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Flow Effects — Multi-Step Animation

Flow Effects define multi-step animations. Each Flow Effect has a waveform type (Sine, Saw, Square, or Triangle), a global speed, a global phase offset, and one or more steps, each with its own timing controls.

Now available: effects drive DMX. Assign fixtures to an effect, press ▶ to start, and your fixtures animate on the rig — layered over the rest of the show (the brighter of the two wins) and scaled by the effect intensity (0–2×). Stop (■) returns the fixtures to whatever else drives them.

Not yet available: per-attribute settings. Each step’s speed/phase/width/transition are stored and editable, but the effect runs at its global speed and phase; step-level parameters (and per-attribute speed/phase/enable) take effect when step-driven animation lands. Stopping the show (or restarting the server) stops running effects.

Flow Effect Steps

Each step in a Flow Effect defines:

  • Speed — How fast the effect cycles
  • Phase — Offset within the cycle (0–360°)
  • Width — Portion of the selection affected at any moment
  • Transition — How values blend between states (Fade, Snap, Ease In, Ease Out, Ease Both)

Acceleration and deceleration are part of the step data model but are not yet exposed in the step dialog.

Per-Attribute Control

Each attribute in a Flow Effect step can carry its own speed multiplier and phase offset. For example, a moving head can pan at one speed while hue shifts at another, creating complex organic movement.

Not yet available: per-attribute settings. The step dialog does not yet expose per-attribute speed, phase, or enable controls.

Using Flow Effects

  1. Create a Flow Effect: name plus waveform type (Sine, Saw, Square, or Triangle)
  2. Adjust the global Speed (0.1×–10×) and Phase (0–360°) sliders — the animated waveform preview shows the effect shape
  3. Tap the Fixtures: N chip and assign the effect’s fixtures from the patch
  4. Press ▶ Start — the fixtures animate on the rig; the intensity slider (0–2×) appears while running
  5. Press ■ Stop to return the fixtures to the rest of the show

Fixtures are spread across the waveform with a phase offset per fixture, so they don’t all move in lockstep — each animated value is layered over the fixture’s dimmer level (the brighter of the two wins). Live edits (speed, phase, intensity, fixture list) reach a running effect without restarting its phase — the animation never snaps on a slider move.

Steps are still authoring-only: each step’s own speed, phase, width, and transition are stored, but the effect runs at its global speed and phase until step-driven animation lands.