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Hi to all!
I have done some successful experiments with making laser soft and as a result now I have several smal programms.
I will put them here.
The first is Spiro generator. It saves output to ILD files.
In order to work with this application you should have VB6 runtime libraries or instal PIC converter from FTP.
Man that is cool - I will have some fun with that
Thanks for sharing
Rob
Very nice :D:D:D
I like these kind of tiny tools !
:D;):) Thank you Sergey
Oh, I forgot one detail. If you place mousepointer on point and X coordinates would be equal then pointer will be as cross and you can move your points on graphic.
Have fun with a new one!:)
Draw tool now can draw or erase still pictures.
CL Lascan Lasersoftware from Christian Lorner was example for me and I used some codes for openning ILDA files. I want to thank Christian for his great work and for sharing source codes.
These two progs can rotate still pictures and animations. The first program will work good with 2D, 2nd - with 3D images. I have used 8bit integer calculations so this algorithm is not very precision but stil useful for hobby systems. In preview you will see single-color(green) images but actualy output will be ful-color.
I use this simple ILDA viewer for searching files. It does not show colors.
Note that this program do not support True Color files and files with color lookup tabels. It will work incorrect or return error.
Great Stuff Sergy
Thanks fpr sharing and thanks for your efforts
Keep em coming!
Rob
Very nice! Thx for Sharing. You should combine all your progs under one GUI.
Yes, its good idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by decix
But there are too few effects for combining them in one MDI hierarchcal structure.
You can find some laser graphics in LDB format. However you will not find any description of its structure. Pangolin keeps it in secret.
I have done researches of that format and now I can read LDB files. This archive contains programming stuff. It has Visual Basic 6 project with codes for opening LDB files. Of course I dont know how to read all data fields and not all files can be read. If you can, please share code example for us.
This tool is for making ILDA raster scanning files. See details in description.txt file. Any comments are welcome.
The is pretty neat!
I see you are converting to palette.
The way I do it in LaserBoy is in 24bit color.
Plus, you might want to make several frames with the scan lines moving around. You can get much more information from the bitmap that way.
It's kind of like looking through a picket fence. If you are driving past it fast enough you can see right through it!
James. :)
Hi James!
Yes, its good idea to use vector mask.
My soft support table colors because I have not good editor with True Colors. Excepting Laserboy ofcourse:)
Unfortunately I cant test it in real live because have only single color system.
I love this stuff, especially the raster converter.
can you make a version of spirograph where you can specify the frequency ratios and amplitudes?
ie 3:2 makes a star with 5 points , but as you change the amplitudes of the waves it gets very interesting
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Stve Roberts
Well Steve, I made a lot of experiments with my spiro while debugging. I selected the most succesfull frequency range. It can do only rounded figures. Sorry, it is limitation of used algorithm. The simplified model is following(remember mathematics:):
[function input]
For i = 1 To N * 360 Step Stp
X1 = R1 * Cos(i * 0.0174533 / N) + R2 * Cos(i * 0.0174533)
Y1 = R1 * Sin(i * 0.0174533 / N) + R2 * Sin(i * 0.0174533)
[draw point x1,y1]
Next i
[function output]
Where N - complexity
R2-amplitude and
R1=127-R2
That figures you are saying reguire another approach with independent frequency generators.
I will try to do something and if it will be succesful then I upload new version here.
LaserBoy also renders frames and frame sets from functions. This was how I made art in LaserBoy before I wrote the drawing tools. Many of the frames that come with LaserBoy were math generated.
This is a snippet from the Linux version of LaserBoy. Since I had so much other work to do in porting LaserBoy to any OS, I haven't worked on this. But it's still in there. There is just no easy interface for it.
In order to make use of it, you would need to be able to compile the source.
Code://################################################################################
ez_ilda_point A(int point, int frame_index) // single frame, 40 points, 3D spring
{
ez_ilda_point P;
float factor = (point / 8.0) * two_pi;
P.x = (short int)(900 * sin(factor));
P.y = (short int)(900 * cos(factor));
P.z = (short int)(point * 300 - 6000);
P.k = 0;
P.c = 1;
return P;
}
//################################################################################
ez_ilda_point B(int point, int frame_index)
{
ez_ilda_point P;
float factor = (point / 20.0) * two_pi,
shift = (two_pi / 60.0) * frame_index;
P.x = (short int)(point * 1200);
P.y = (short int)(sin(3.5 * factor + shift) * point * 200);
P.z = (short int)(0);
P.k = 0;
P.c = point * 2 + 2;
return P;
}
//################################################################################
// The functions A, B and F are definitions for all points in an ez_ilda_frame
// and possibly all frames in an animated frame set.
// There is are ctors for ez_ilda_frame and for ez_ilda_frame_set
// ez_ilda_frame(ez_ilda_point(*F)(int, int), int points_per_frame, int frame_index);
// ez_ilda_frame_set(ez_ilda_point(*F)(int, int), int points_per_frame, int num_frames);
// When calling these the total number of points and frames is defined.
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ez_ilda_point F(int point, int frame_index)
{
ez_ilda_point P;
float factor = (point / 699.0) * 30 * pi;
P.x = (short int)(22000 * sin(factor) * (sin(31 * factor / 15)) );
P.y = (short int)(22000 * cos(factor) * (sin(31 * factor / 15)) );
P.z = (short int)((point * 40) - 14000);
P.k = 0;
P.c = point % 253 + 2;
return P;
}
>>In order to make use of it, you would need to be able to compile the >>source.
He-he :)
I will port it into my experimental Visual basic application and look what it can to do.
Those are just a few examples. The really inportant part is the structure that allows one to create a function in the simplest terms and pass the function itself into the frame or frame set constructor. I don't think you have pointers to functions in BASIC.
This structure or concept is what led to being able to add frame and frame set effects to LaserBoy and call them by name from the interface. Same idea. Pointers to functions.
Neato! :D
James. :)
Yes, you are right. BASIC's concept does not allow to have pointers. But I dont care. I simply do big frame(s) buffer as global structure and load there all important temporary data. Very stupid approach but simple and work good.:D
Are you talking about anything like this?Quote:
Originally Posted by mixedgas
yes, very much like that!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergey
congradulations, you truely have invented a new way of programming abstracts, a whole new look without having to have a true oscillator console. very useful!
are color modulations next? I suggest a seperate color mod program!
thanks, steve
New version of spiro generator.
New features:
-fine adjustment of frequency ratio(division factors);
-pattern presets;
-mixed colors modulation.
Now it can do a lot more and I decided to rename it to 'Abstract Pattern Generator'.
Unfortunately there is no possibility for me to test it for compatibility with Vista. So I wait for your comments.
Hey! What about Z?
James. :)
Z axis will be later. Possibly:)
New freeware tool. OPTIMIZATOR can optimize number of points in frames.
Features:
-true 16 bit coordinate resolution
-add optimizing points
-reduce extra points
Corner delay points is not added in this release yet. Work with files which have table colors.
Funny that you display this software here with the ILDA Test Pattern,
because when you "optimise" the ILDA Test File, it will give really, really
wrong readings of scanner speed. Most other features of the test Pattern
will break, too. So please don't do it.
Greetings,
afrob
He's just using it as an example, because almost everyone who uses ILDA know what the test pattern is like
Please please pleeaaase build in an option for beam path optimisation too. Then this tool would be absolutely perfect!
Yes, sure. But...my brains dont know how to make the shortest blank way. I dont know algorithms for it. Thats why I'm still using Anarchy's blank way optimisation option.
Sometimes I getting messages that my programs dont work and require some file.
For proper work you need:
1. 32 bit version of Windows: Win98/SE/Me/2K/XP
2. Installed and registered in system files:
msvbvm60.dll
mscomctl.ocx
comdlg32.ocx
and possibly other .ocx and .oca files.
I use Visual Basic 6 technology for developping my projects and this files are the components of programs. I dont distribute that components with my programs because they have big size(tipicaly 3-4 MB). So if you dont have that files you need:
-Install Visual Basic 6 Pro (or Visual Studio 6) or
-Install any visual basic program with that files, or
-ask me to build for you setup program with all necessary components
Update for Optimizator is available.
Added corner delay function, each frame individual settings option.
No more third-party components needed. Just load file
ftp.ildaswap.net/ilda/Sergey's Soft/Optimizator/setup_optimizator.rar , unpack and run setup program.
Is the next step blank way optimization? Need for your assistance here.
Laser spectroscope. Works with Norms LPT DAC (with 3 registers). Select sound input(mic, line input, mixer and etc.) from control panel for your sound card, then press 'Start/Stop button' and enjoy with laser spectrum from your music!
Laser controller description. Very simple. Was made just for fun. Works with Parallel port Norm's DAC08. Animations stored in I2C EEPROM chip.
Utility for conversions from ILDA files to BIN(for EEPROM) can be downloaded here:
http://radiokot.ru/circuit/light/run/25/02.rar
How to operate that controller.
Connect to PSU. If during first 2 seconds you push both buttons then it go to test mode. In this mode controller generates test waves for tunning galvos.
If test mode was not activated then it goes to idle mode. It waits pushing any button. If you push any button then depending on jumper state you will get beam effects or programmed graphic from memory chip.
You can switch between frames with NEXT button and if you want to freeze current frame than push LOOP button.
Updates to extremely low-cost simple controller
Instead of Norm's DAC the simpest PWM DAC could be used. That feature was implemented in my current version. Ofcourse, PWM DAC is less precision. In this version I used Atmega8 controller which is pin compatible with Mega48.
Modification is shown on picture.
In attached archive you will find firmware and source files.
Excellent job Sergey!:) Thumbs up up up for you!
Thanks for to share!
Another my project. Hobby level laser show editor. Screenshot at this moment only.
You're doing some good stuff Sergey.
Well done that man !! ;)
Hi Sergey,Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergey
Very nice but... where did you get the frames? The TESLA COILS is a traced frame from our Bitmps directory. And the one called "12K newyears countdown" is from the Lightspeed Laser Animation library, that comes free with our softare. I recognize a few others as well.
Do you have LD2000, or has someone given you Pangolin frames to play with?
Bill
Hi Bill!
That frames were downloaded from this forum and(or) from FTP server. I dont have LD2000 or any other PRO-grade laser software. All software I'm using were written by me or other laser enthusiasts.
Sergey
Hi Sergey,
Thanks for the informaiton. Could you identify where, in the FTP site, you downloaded these frames? I mean the directory and file names.
They should not be on the FTP site...
Bill
Please dont' delete the whole directory if it contains legitimate frames.
I had a hunch that the 'chick' frame was once something else, but now a veiled threat, is this true? :)
HiQuote:
Originally Posted by Pangolin
Here the link to one of downloaded frames: http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...ead.php?t=5750
Sorry Bill, but I have not ability and motivation to sit and seek all frames which were downloaded from this forum and FTP for identification.
Sure, I understand. I only have two points. My first point is to read this:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergey
http://www.laserist.org/intellectual-property.htm
Second point. I am not sure if you were planning on distributing frames with your software, but if you don't know where something came from, then you would put yourself at great risk by distributing it further. Some people and companies have done this and... the results were not pretty for them...
Bill
Sergy, if you want to distribute frames with your software, let me know, James and I can make you some cool stuff for free(in laserboy :)) and would be glad to let you use it..
Whatever you do, head Bills advice, you do not want to give any other laser software company the chance to crush you and destroy all your efforts over an intelectual property lawsuit.
Hehe. Spoken as a true conspiracy theorist!Quote:
Originally Posted by keeperx
FYI: Legal actions brought to bear thus far were from content providers, not "laser software companies".
In any event, isn't "doing the right thing" enough motivation, in and of itself, without the spectar of being "crushed and destroyed"?
Bill
Sometimes "Doing the right thing" is a matter of perspective and not morality.
bits and bytes can not be stolen... only copied... ;)