A new visualization engine has been developed to improve the simulation and realism of LED-based strip and tube fixtures. Fixtures that have been updated to take advantage of it, now simulate with greater realism, especially when used for audience-facing “pixel effects”. In addition, lens options have been added to fixtures of this type which feature interchangeable lenses (in real life). One important thing to be aware of is that objects which are lit by these fixtures will not cast shadows; the new engine was intentionally designed as such, to ensure that Shaded View performance is maintained.
To visualize with updated fixtures using the new engine as well as select a different Lens for them: Consult the R49 Library Additions and Updates list to find which fixtures have been updated. Chose your fixtures, select the appropriate Lens (if available and applicable to your project) and either turn them on (pick a colour or colour fan in DESIGN), or patch them and control them from the connected console in LIVE mode. Lens options are selectable like any other fixtures’ Lenses, via their Properties > Fixture tab > General subtab, or via the Cuts and Adjustments tool. If you are using R49 to open legacy files which contain older version of these updated fixtures, some will be replaced with the new versions automatically while others will not; for example, in the previous version of the Martin Sceptron, the different lens options were handled by separate fixtures in the Library; in such cases, the existing fixtures must be replaced manually (using the Replace Fixtures feature) and then the appropriate Lens must be selected (if necessary).