Interactive Lighting Workshop
Daniel Hirschmann
19/01/2011

Introduction

Welcome to the 2011's first Interactive Lighting Workshop!

With the ubiquity of LED lighting installations - artists and designers are looking at ways of introducing interactive elements to light based works. This class is intended to demonstrate methods and technologies to interface and create ones own responsive light art works. Using the open source Arduino as our platform, over the course of 5 weeks, participants will learn how to use sensor information to effect their light pieces. By using various electronic components and techniques we will demonstrate how to expand the outputs of the Arduino. We will cover the DMX lighting control standard in depth - offering strategies for building responsive lighting systems with off the shelf DMX controllable fixtures. By the end of the class, participants will produce their own interactive lighting project.

We will go over the basics to make sure we're all on the same page.
  • Installing the Arduino IDE: Download it from here.
  • PLEASE go through these instructions for connecting your Arduino for the first time to a MAC and for PC.
  • Basics of electronics (please look at Tom Igoe's introduction page)
  • Basics of circuit schematics - reading and writing. (this site is helpful )


    • The aim for tonight is to build a Row Column scan with LED's.
  • Row Column Scanning (RCScanning). Code from class: 1, 2, 3, 4

    • 02/02/2011

    Animating our Row Column Scan & an intro the Shift Registers!

  • Following the last lesson on row column scanning, we will look at how to make an animation with our RC grid.
  • CODE: Frame animation example
  • We will use this with the Row Column grid
  • CODE: Row Colum animation example
  • A little reminder about Ohms Law and why its important!
  • What is a Serial IN, Parallel OUT Shift Register
  • We will use the 74HC595N. Please click here to view the datasheet
  • View the Arduino tutorial on wiring and programming the 74HC595
  • CODE: You can download the code examples here
  • CODE: KNIGHT RIDER with Bit Shifting (1 SR only)!
  • CODE: KNIGHT RIDER with multiple shift registers
  • Something to watch is this newly released Shift Register library...

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    02/09/2011

    The wonderful world of DMX - the beginning!

  • What is DMX? What does the protocol look like?
  • What are DMX devices and how do we control them?
  • There are three ways to connect to DMX devices: 3 pin XLR, 5 pin DMX, and RJ45(ethernet).
  • Download and install the DMXSimple Library from here Tinker's code repository
  • Now view the Super DMX Shield's page for soldering guidance and code examples.

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    Notes

    Resources: Arduino components

  • Oomlout - for all the basic arduino prototyping components
  • Cool Components - for Arduino prototyping and advanced components (they have lilpads)
  • SKPang - for Arduino prototyping and more advance components (they have lilypads)
  • Robotiq - Some Arduino components and robotic sensors / motors
  • Sparkfun - One of the originals stores! For all sorts of components. Based in the US
  • Ada Fruit Industries - for all sorts of components and great tutorials. Based in the US
  • Acroname - Good for robotics and sensors

    • Resources: Arduino Knowledge

  • Arduino Playground
  • The World Famous Index of Arduino / Freeduino Knowledge

    • Resources: Electronic Components

  • Maplins - there are many stores around the UK. Their website isnt too bad either.
  • Farnell - Massive electronic components and tools distributors
  • RS Components - Massive electronic components and tools distributors
  • Rapid - Massive electronic components and tools distributors

    • Resources: Basic Tools

  • Larger bread board - Good for extending the size of a prototype before soldering.
  • Wire Strippers - Very helpful to quickly make wires bread board friendly.
  • Multimeter - One of the most important debugging tools you will ever have!

    • Resources: DMX devices

  • The Pulse DMX controllable Par Can RGB Spot
  • 4 Channel DMX controllable AC dimmer pack
  • 12 Channel DMX controllable AC dimmer pack
  • A series of DMX devices available from CPC
  • 5 Pin DMX Lead (1 meter)
  • 3 Pin DMX Lead (1 meter)
  • Thomann Lighting Supplier

    • Resources: Soldering!

  • Soldering Tutorial from Sparkfun
  • Soldering Tutorial from the Curious Inventor

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    art  |  projects  |  contact   | thanks to Tom Igoe, and ITP for the incredible resources