Digital Lighting Custom Content Preparation Guide

A Step-by-Step guide for creating Custom Content for DL.3, DL.2, and Axon media server. Topics include:

Creating Standard-Size Content

Sizing and Formatting Still Images

Steps for Preparing Video Footage

MPEG-2 Compression Overview

Encoding Footage

Checking Encoded Footage on a standard computer

Uploading Content

Creating Media Content for Special Effects

Collage Generator™ Content Preparation Guide

Creating 3D objects (pro modeling skills required)

Creating Custom User Objects in 3D Studio MAX

Creating Custom User Objects in Lightwave 3D

Still Images - Sizing and Formats

Still image size recommendations for DL3/Axon and DL.2 is 1024 x 768 pixels a 4:3 aspect ratio, although sizes up to a maximum of 2048x2048 in the following formats are acceptable.

.PNG (can include transparent parts of the image) Video Tutorial
.BMP (24 bit standard)

.JPG (RGB 8 bit standard) (highly compressed .JPG will yield noise, use best quality)

Notes:
The dpi (dots per inch) setting in your paint program are a print media reference.
Digital Lighting uses pixels in references to size.
Scaling bitmap images up will not increase clarity.

Steps for Preparing Video Footage

·          Commission or Design High Quality (Visually Clean or Never-Compressed) Video Footage, 1024x768 for DL.3/Axon or 640 x 480 for DL.2. Make sure it is in .mov (near lossless) format if you are sending it off for post production.
* Extracting footage from a playable DVD is not encouraged as it has been highly compressed and distortion may be present)

·          "Light Optimizing" (see note at the bottom of the page) your footage in a video editing program if possible, by boosting Levels and Color Saturation.

·          Save to Photo Jpeg 98%-100% or Animation Non-Compressed (best) format in .mov format.

·          Import Video master footage into an Encoder/Compressor.

·          Output Encoded Footage.

·          Upload Your Custom Content

DL.3 and Axon MPEG-2 Video Footage Compression Specification Overview

DL.2 MPEG-2 Video Footage Compression Specification Overview

Encoding Video footage*

Episode™ (MAC and PC)

For PC and MAC

Episode is an easy-to-use encoder application
http://www.telestream.net/episode/overview.htm
(Click here for an example movie of footage being encoded)

TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress (PC only)

How to Encode Footage using TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress* Example Tutorial
DL.3/Axon standard size TMPGEnc encoder templates: Download
DL.2 standard size TMPGEnc encoder templates: Download
(Download Demo of TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress 14 day Trial with watermark)
http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/te4xp.html
* Limited to a maximum 1920 pixel wide output

*At this time we do not endorse Apple's, Compressor 3 or Autodesk's Cleaner software as they cannot produce all "I" frames mpeg-2 files compliant with DL.3/Axon.

Checking Encoded Footage on a standard computer
Checking Encoded Footage Using Window OS:

Windows Media Player will let you view your encoded footage.
To Check file dimensions go to the arrow down tab in the upper right hand corner of the player window, tab down to file/properties.

Helpful Utilities for checking encoded Footage using Windows OS:
Bit rate Viewer is a very helpful tool that can check the bit rate level, size and gives information about other MPEG-2 properties. Simply drag your file onto the program shortcut or icon to view relevant information.
Download free version

Gspot is a PC utility that gives you expanded information about your encoded files. Simply drag your file onto the program shortcut or icon to launch and view relevant information.
Download here

Checking Encoded Footage Using MAC OS X:
After encoding you file you can easily view your footage with the free Quicktime or VLC Media Player, Download here http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ .While VLC does not display the aspect ratio correctly it is very effective for determining image quality on PC MAC or Linux. To determine if the file has been encoded at the correct size Download DiVA here. Then simply open a file in the DiVA and it will display the dimensions.

Uploading Encoded Files

You will use the Content Management Application (CMA) on your computer to upload and organize your encoded files to a User Content folder you create and then assign DMX values. You can also download the CMA and a .pdf version of the User Manual for more information on your specific products support page.

Important note:
High End Systems Digital Lighting Products utilize RGB lighting projection devices, and are NOT hindered by the darker NTSC or PAL broadcast video color gamut limitations. Footage you acquire often utilizes this dimmer, darker color space designed for viewing on TV screens.

It's very simple to adjust the Levels and Hue/Saturation of your content for lighting projection. This will dramatically increase light output and your footage will automatically come up at full intensity when programming your production. We refer to this as Light Optimizing. The best time to Light Optimize footage or still images is in post production. This can easily be done with most image or video editing packages. ......100% brightness and saturation in the reds? Feel free.

Downloads also Available:
CMA Application
DL.2 User Manual.PDF
DL.2 Software