Note: A minus sign ( - ) creates a separation line. 9) Close the dialogs. Your new screen image is ready to use. p a g e 1 4 o f 1 8

15 Custom Symbols It is possible to use VideoScreen 2 with already-existing symbols rather than the ones provided. Build your own screen casing and make it a symbol to keep your file size down. (You may also import symbols from the VideoScreen Storage file to edit and rename). Use VideoScreen to create a screen without casing (None) and place it on/in your symbol. a VideoScreen screen matched with a symbol Most CRT and TFT screens have a small black border around the screen. Choose the Border option from the Frame popup in the Object Info palette. This won t move the actual screen; it will simply create a black border around it. Because VideoScreen 2 is a vso (Vector Script Object) you can not hand-rotate it to match the vertical angle of your casing. Use the Screen Tilt field in the Object Info palette to change the tilt angle of your VideoScreen 2 object to match your desired angle. p a g e 1 5 o f 1 8

16 Custom Cases You can create and store your own casing symbols in the VideoScreen Storage file and allow VideoScreen 2 to import them from there whenever you need them. Create, copy or import a symbol into the VideoScreenStorage12.mcd (or VideoScreenStorage11.mcd) file and give it a relevant name. If you desire, use Solid Subtraction to create a home for a screen. Do not create the screen. The VideoScreen Plug-In object does that for you. The insertion point (0,0) must be in a vertical line with the bottom-center of where the screen should appear in the object once it is placed. Note the height (the Z value) from the insertion point to the bottom of the screen s home. Height 0,0,0 Make sure there is a 2D representation of the symbol. If you don t have or want anything else, a 2D locus will do. p a g e 1 6 o f 1 8

17 Once the symbol is created, edit it. Click in the drawing area to make sure that no objects are selected. Open the Object Info palette and click the Data tab. Check the rvideoscreen record and put the appropriate data in each of the fieds: aspectratio: The aspect ratio of the screen. (4:3, 16:9, or Custom) diagonal: The diagonal measurement of the screen to be created by VideoScreen. height from floor: The distance from the symbol s insertion point to the bottom of where you want the screen to appear. (This is the measurement you noted earlier.) screen type: CRT, LED, Plasma, etc. tilt: the tilt angle, in degrees, of the screen to be created by VideoScreen. width and height: the width and height of the screen to be created by VideoScreen. Note: Each of these measurements are for the actual viewing area of the screen not the casing. third party creator and website: your company name and Web site. (If you plan on sharing your Storage file with other users.) Lens To Top and Lens To Bottom: Values used to place projectors in 3D space. Measurements are from the top and bottom of the projector body to the center of the lens. Exit the symbol. Open the VectorScript Plug-In Editor. Click on VideoScreen 2. Click Parameters. Scroll down to and open the appropriate Casing category and add your new case to the Choices list. The category titles indicate what each holds. (Refer to page 9 for more detail on this process.) Close the Storage File Your symbol should now be available to insert into your drawings. p a g e 1 7 o f 1 8

18 Conclusion We thank you for reading this manual and we hope you will enjoy using VideoScreen 2. Regards, C. Andrew Dunning, Landru Design Gerard Jonker, Jonker & Wu p a g e 1 8 o f 1 8