Compositions: Difference between revisions
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[[ru:Композиции]] [[en:Compositions]] | [[ru:Композиции]] [[en:Compositions]] [[zh:合成]] | ||
A composition is | A composition is the finished animation of a project: a set of effects arranged over time within layouts, with its own duration and frame rate. A project can contain any number of compositions, and each one, when exported, becomes a separate cue file that is then played back by '''Light Stream Player'''. | ||
All compositions in the same project work with the same fixtures, devices | All compositions in the same project work with the same fixtures, devices and layouts: fixtures are placed once in the '''Mapping''' window, and compositions merely light them up differently. What remains unique to each composition are only the effects on its timeline and its own settings — duration, frame rate, looping, comment and color filtering. | ||
== The "Compositions" Window == | == The "Compositions" Window == | ||
The list of the project's compositions is located in the '''Compositions''' window. By default it occupies the left part of the screen and shares space with the '''Fixtures''' and '''3D Objects''' windows — they are switched | The list of the project's compositions is located in the '''Compositions''' window. By default it occupies the left part of the screen and shares the space with the '''Fixtures''' and '''3D Objects''' windows — they are switched between using tabs at the top. If the window has been closed, it can be brought back via the '''Window''' menu → '''Compositions'''. | ||
Compositions are shown as cards. | Compositions are shown as cards. A card displays: | ||
* a thumbnail — | * a thumbnail — a frame of the composition; for the one currently playing, the thumbnail is live and mirrors the image in the '''Mapping''' field, for the others a frame from the middle is shown; | ||
* the composition's name; | * the composition's name; | ||
* the duration in | * the duration in ''hours:minutes:seconds:frames'' format; a composition with infinity enabled shows the ∞ sign instead of the duration. | ||
Two additional lines can also be shown on the card — ''Playlists: N'' and ''Events: N'', i.e. in how many playlists and how many calendar events this composition is used. They are turned on with a right-click on an empty area of the window, using the '''Show usage in playlists''' and '''Show usage in events''' items. Both lines are off by default. | |||
The composition that is currently playing is highlighted in orange, while simply selected ones get a light fill. Several compositions can be selected at once; clicking an empty | The composition that is currently playing is highlighted in orange, while simply selected ones get a light fill. Several compositions can be selected at once by holding '''Ctrl''' or '''Shift'''; clicking an empty area of the window clears the selection. | ||
A right-click on a card opens a menu with the items '''Start''', '''Stop''', '''Copy''', '''Paste''', '''Rename''', '''Delete''', '''Trigger''' and '''Set Duration''' — all of them are covered below. A right-click on an empty area of the window gives a different menu: '''Create Composition''', '''Paste''' and two card-display settings. | |||
At the bottom of the window there are two buttons: '''Create Composition''' on the left, '''Delete Composition''' on the right. | |||
== Creating a Composition == | == Creating a Composition == | ||
A new project already has five empty compositions — ''Composition001''…''Composition005''. The '''Atom 3D''' effect | A new project already has five empty compositions right away — ''Composition001''…''Composition005''. The '''Atom 3D''' effect has been added to the first one so that something is visible on the mapping right away. | ||
To add another composition: | To add another composition: | ||
# Click the '''Create Composition''' button (a plus in a frame) in the bottom-left corner of the '''Compositions''' window. The '''Create Composition''' item in the right-click menu on an empty | # Click the '''Create Composition''' button (a plus sign in a frame) in the bottom-left corner of the '''Compositions''' window. The '''Create Composition''' item in the right-click menu on an empty area of the window does the same thing. | ||
# The composition appears at the end of the list, | # The composition appears at the end of the list, immediately becomes the current one, opens in the '''Timeline''' and starts playing. | ||
# Give it a | # Give it a meaningful name and add effects — see [[Adding an Effect to a Composition]]. | ||
A new composition is empty, | A new composition is empty, its duration is 1 minute. The frame rate is taken from the last composition in the list, so that all compositions of the project are calculated the same way; if there were no compositions in the project yet, the '''Frames per second for project''' value set in the project-creation window is used (40 by default). | ||
If | If there are no compositions left in the project, a '''Create Composition''' button appears in the middle of the '''Mapping''' window — it does exactly the same thing. | ||
== Opening and Playback == | == Opening and Playback == | ||
A single click | A single click simply selects the card — that is enough to copy, delete or drag the composition. To open a composition, click it '''twice''': its effects will appear on the '''Timeline''', the image — in the '''Mapping''' field and in the '''3D View''' window, and the settings — in the '''Properties''' window. An opened composition immediately starts playing from the beginning, and its card turns orange. | ||
Playback can be controlled: | Playback can be controlled: | ||
* with the '''Space''' key — starts and stops the | * with the '''Space''' key — starts and stops the open composition; | ||
* with the '''Start''' and '''Stop''' items in the right-click menu on | * with the '''Start''' and '''Stop''' items in the right-click menu on a card; | ||
* with the playback buttons on the '''Timeline''' panel — see [[ | * with the playback buttons on the '''Timeline''' panel — see [[Timeline]]. | ||
Only one composition plays at a time: switching to another one | Only one composition plays at a time: when switching to another one, the previous one stops, and the new one starts from the beginning. | ||
== Renaming == | == Renaming == | ||
The composition's name becomes the name of the exported cue file and is shown in the '''Light Stream Player''' interface, so it | The composition's name becomes the name of the exported cue file and is shown in the '''Light Stream Player''' interface, so it is worth giving compositions meaningful names right away. | ||
Select the composition and press '''F2''' | Select the composition and press '''F2''' or choose '''Rename''' in the right-click menu, enter the new name and press '''Enter'''. | ||
Name restrictions: | Name restrictions: | ||
* length — | * length — under 40 characters, a longer name is not accepted; | ||
* composition names | * composition names within a project do not repeat: if you enter a name that is already taken, the program will add a three-digit number to it; | ||
* characters | * the program removes the reserved characters <code>/ \ : ; * ? " < > | # @ ! $ % & ( ) + , { } [ ] ^</code> and the apostrophe from the name by itself — they are not allowed in a file name. | ||
== Copying and Order == | == Copying and Order == | ||
'''Copy''' and '''Paste''' in the right-click menu create a copy of the composition with all its effects and settings. The copy | '''Copy''' and '''Paste''' in the right-click menu create a copy of the composition with all its effects and settings. The copy goes to the end of the list, gets a unique name and opens immediately. A copied composition can also be pasted from the right-click menu on an empty area of the window. | ||
The order of compositions in the list is changed by dragging a card to a new place. Compositions are shown in the same order in the '''Export''' window, so it's convenient to arrange the list the way the show is meant to be presented. | The order of compositions in the list is changed by dragging a card to a new place. Compositions are shown in the same order in the '''Export''' window, so it's convenient to arrange the list the way the show is meant to be presented. | ||
A composition can also be sent to a playlist by dragging — the playlist accepts a card dragged from the '''Compositions''' window. | A composition can also be sent to a playlist by dragging it — the playlist accepts a card dragged over from the '''Compositions''' window. | ||
== Duration and Frame Rate == | == Duration and Frame Rate == | ||
The composition's duration is set in the '''Set Duration''' window. It can be opened in two ways: by right-clicking the card | The composition's duration is set in the '''Set Duration''' window. It can be opened in two ways: by right-clicking the card — '''Set Duration''', or by clicking the duration value in the '''Properties''' window of an open composition. | ||
The window has four time fields — '''Hours''', '''Minutes''', '''Sec''', '''Frames''' — and a '''Frames | The window has four time fields — '''Hours''', '''Minutes''', '''Sec''', '''Frames''' — and a '''Frames per second''' field. Press '''OK''' or '''Enter''' to apply; '''Esc''' closes the window without changes. | ||
A few notes: | A few notes: | ||
* the frame rate is set | * the frame rate is set for each composition separately, but there is no reason to change it without cause: the higher it is, the smoother the animation and the larger the resulting cue file; | ||
* if the duration is | * if the duration is decreased, the effects on the timeline stay in their places — whatever falls outside the new boundary simply won't be played back and won't be included in the export; | ||
* when '''Infinity''' is enabled, the duration is not used, | * when '''Infinity''' is enabled, the duration is not used, the composition plays until it is stopped. | ||
== Composition Properties == | == Composition Properties == | ||
The composition's settings are shown in the '''Properties''' window — in the '''Main''' and '''Color Filtering''' sections. They appear there right after a double-click on the card. If the parameters of an effect, fixture or layout end up in '''Properties''', the composition's settings can be brought back there with the '''Composition Settings''' button to the right of the composition's name on the '''Timeline''' panel. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| Line 84: | Line 86: | ||
| '''Duration''' || The current duration; clicking the value opens the '''Set Duration''' window | | '''Duration''' || The current duration; clicking the value opens the '''Set Duration''' window | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Infinity''' || The composition plays | | '''Infinity''' || The composition plays with no time limit. While it is enabled, the '''Loop''' parameter is unavailable, and the duration is shown as 00:00:00:00 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Loop''' || | | '''Loop''' || Upon reaching the end, the composition starts over. Enabled by default | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Comments''' || A free-form note for the composition, saved together with the project | | '''Comments''' || A free-form note for the composition, saved together with the project | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Color Filtering''': '''Red''', '''Green''', '''Blue''', '''White''' || Sliders from 0 to 1 | | '''Color Filtering''': '''Red''', '''Green''', '''Blue''', '''White''' || Sliders from 0 to 1 in steps of 0.01, limiting the contribution of the corresponding fixture channels for this composition. A value of 1 means the channel is output in full, 0 — the channel is off. The filter affects the signal going out to the fixtures and to the export, and does not change the picture on the screen | ||
|} | |} | ||
More details — [[Настройки композиций]]. | |||
== | == Deletion == | ||
Select a composition (or several) and press '''Delete''', the '''Delete Composition''' button in the bottom-right corner of the window, or the '''Delete''' item in the right-click menu. | Select a composition (or several) and press '''Delete''' or '''Backspace''', the '''Delete Composition''' button in the bottom-right corner of the window, or the '''Delete''' item in the right-click menu. | ||
The program will ask for confirmation and show the names of the compositions being deleted. If a composition is used in playlists, the same window will list which ones — it will disappear from there | The program will ask for confirmation and show the names of the compositions being deleted. If a composition is used in playlists, the same window will list exactly which ones — it will also disappear from there. An accidental deletion is undone with '''Ctrl+Z''': both the composition itself, back in its place in the list, and its entries in the playlists will return. | ||
== | == Starting a Composition by External Signal == | ||
A composition can be bound to an external signal so it can be | A composition can be bound to an external signal so it can be started without a mouse. Right-click on the card → '''Trigger''', then choose a source: '''OSC''', '''MIDI''' or '''DMX'''. After that, an incoming command will start exactly this composition. | ||
== Compositions and Export == | == Compositions and Export == | ||
All | All the project's compositions are listed in the '''Export''' window. The checkbox to the left of the name says whether the composition will be included in the export: uncheck it for draft compositions so as not to spend rendering time on them. The checkbox state is saved together with the project. | ||
Each checked composition is exported as a separate cue file named after the composition and, if enabled, with a GIF preview. | Each checked composition is exported as a separate cue file named after the composition and, if enabled, with a GIF preview. Details — [[Exporting Compositions]], [[GIF Preview Settings]] and [[Importing Cue Files into Player]]. | ||
== | == Hotkeys == | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Action !! Keys | ! Action !! Keys | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Open composition || Double-click the card | | Open composition || Double-click on the card | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Rename || '''F2''' | | Rename || '''F2''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Start / | | Start / Stop || '''Space''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Delete || '''Delete''' or '''Backspace''' | | Delete || '''Delete''' or '''Backspace''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Undo | | Undo action || '''Ctrl+Z''' | ||
|- | |||
| Redo action || '''Ctrl+Y''' or '''Ctrl+Shift+Z''' | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 130: | Line 134: | ||
* [[Настройки композиций]] | * [[Настройки композиций]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Timeline]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Adding an Effect to a Composition]] | ||
* [[Создание и изменение лейаутов]] | * [[Создание и изменение лейаутов]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Exporting Compositions]] | ||
* [[Терминология]] | * [[Терминология]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:31, 3 September 2026
A composition is the finished animation of a project: a set of effects arranged over time within layouts, with its own duration and frame rate. A project can contain any number of compositions, and each one, when exported, becomes a separate cue file that is then played back by Light Stream Player.
All compositions in the same project work with the same fixtures, devices and layouts: fixtures are placed once in the Mapping window, and compositions merely light them up differently. What remains unique to each composition are only the effects on its timeline and its own settings — duration, frame rate, looping, comment and color filtering.
The "Compositions" Window
The list of the project's compositions is located in the Compositions window. By default it occupies the left part of the screen and shares the space with the Fixtures and 3D Objects windows — they are switched between using tabs at the top. If the window has been closed, it can be brought back via the Window menu → Compositions.
Compositions are shown as cards. A card displays:
- a thumbnail — a frame of the composition; for the one currently playing, the thumbnail is live and mirrors the image in the Mapping field, for the others a frame from the middle is shown;
- the composition's name;
- the duration in hours:minutes:seconds:frames format; a composition with infinity enabled shows the ∞ sign instead of the duration.
Two additional lines can also be shown on the card — Playlists: N and Events: N, i.e. in how many playlists and how many calendar events this composition is used. They are turned on with a right-click on an empty area of the window, using the Show usage in playlists and Show usage in events items. Both lines are off by default.
The composition that is currently playing is highlighted in orange, while simply selected ones get a light fill. Several compositions can be selected at once by holding Ctrl or Shift; clicking an empty area of the window clears the selection.
A right-click on a card opens a menu with the items Start, Stop, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, Trigger and Set Duration — all of them are covered below. A right-click on an empty area of the window gives a different menu: Create Composition, Paste and two card-display settings.
At the bottom of the window there are two buttons: Create Composition on the left, Delete Composition on the right.
Creating a Composition
A new project already has five empty compositions right away — Composition001…Composition005. The Atom 3D effect has been added to the first one so that something is visible on the mapping right away.
To add another composition:
- Click the Create Composition button (a plus sign in a frame) in the bottom-left corner of the Compositions window. The Create Composition item in the right-click menu on an empty area of the window does the same thing.
- The composition appears at the end of the list, immediately becomes the current one, opens in the Timeline and starts playing.
- Give it a meaningful name and add effects — see Adding an Effect to a Composition.
A new composition is empty, its duration is 1 minute. The frame rate is taken from the last composition in the list, so that all compositions of the project are calculated the same way; if there were no compositions in the project yet, the Frames per second for project value set in the project-creation window is used (40 by default).
If there are no compositions left in the project, a Create Composition button appears in the middle of the Mapping window — it does exactly the same thing.
Opening and Playback
A single click simply selects the card — that is enough to copy, delete or drag the composition. To open a composition, click it twice: its effects will appear on the Timeline, the image — in the Mapping field and in the 3D View window, and the settings — in the Properties window. An opened composition immediately starts playing from the beginning, and its card turns orange.
Playback can be controlled:
- with the Space key — starts and stops the open composition;
- with the Start and Stop items in the right-click menu on a card;
- with the playback buttons on the Timeline panel — see Timeline.
Only one composition plays at a time: when switching to another one, the previous one stops, and the new one starts from the beginning.
Renaming
The composition's name becomes the name of the exported cue file and is shown in the Light Stream Player interface, so it is worth giving compositions meaningful names right away.
Select the composition and press F2 or choose Rename in the right-click menu, enter the new name and press Enter.
Name restrictions:
- length — under 40 characters, a longer name is not accepted;
- composition names within a project do not repeat: if you enter a name that is already taken, the program will add a three-digit number to it;
- the program removes the reserved characters
/ \ : ; * ? " < > | # @ ! $ % & ( ) + , { } [ ] ^and the apostrophe from the name by itself — they are not allowed in a file name.
Copying and Order
Copy and Paste in the right-click menu create a copy of the composition with all its effects and settings. The copy goes to the end of the list, gets a unique name and opens immediately. A copied composition can also be pasted from the right-click menu on an empty area of the window.
The order of compositions in the list is changed by dragging a card to a new place. Compositions are shown in the same order in the Export window, so it's convenient to arrange the list the way the show is meant to be presented.
A composition can also be sent to a playlist by dragging it — the playlist accepts a card dragged over from the Compositions window.
Duration and Frame Rate
The composition's duration is set in the Set Duration window. It can be opened in two ways: by right-clicking the card — Set Duration, or by clicking the duration value in the Properties window of an open composition.
The window has four time fields — Hours, Minutes, Sec, Frames — and a Frames per second field. Press OK or Enter to apply; Esc closes the window without changes.
A few notes:
- the frame rate is set for each composition separately, but there is no reason to change it without cause: the higher it is, the smoother the animation and the larger the resulting cue file;
- if the duration is decreased, the effects on the timeline stay in their places — whatever falls outside the new boundary simply won't be played back and won't be included in the export;
- when Infinity is enabled, the duration is not used, the composition plays until it is stopped.
Composition Properties
The composition's settings are shown in the Properties window — in the Main and Color Filtering sections. They appear there right after a double-click on the card. If the parameters of an effect, fixture or layout end up in Properties, the composition's settings can be brought back there with the Composition Settings button to the right of the composition's name on the Timeline panel.
| Parameter | What it does |
|---|---|
| Name | The composition's name; the same as renaming with F2 |
| Duration | The current duration; clicking the value opens the Set Duration window |
| Infinity | The composition plays with no time limit. While it is enabled, the Loop parameter is unavailable, and the duration is shown as 00:00:00:00 |
| Loop | Upon reaching the end, the composition starts over. Enabled by default |
| Comments | A free-form note for the composition, saved together with the project |
| Color Filtering: Red, Green, Blue, White | Sliders from 0 to 1 in steps of 0.01, limiting the contribution of the corresponding fixture channels for this composition. A value of 1 means the channel is output in full, 0 — the channel is off. The filter affects the signal going out to the fixtures and to the export, and does not change the picture on the screen |
More details — Настройки композиций.
Deletion
Select a composition (or several) and press Delete or Backspace, the Delete Composition button in the bottom-right corner of the window, or the Delete item in the right-click menu.
The program will ask for confirmation and show the names of the compositions being deleted. If a composition is used in playlists, the same window will list exactly which ones — it will also disappear from there. An accidental deletion is undone with Ctrl+Z: both the composition itself, back in its place in the list, and its entries in the playlists will return.
Starting a Composition by External Signal
A composition can be bound to an external signal so it can be started without a mouse. Right-click on the card → Trigger, then choose a source: OSC, MIDI or DMX. After that, an incoming command will start exactly this composition.
Compositions and Export
All the project's compositions are listed in the Export window. The checkbox to the left of the name says whether the composition will be included in the export: uncheck it for draft compositions so as not to spend rendering time on them. The checkbox state is saved together with the project.
Each checked composition is exported as a separate cue file named after the composition and, if enabled, with a GIF preview. Details — Exporting Compositions, GIF Preview Settings and Importing Cue Files into Player.
Hotkeys
| Action | Keys |
|---|---|
| Open composition | Double-click on the card |
| Rename | F2 |
| Start / Stop | Space |
| Delete | Delete or Backspace |
| Undo action | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo action | Ctrl+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z |