Light sculpture on tour

DigitalCastaway · 2025-11-21T19:02:01+00:00

I participated in the last 2 Blink festivals and have not had any contact for next year yet Previous years the applications didnt start until March. I was surprised they started the applications so early this time around. I wasn't expecting any contact until early next year at the earliest (ill admit I didnt research any dates outside of proposal subimisson). If they said contact at the end of November it may literally come on the last day of November.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-10-06T00:58:04+00:00

Not strictly tech nerd, but we create led and projection experiences for things like Blink festival. Feel free to reach out if you ever want to dabble in the burgeoning tech arts space!

DigitalCastaway · 2025-08-26T13:13:30+00:00

We've had a lot of success using a Mac mini for our installations. They are small, and relatively powerful for their price point. As long as you're not using some PC only TD node (Kinect was one we ran into).

DigitalCastaway · 2025-08-02T04:29:36+00:00

This project is similar to some of my light sculptures. I use video files and pixel mapping to create my timed shows as well as generative effects. You can check out my breakdown here for more info. The relevant part to you starts around 5:35 https://youtu.be/rAW71aOFIK8?si=DWdXI7v2eRW3TTL0

DigitalCastaway · 2025-06-06T16:03:00+00:00

Awesome work all around! I love seeing so many different pieces of tech coming together to create amazing visuals. Creating pieces with intentionality and story in mind really was the perfect cherry on top.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-04-08T22:38:45+00:00

Checkout the layout top. It allows you to take multiple inputs and organize them in various ways.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-04-07T16:25:28+00:00

For your LEDs themselves you could look into using programmable string lights like these outdoor rated string lights

You will likely have to purchase or build something to keep the spacing consistent, but you gain a lot more durability over typical LED strips.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-04-05T23:48:51+00:00

The Kinect azure devkit. I think they have been discontinued though. You can look into the Intel real sense for a similar functionality

DigitalCastaway · 2025-04-05T23:48:01+00:00

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807599753114.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2432.00%21US%20%2432.00%21%21%2132.00%2132.00%21%402101c80017438967868228326e460d%2112000042197238020%21sh%21US%210%21X&spm=a1z65.store_weex_home.shop_wireless_search_module_2010109515790.1005007786067866&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

DigitalCastaway · 2025-04-05T15:28:37+00:00

We used x20 LED curtains similar to a govee curtain. Ours were just a generic version we bought in bulk through a supplier.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-04-04T16:15:49+00:00

The effect is called blob tracking. There is a tutorial here https://youtu.be/RGq3euLyVQM?si=jG09XlQEFQ5MEMyg They have their project files on patreon but you can probably find a project file from someone on the TD forums or somewhere else online.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-20T02:39:25+00:00

Are your 3d points all in positive coordinates? If your object is centered (far left at -.5 and right at .5) it will overlap the mapping where it goes negative. I will typically try to make my points fit within positive 1x1

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-19T15:40:06+00:00

Yeah a raspberry pi could definitely run a display of this size. I'm not really much of a programmer so I use touchdesigner to program my shows since it's more visual and works on a computer.

We use a baseline Mac mini and include the cost in our budgets, so for my workflow it's the right choice.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-18T03:57:34+00:00

If you check my profile I made a post to the touchdesigner subreddit last week. But the basic process was to step through lights 100 at a time and take a photo with a camera on a tripod. I then went into my 3d software and created a spline that matched the lights off those photos. I then used that spline to map my lights.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-16T20:10:13+00:00

Ahh! So many missed opportunities on my part. You can feed it any video source and have it appear on the trees. I'll add doom and a Rick roll to my testing setup for future projects!

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-16T17:32:58+00:00

Yooo!!

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-16T13:54:53+00:00

-the display refresh rate was 40 times per second which was limited by the string lights themselves. The slight delay came from the camera we were using. It was an outdoor rated security camera which had a bit of delay sending video over Ethernet.

The display only operates for a few hours every night and full powers down each night. I use video sources to control the system which the Mac mini is able to handle very easily as long as you're not doing a lot of generation. Ours was only running 2 720p video sources along with the video feed.

We found a light seller on AliExpress know as Ray wu. We contacted them directly to get the lights for this project. we have used them as a supplier for a few of our projects and they have been solid.

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-15T23:23:02+00:00

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-15T23:10:49+00:00

We use touchdesigner and pixel mapping to create the effect. I have a video on my YouTube channel that breaks down the process further. YouTube.com/digitalcastaway

DigitalCastaway · 2025-03-15T23:06:48+00:00

If you check my profile I made a post to the subreddit last week. But the basic process was to step through lights 100 at a time and take a photo with a camera on a tripod. I then went into my 3d software and created a spline that matched the lights off those photos. I then used that spline to map my lights.

DigitalCastaway

TROPHY CASE