I. When doing motion picture work and using warm/cool LED panels, crossfade modeCrossfade modeRC4 dimmers are often used to control color temperature of LED motion picture lighting. This is done by combining cool-white and warm-white light sources. When only the cool LEDs are on the color temperature value is highest (around 7000 Kelvin); when only the warm LEDs are on, the color temperature value is lowest (around 3000 Kelvin). […]
Read more » provides:
A. The ability to fade between the two channels (warm and cool) to find the correct color temperature
B. The brightness can be adjusted without a shift in the color temperature
II. How to put an RC4 W-DIMm3 in crossfade mode
A.Restore default setting on the W-DIMm3
1. Using a small tool like a bent paper clip hold the Function buttonFunction buttonEvery RC4 Harmonized Design™ device provides a Function button, sometimes called the Func, Shift or Shift/Func button, to increase the number of available functions available with the other buttons. The Func button also invokes CodeLoader mode when held down during power-up.
Read more »*
2. Using a second small bent paper clip, tap the Set A ButtonSet A ButtonAll RC4 dimmers have Set buttons for each individual dimmer output. The first button is the Set A button. On a 2-channel device these are Set A and Set B buttons. A 4-channel device adds Set C and Set D. The most common use of the Set button is to assign a DMX channel and […]
Read more »
3. Release the function button
B. This puts the LEDs on channels 1 and 2 on the console
C. The default PWM frequencyPWM frequencyTo see a visual representation and in-depth explanation of PWM, watch our latest video This chart is also a helpful resource. PWM stands for Pulse-Width Modulation. It is a method for using a switching device (one that can only be on or off) to create what appears to be analog changes in level. This is done by […]
Read more » is 5kHz, which means no artifactingArtifactingArtifacts are unwanted effects on film or in videos, like wagon wheels that appear to slowly spin backwards, even though they were spinning rapidly forward. Another term for this is “beating.” It is caused by interference between the rate something is actually changing in real life and the rate at which it is being captured. If an […]
Read more » when capturing video in most cases
D. Lower PWM frequencies produce artifacting
1. PWM frequencies can be adjusted up
2. That procedure is explained HERE
III. How to reassign a channel using the W-DIMm3
A. In this instance, channel 31 is being used (any channel from 1 – 512 can be applied)
B. Set the desired channel to 30% on the lighting controller
1. This level, 30%, selects the ISL slow curveISL slow curveLEDs do not dim linearly: when dimmed to a linear 50%, they appear only slightly less bright than at 100%. The level must drop to 25% to appear at half brightness. To make LEDs appear linear, they must be controlled with the Inverse Square Law curve. All good quality LED dimmers use this technique. RC4 […]
Read more » with smoothing
C. On the W-DIMm3, tap the Set A button
D. Bring channel 31 down to 0
E. Bring channel 31 to full; the LEDs will illuminate
F. The second channel of LEDs is on channel 32 (the next channel up)
G. Channel 31 is for the warm LED color temperature, channel 32 is for cool
IV. Putting the W-DIMm3 into crossfade mode
A. Using a small tool like a bent paper clip, hold the Function (Func) button *
B. Using a second small paper clip, tap the Set B ButtonSet B ButtonAll RC4 dimmers have Set buttons for each individual dimmer output. The second button is the Set B button. On a 2-channel device these are Set A and Set B buttons. A 4-channel device adds Set C and Set D. The most common use of the Set button is to assign a DMX channel and […]
Read more »
C. Release the Function button
D. Channel 31 is now used for color temperature
E. Channel 32 is now used to determine intensity/brightness
* Do not do this process too slowly. Holding the Func button for 3 seconds may, on some devices, invoke other modes.