DMX
DMX (on the web as BlenderDMX) is an entertainment and architectural DMX lighting visualization and rendering tool designed to offer a free and easy solution for Lighting Designers.
Device definition is based on GDTF Specification, utilizing the Fixture library on GDTF Share, with support for static and moving devices, LED bars, lasers, cameras and more.
Documentation
FAQ, Getting Started Guide and full User Guide are available.
Community
Have questions? Check out the FAQ or ask in the Discord group.
Motivation
As lighting designers, we have always wanted a free DMX visualizer capable of ray tracing, with capabilities for real-time programming of dynamics, as well as the ability to produce photorealistic output.
BlenderDMX Addon offers both possibilities: Eevee real time renderer offers the dynamics, while Cycles offers stunning photorealistic results.
The combination of tools like Blender, Python, and GDTF provides a transparent and accessible platform, allowing designers to deeply comprehend how each component works and make improvements or modifications as required.
Import/Export
IO operations for GDTF import and MVR Import/Export are fully integrated into Blender, providing smooth native experience with Drag-and-Drop and Operator Presets.
Related fixture data (GDTF files) can be Exported and Imported as a Project data zip file.
Integrated programmer with Keyframe recording
- Dedicated features can be programmed via integrated Programmer
- Remote programming from Lighting Consoles is supported by DMX over Network
- Programming can be Keyframed manually or by Auto Keyframing
Advanced Networking
- External DMX signal from sACN or Art-Net can be used for controlling, and it can be recorded as keyframes into Blender or the signal can be used for a special #bdmx driver in Blender to control any object.
- OpenSoundControl can send fixture selection to external DMX consoles.
- PosiStageNet can receive position information from different trackers connected to a PSN server, it's followers can be moving lights or any other Blender objects.
- GDTF Share and format integration provides source of fixture data.
- MVR-xchange protocol offers seamless MVR workflow.
Open Source
The source code is completely open source under the GPLv3 license and openly available on GitHub. Feel free to inspect, share, and contribute!
By leveraging open-source technologies, designers can fully learn and understand every detail of the system, empowering them to make informed decisions and tailor the solution to their specific needs.
DMX for Blender is using General Device Type Format (GDTF) and My Virtual Rig (MVR) - open-source file formats that let you share anything with anyone.
What's New
1.8.1 November 30th, 2024
Blender 4.3 now supported, Updated pygdtf/pymvr, Drivers keyframe recording
Translations
Numerous translations have been added. Many thanks to all contributors.
MVR and GDTF Imports
The pygdtf and pymvr libraries have received several improvements. These, together with some other changes in BlenderDMX Addon, should further improve GDTF and MVR imports.
MVR Import can now be adjusted to utilize (or not) Focus Points as device Targets.
Blender 4.3 support
SVG imports and some other documented and undocumented changes to the Blender API had to be handled to support the 4.3 release of Blender.
Key-frame recording and playback of #bdmx drivers
There are new options to allow recording of #bdmx drivers. In order to re-play them, the drivers need to be disabled, which is not easily supported in Blender but a workaround has been found and implemented.
Remove BlenderDMX Addon from a .blend file
A new option in Setup - Extras: "Remove DMX from blend file" tries to clean up BlenderDMX Addon device specific data from a .blend file.
Other changes
- Ensure that gobos and iris work without zoom (again)
- Add keymap preference screen
Changelog
See the changelong for more information, or developers can look at git log for full details.
- Translated using Weblate (Tamil, Literary Chinese, Chinese Chinese (Simplified Han script), Polish, Spanish, Turkish)
- Handle some essential MVR import errors
- Add MVR Target import option
- Update pygdtf and pymvr - improve imports of GDTF and MVR files
- Add support for Blender 4.3
- Add possibility to record objects with #bdmx drivers and disable/enable them to allow playback/rendering
- Add 'Remove DMX from blend file' option
- Ensure that gobos and iris work without zoom (again)
- Add keymap preference screen
Very nice project with a lot of potencial. Importing gdtf and mvr works flawlessly.