I used MCE to control some Windows VMs and programs running in it in the past. (Below link and a web interface engine which on the backend converted BWW/BMW (bagpipe music files) to PDF automated comes to mind)
Controlling a Windows VM using MQTT, very nice! (Use HA mqtt or mosquitto_pub in bash)
Question: anyone got a better solution to control programs within a VM? Let me know.
Next:
I’m creating a new case for my Wemos, LCD16x2, button, Led, Buzzer project (see other post)
I’m redesigning my previous case in blender.
But I really miss something like a generator function for different cases, like the one I made using Openscad. Question: Anyone know a tool/add-on to generate cases? I used a model of a wemos to get the usb connector/screw holes in place.
In the past, I’ve controlled some blender lights using python and MQTT. But now I’m trying to control it using DMX.
I found a cool add-on called Blender-DMX. (B.t.w. wled can also use DMX)
Looks cool but, can I make a floorplan with this?
Blender add-on configuration
In Home Assistant I used a HACS add-on called : Art-net LED Lighting for DMX
Configuration can be done in configuration.yaml
light:
- platform: artnet_led
host: BLENDERHOSTIP # IP of Art-Net Node
max_fps: 25
refresh_every: 0 # Resend values if no fades are running every x seconds, 0 disables automatic refresh
node_type: artnet-direct # Which protocol to use
universes: # Support for multiple universes
1: # .Nr of Universe (see configuration of your Art-Net Node)
send_partial_universe: True # Only send the universe which contains data
devices:
- channel: 1 # first channel of dmx dimmer
name: dmx_dimmer_rgbw # name
type: rgbw # type
transition: 1 # default duration of fades in sec.
channel_size: 8bit # width of the channel sent to DMX device, default "8bit", "16bit", "24bit" and "32bit"
channel_setup: Wrgb # This is the magic to get colors correct
It works, but I’m not happy, anyone got a better solution?
And I have to check out GDTF profiles for fixtures.
At a later stage I’m going to 3d print a white floorplan about 1cm high, with LEDs and buttons. A floorplan you can hang on your wall.
I like creating Art, painting, drawing, sculpting but also computer generated. Most of the things i create are for adults. So i can’t post my best work.
Below are some of the programs i’ve used, these are NOT the generic drawing programs like Gimp, Photoshop or alike. Ony programs that generate (photorealistic) graphics. I tried to start with the oldest ending with Blender. There is an overlap and sometimes i’m not sure when I used these programs.
BMRT
Blue Moon Rendering Tools, or BMRT, was one of the most famous RenderMan-compliant photorealistic rendering systems.
Could not find examples?
3DS4
3D Studio, not to be confused with the later “3d Studio Max” product, is a DOS-based tool from Autodesk for creating 3d models and animations.
Website for female student society Woodstock For our computer magazine (with Martin)Just a logoLogo for a work thingyAlso work relatedSome examples, i did some animations also
Vivid
This is the Vivid raytracer. It will only run in a dos environment. http://paulbourke.net/dataformats/vivid/
Povray
The Persistence of Vision Ray Tracer, most commonly acronymed as POV-Ray, is a cross-platform ray-tracing program that generates images from a text-based scene description.
Poser (Pro) is a 3D computer graphics program optimized for the 3D modeling of human figures.
MonsterOne cell of a comic i made using PoserTuyet Study
Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software tool set used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D-printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality, and, formerly, video games. Blender’s features include 3D modelling, UV mapping, texturing, digital drawing, raster graphics editing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, soft body simulation, sculpting, animation, match moving, rendering, motion graphics, video editing, and compositing. (Dutch developers started it in 1994) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_(software)
DonutNeon effect testSee rest blog for more blender examples (VR/Tracking/Animated/Mqtt-control)
Below here not really for art but graphical generators .
Yesterday i got two 3DConnexion 3D CAD mouses (mice) from my friend Vincent. While we where fixing his Mikrotik network i got to play with these cool devices.
I always wanted one of those, but they are quite expensive
First i tried to install the Software from 3DConnexion. It kindda worked but needed some workarounds and still wasn’t okay.
Downloaded 3dxware-linux-v1-8-0.x86_64.tar.gz (Maybe this version is TOO new, SpacePilot i a little ouder)
there is a install-3dxunix.sh, but it was made for Suse/Redhat
This program needed motif .. and a lot of libraries (libmotif/libxm)
After that some fonts xfonts-100dpi xfonts-75dpi
workaround was starting by
sudo /etc/3DxWare/daemon/3dxsvr -userName ${USER} -d usb
After that the demo program worked perfectly … but Blender didn’t After some tinkering it work a little, it was far to sensitive, and was all over the place.
Luckily i found a opensource replacement. https://spacenav.sourceforge.net/ git cloned the package, then i notished .. there is a precompiled version for ubuntu!
apt-get install spacenavd .. start the service .. and go!
i cloned the test demos (libspnav) and compiled those test programs.
apt-get install libglu1-mesa-dev
git clone https://github.com/FreeSpacenav/libspnav.git
cd libspnav
./configure
make
... fly is a nice little test program
So lets start blender
Pan tilt roll .. nice!
This wil speedup modeling, and for sure sculpting !
Some settings which worked for me .. let the tweaking begin!
UPDATE: 2022-09-29
I removed the version in the apt repository, and installed everything from git. Now i have a cool configure tool
First test to make a personalised logo for myself to use embedded on movies or in OBS streams.
Created a simple animation in Blender.
We need to export in RGBA (A for aplha), One of the supported video codex you can use is : Quicktime – QT rle. Select this one, and make sure it’s RGBA and not RGB
Now i can use the exported video file in OBS for streaming. I made the animation i a way that it can be looped. (Don’t forget to set this option in OBS.)
Another blender project i’m planning to do this week is a movie displaying my logo to overlay on my videos. So i have to render a transparent movie for this.
Howto:
Open a scene, i took the liberty to get one from blenderkit.
Change output to cycles, eevee doesn’t work
Make x/y large enough in output tab. X = 2 * Y !
Next select your camera, and open camera tab
Change Type to panoramic and then you can change panorama type to Equirectangular
Position your camera and hit F12, it wil take a long time!
You get something like this
Use a proper plugin for your website, or view with your VR glasses!