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USING LXFree and LXFree for Java Introduction: LXFree is a program for creating and managing paperwork for Theatre Lighting. As the name suggests, it can be obtained as a free download from author Claude Heintz's web site. While LXFree has some drafting capabilities, it is not a true CAD program. It is not the right program for drafting a ground plan in the first place. Rather, it is meant for creating a light plot on top an existing ground plan (much like the Spotlight module of Vectorworks). You can add some simple graphics entities to modify the look of an existing GP image, but you are really placing objects on top of an existing bitmap image. Editing an original drawing consists of covering over the original rather than altering it directly. The program allows you to insert lighting instrument symbols integrated with a built-in data base. Adding information like color, channel, dimmer, use, etc. to a lighting symbol automatically inserts the data in the data base. You can then use LXFree to generate and print schedules and paperwork without the need to reenter the same data into a separate spreadsheet file. LXFree ONLY works in 1/4” scale, so any imported ground plans must first be created in 1/4” scale before being turned into a graphic or PDF. LXFree comes in two flavors. The main version is LXFree, a Mac-native program. It is the more powerful program. Tools are more polished and easier to use, the built in database more refined and flexible. Graphic options are more detailed and attractive. LXFree can import and export data in more forms; for example, you can import a ground plan from several types of image file image or from a PDF file. The native file type is “.lxplot”. The other version is LXFree for Java. This program is written in Java language, so it will work in any operating system that has a Java Virtual Machine v1.5 or later installed, for example Windows and Linux. However, the Java version lags behind the Mav version in development, and is less polished and and less capable. Graphics and text options are more basic, and tools are not quite as intuitive. LXFree for Java has fewer import and export options; for example ground plans can be imported from image files only (JPG, GIF, TIFF,or PNG) but not from PDF files. A ground plan in PDF must be converted before importing to one of the acceptable image formats using a third party program (e.g. by using OpenOffice Draw or from the original CAD program). The native file type is “lxxplot”, a type of XML file that contains less data than an “.lxplot” file. To obtain either version of the program, go the the LXFree website. http://www.claudeheintzdesign.com/lx/lxfree.html . Select “Software”, to go to: http://www.claudeheintzdesign.com/lx/software.html Select the version you need for your computer, and follow the instructions. Once installed, the launch shortcut can be found in the Applications/LXSeries folder (Mac) or in the Start/Programs/LXSeries folder (Windows).
GETTING STARTED with LXFREE When you first open LXFree/LXFree for Java, you will see a blank drawing in the default size of your printer (probably 8.5 x 11).There is a Tool bar on the upper left. On a Mac, toolbars are in floating windows, while in Java they are contained in a sidebar to the left of the drawing sheet. The Inspector is another window or in the sidebar below the Toolbar. Tools are selected in the Toolbar and manipulated in the Inspector. Tools include Selection, Light tool, Rectangle, Oval, Position tool, Line, Curve, and Text tools.
In the Inspector are a series of tabs: Stroke and Fill, Document properties, Symbols, and Info. The Mac version has a few more tabs; these options are contained on the four tabs found in Java, usually as drop down menus. The Document tab sets various document options. Stroke and Fill control attributes of entities. Symbols tab is used to select fixture symbols for insertion by the Light tool, and to manipulate them. Info tab gives access to a form for adding data to the selected entity. This data enters into the database for generating reports. A check box sets visibility of the data on the plot.
CREATING A DRAWING Begin on the Drawing tab by filling in Drawing Information: Fill in Show, Venue,and Designer. These are then automatically plugged into the Title Block and report headers. Set the Worksheet size: In the Mac version, size is based on default printer page size. Workspace size is set as pages tiled in horizontal and vertical array. A single custom sheet size can also be set for printing to PDF. In the Java version, the workspace is set according to page scale size, i.e. 1 scale foot equals 1/4” in real world size. Make it large enough to hold the imported ground plan, plus space for Title block, Key block, etc. Create Working Layers: Layers are set by on the Layers tab/drop-down menu. Layers can be added, renamed, ordered top to bottom, and selected. Active layers are indicated by “>” or “+”, and visibility controlled by check box. Create a layer for the imported GP. On the Document tab/Layers list, click the “+”/Gear menu/Add Layer”. Give it a name, like “Set”. Then import the GP file. Open Finder/Explorer and navigate to the file. In LXFree, the file (an image file or PDF) can be dragged directly into the drawing window. In LXFree for Java, use Format/Insert/Graphics File. Select and click Open. The file must be an image, like JPG, GIF, or PNG (not a PDF). Zoom out and place the GP where desired. Then, for Java, move the GP layer to back of layer stack by going to Sheet tab/ Layers. Select the Set layer. With drop-down menu, select Move Selected Backwards. The bottom layer is on first on the list; the top layer is last on the list. The Active layer is indicated by “>/+”. Switch to Lighting layer. Create the Lighting Positions: On tool bar, select “Position tool”. Draw a position line where desired. Line weight and style can be adjusted via Stroke and Fill tab. You can even make a line effectively invisible by selecting dotted line at the thinnest available weight. While selected, click on Object Info tab and enter a Position name. Use the check box to make a label visible. Move the Label to location desired by drag-and-drop. The position will automatically be added to the data for any lighting symbol placed in a Position line. Continue until all positions needed have been added. Create Lighting Areas: On the Tool bar, Select the Text tool, click to place, and type in area label. To format the label, select the text and go to “Format/Font/Show Font” or “Format/Font-Text/Font...” You can create more Area labels by duplicating an existing Area labels via Copy/Paste, then drag and edit as desired. Place Fixtures on the plot: On Symbols tab, find and select the desired type fixture. Move cursor to desired position and click to place. If you double-click the Instrument tool, you can place multiple fixtures until you select another tool (e.g. the Select tool). The angle of the symbol selected can be adjusted using the Rotation tool, a Dial (mac) or Slider (java). Add Fixture Data: Select a fixture, then Object Info tab. Place the symbol on a Position, it will be automatically entered. By default, a fixture number will be assigned on a SL to SR order. Fill in other required data on the form, e.g. Color, Channel, Dimmer, Use, Group, etc. Check the boxes to control visibility on the plot.
If you haven't already, SAVE NOW! Go to File/Save or Save As. Assigning Channels to Fixtures: I like to determine my channel assignments by creating a preliminary Magic Sheet or a “Cheat sheet”, a simplified channel list of number and function only. Then go back to LXFree and plug in the channel for each fixture. Do the same for color. Decide on a color system and plug in that data as well. You can also generate reports (see below) and add data there as well. Save early and often. When all is said and done, you can proceed with creating most necessary paperwork and schedules using LXFree/LXFree for Java. Print the Plot: Use File/Print to access the Page Setup and Print dialogues. LXFree will divide the sheet into the number of tiles set earlier, which can be trimmed and taped together. Alternately, Export a PDF of the Plot: On a Mac, select File/Print and Print to PDF to generate a tiled PDF based on default page size. To print a full-size PDF sheet, go to the Document tab/Size/Page Setup. The in the Setup dialog, select Any Printer and Page Setup/Manage Custom Sizes. Create a sheet of the desired size. In LXFree again, set Height and Width to 1 page each, then File/Print/PDF/Save As PDF. On Java, to print tiled PDF pages, you will need to have a PDF creator installed, such as CutePDF or PDFCreator. Go to File/Print. Select your PDF driver from the Printer menu and “print”. To create a single-sheet full-size PDF, simply use File/Export/PDF. Generate Reports: To generate reports and schedules (Channel Schedule, Instrument Schedule, etc.), go to View/Report/Create Report. In the Select Report dialog, select the Report. Channel List is the default option, or you can select Load From Library from the menu and select another option. Many of the options can be further customized by adding or deleting columns, and by re-ordering the columns on a report by dragging them to a different position. You can print the reports, or save them to an external file in various formats. I sometimes use the "ChannelExport" report to export data in a CVS format for archival purposes or to insert into a spreadsheet program for further manipulation. Data can also be added directly into the report sheets cells. This can be an easy way to attach data to instruments. A note about full-size PDFs: Tiled PDFs are useful for printing large drawings on letter-size printers, but are hard to look at onscreen. A full size PDF can be viewed as a single page in a PDF reader like Adobe Reader or Preview, and are generally preferred for electronic distribution or for archival or e-portfolio purposes. They can be scaled to fit the default printer page size when printed on a small-scale printer, or they can be printed full-size on one sheet using a large scale printer or plotter. Large scale printers are available at copy shops like FedEx Office. Take the full sized PDF of your plot to the shop on a USB thumb-drive and print it on the shop's equipment. The results are much more suitable when quality is desired, e.g. for use in a portfolio or for a professional setting. Print costs are based on the square footage, currently about $0.75/sq. ft. While pricey by the sheet, this option is still cheaper than buying your own plotter!
