A digital camera is positioned before the array and detects the size, position and shape of each pixel to be used, in both symmetrical and random patterns. This information is then analyzed by Visual-Patch, which generates an automatic lighting plot on screen.
Visual-Patch uses Remote Device Management (RDM) to set the start address of each fixture during the patching process. RDM is a new control protocol that allows lighting fixtures to talk back to the controller.
When Visual-Patch completes you are left with a lighting rig that is fully patched and a lighting controller that knows the position and address of every fixture. All that without entering a single number!
Visual-Patch is relevant to all types of lighting control, not just LED applications. In fact Artistic Licence is already developing the next generation of Visual-Patch which uses multiple camera positions to generate a 3D map of the stage.
Visual-Patch is built into Artistic Licence's Colour Tramp lighting control system and will also be available under licence to other manufacturers.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
