Introduction to Paradigm Designer Software

Paradigm Light Designer

The primary configuration tool for Unison

Paradigm Systems
Built-in tools for managing the data of a project
Real-time live control and live editing of Paradigm
Control Systems
It is a programming tool and is not to be left on
site or given away to anyone

Paradigm Control Designer

Companion to Light Designer

Control Designer software gives you the tools to
create the look of your Touchscreen pages and
other user interfaces
Pre-visualize your control interface

Paradigm Light Designer New

Configuration
New Project Properties
Complete the Project
Properties with as much
information as you can
to help with
archiving/troubleshooti
ng at a later date.
Choose the closest
city to allow the
processor to adjust its
internal astronomical
clock.
Use the notes field for
any information you
think will be helpful
Remember that this is
visible from the LCD on
the processor.

Paradigm Light Designer New

Configuration
Network Properties
Choose the settings
for each processor in
the system.
Auto/Manual IP
addressing.
Number of
processors.
Rack type for each
processor
DMX port
configuration for
each processor.

Paradigm Light Designer New

Configuration
Primary Space Setup
Choose the number of
Primary Spaces in your
system.
Choose background
colours.
Choose the layout the
most closely matches
your project.

Your turn- Exercise 1

New Project Properties
Job Name:
The Playhouse
Job Number:
1500000
Address:
The Playhouse @
Gypsy Corner
26-28 Victoria Ind
Est
Victoria Road
London
W3 6UU
City:
London
Tech/Phone/Email:
Your details

Network Properties
IP Addressing:
Manual
First IP Address:
10.101.10.101
Subnet Mask
255.255.0.0
Default Gateway:
10.101.1.1
Number of Processors:
1
Name:
Processor 1
IP Address:
10.101.10.101
Host Rack:
ERn
DMX Port A:
Input
DMX Port B:
Input

Primary Space Setup

Number of Primary
Spaces:
1
Colour:
Light Blue
Layout:
One open space

Preferences
Preference Settings
General Tab:
Date/Time and Access
Level
File Tab:
Filename/Saving
Options
Plan Tab:
Design Grid Options
Selection Colour
Styles
Label Display Options
Space Colour Options
Clipboard Tab:
Copy/Paste Behaviour
Objects Tab:
Station/Channel/Preset
additions behaviour
Program Tab:
Recording Options
Network Tab:
NIC Selection

Your turn- Exercise 2

Preferences
Set week start to
Monday
Set time to 12hr
Set access level to
Advanced
Set Advanced items to
a different colour
Set backups to 2
Enable Autosave
Disable Space Labels
Move dark pink to 8th in
the space colour list
Set Preset creation for
new stations to Never

Light Designer Views

Design View
Layout Sub-spaces,
Channels, Fixtures and
Program/Simulate View
Stations
Program Presets,
Groups, Sequences,
Timed Events View
Palettes, Overrides and Program Timed Events,
Triggers
Holidays and Protected
Days
Macro View
Program Macros
Patch View
Assign Inputs/Outputs
and sACN Universes
Network View
Network and Lon
Connection Settings
System Estimator View
Check configuration is
within Processor Limits

Design View

Sub Spaces can be

added using the Space
Editor Mode

Stations/Fixtures/Chann
els are simply dragged
from the library docks
to add them to the
configuration.
They can also be
copied/duplicated in
this view by right-

Flexible docks allow

you to layout your
Design View how you
want it.
Library docks contain
objects to be used in
your system
layout/programming.
Browser and Property
editor are used for
editing settings.

Your turn- Exercise 3

Adding Sub Spaces
Add 4 Sub Spaces
Production Dimmers
Relays
Work Lights
House Lights
Adding Zones
Using Drag and Drop and Duplicating
add: 84 Zones (Prod. Dimmers)
4 Fluorescents (White Work Lights)
4 Downlights (Blue Work Lights)
12 Utilities (Relays)
6 Downlights (Houselights)
Adding Stations
1x Paradigm Touchscreen
Choose Automatic
Configuration
1x 7 Fader, 7 Button Station
1x 1 Key (Maint.), 1 Button Station
2x 1 Button Station (1 Gang)
2x Portable Connector

Your turn- Exercise 3

You should end up with
something looking a little like
this.

Design View

Stations/Fixtures/Chann
els can be renamed by
selecting them in either
the plan view or the
Browser Tree and then
changing the name in
the Property editor.
Use F2 as the standard
Windows shortcut to
Rename

Your turn- Exercise 4

Naming Zones and Stations
Click on the Zones on the Plan/Tree
Browser and rename them to match
their use.
(Dont worry about naming the Prod.
Dimmers)
8 Workers
4x Fluorescents
4x Downlights
12 Utilities (Relays 1-12)
6 Downlights (Houselights 1-6)

1x

1x

1x

2x

2x

Paradigm Touchscreen
Front of House
7 Fader, 7 Button Station
Stage Manager
1 Key (Maint.), 1 Button Station
Entry
1 Button Station
Fly Gallery 1 & 2
Portable Connectors

Grid Whites
Flys Whites
Stage Whites
Stage Floods
Grid Blues
Flys Blues
Stage Blues
Prompt Corner

Program/Simulate View
As with Design View,
flexible docks allow you
to layout your Program
View how you want it.
The programmer dock
has the tools to
program your
configuration
This view is where you do a large part of the system configuration.
Presets, Groups, Palettes, Sequences, Overrides and Triggers can all
be added from this view.

Program/Simulate View
Presets are created in one of 3
ways.
Click the add Preset Button
Right click on the Preset
Icon in the Tree Browser
and select Create Preset.
Right Click in the Preset
Directory and select Create
Hint: Selecting channels
Preset
before creating a Preset
automatically includes
just those channels

With a Preset/Presets selected, it is

possible to select multiple channels and
include or exclude them from the
presets in 2 ways.
Click the Add/Remove Channels to
Preset Button.
Right click on the Channel and
select Add/Remove Channels from

Program/Simulate View
Presets are Recorded by selecting the required channels in one of
these ways: Clicking on the plan or tree browser
Ctrl / Shift Clicking on the plan or tree browser
Dragging a selection box over the channel icons on the plan
.... and then setting the required level using the Controls in the
Programmer Dock. Once you have all levels set as required simply
click on the Record button.

You can also edit Presets Blind using the Spanner button, then
Tick, Revert and Cancel toolbar buttons

Your turn- Exercise 5

Creating Presets
Using the three described
methods to add and name 12
Presets:1. Houselights Full
2. Houselights 3/4
3. Houselights Half
4. Houselights 1/4
5. Houselights Out
6. Rehearsal 1
7. Rehearsal 2
8. Rehearsal 3
9. Workers
10.Blues
11.Cleaning
12.Off

Selecting Channels in Presets

Presets 1 thru 5
Houselights Only
Presets 6 thru 8
Production Dimmers Only
Preset 9
Whites Only
Preset 10
Blues Only
Preset 11
Houselights
White Workers
Preset 12
All Channels

Recording Presets
Record each preset with
appropriate levels to match the
description.

Program/Simulate View
Functions can be assigned to
stations in a number of ways.
Expand the station in the
Tree Browser. Select the
button /fader in the Tree
Browser. Choose the
function/sub function in the
Property Editor.
Open the station from the
plan. Right Click on the
button/fader and choose
select. Choose the
function/sub function in the
Property Editor.
Open the station from the
plan. Right Click on the
button/fader and choose
Set Control Function.
Within the Set Control PopUp, select the function for
the button/fader.

Your turn- Exercise 6

Assigning Control Functions
Using the three described methods, assign control functions to
the stations:Preset Recall - Workers
Preset Recall - Blues
Preset Activate
- Houselights
Full
Preset Activate - Cleaning
Preset Activate
Off
Houselights
Out
Preset Fader Reh 1
Preset Fader HL Full
Preset Fader Reh 2
Preset Fader Reh 3 Channel Control (Choose 3 Zones as Specials)
Preset
Recall Cleaning
Macro On/Off
(well make the
Macro itself later,
just assign the
function for now)

Set the Night

button on the
Contact
interface to
activate the Off
Preset in the
Primary Space.

Channel Toggle Flys Whites

Station Pages
Each station can have multiple pages assigned to it. This allows you
to choose different control functions for faders/buttons depending on
the mode the system is in.
Pages are created by right clicking on the station on the plan or
in the tree browser and selecting create page.
A new page is added to the station
and can be selected/edited from the
tree browser.

Controls are assigned in the

same way as before.

Your turn- Exercise 7

Adding Pages
Add a new page to both of the Fly
Gallery Stations
On the new page, set the button to: Channel Toggle Flys Blues.

Lockouts
Lockout Levels and Thresholds allow us to choose which controls are
available depending on the mode the system is in.
Every Control has a Lockout Threshold
Every Station has a Lockout Level.
Changing the Lockout Level we can activate/deactivate controls.
If the Lockout Level of a station is equal to or above the
Threshold of a Control, that control is locked out.

Lockout Threshold

Hint: Think of the Lockout

Threshold as a height and the
Level as a depth of fill.
If the Control is underwater it is
locked out.

100
80
60
40
20
0
Button 1

Button 2

Button 3

The default Lockout

Level for each station
is 0
The default
Threshold is 50%
Controls can be
assigned to any one
of three Lockout
Groups.

Overrides
Overrides are used to delay a command/control/event from
happening.
They can be enabled/disabled by the user from a button or by a
trigger, macro or timed
event automatically.
Overrides
are created
by right clicking on
Overrides in the tree
browser and selecting
Create Override.
The new Override
then appears in the
tree browser.

Controls are assigned to the

Override by selecting the
Control and then selecting
the desired Override from the
drop-down menu in the
Property Editor.

Your turn- Exercise 8

Assign Lockout
Thresholds
Set each button that
activates Cleaning to
have a Lockout
Threshold of 70%
Set the Key switch
Lockout Threshold to
100%

Assign an Override
Create an Override called
Show
Assign the Show Override to
all Non-Show Controls
Reh 1, 2 & 3
Workers
Cleaning
Off
Lockout
Flys Whites

Macros
A macro is a user-programmed sequence of events or actions that
can be activated manually by a button station or automatically by a
timed event or trigger. Macros are defined using the macros editor in
the Macros display
Macro Steps
Tab

Options for
Macro Steps
are
selected/chan
ged in the
Property Editor
Macro
Controls
Conditions
Actions
Drag an action into Allow you to design a complex macro,
the Step Tab to create adding an action or set of actions that are
executed only "If"certain criteria are met.
a step.

Macros
A macro can be created as a single set of commands or as a
toggle.
A macro that is set to toggle has 2 lists of steps.
On Steps
Off Steps

Your turn- Exercise 9

Creating Macros
Create 2 Macros.
Entry Lockout
Create a Macro called
Lockout that locks and
unlocks all controls except
those that activate Cleaning.
Remember not to lock
the control that will allow
you to unlock the
controls.

Show Mode
Create a Macro called Show
that:On Steps
Activates the Show
Override
Sets Fly Gallery Stations to
Blues
Activates Blues Preset
Turns off the workers
Off Steps
Deactivates the Show
Override
Assign Controls
Sets Fly Gallery Stations to
Assign Lockout to the Key switch on the Entry
Station.
Whites
Assign the On Steps of Show to Show Button
on CustomBlues
Station
Deactivates
Preset
Assign the Off Steps of Show to Day Button
on Custom
Restores
the Station
workersand
label it Day

Patch
The Patch view provides the tools to assign addresses to channels in
you config.
You patch to either a DMX universe or to a Streaming ACN universe
(sACN) depending on your network control systems requirements.
Patch Channels by selecting
them in the Tree Browser and
dragging them on to the
Outputs required.
You add additional
sACN Universes by
right-clicking sACN
Universes in the
Browser and choosing
Add Universe
Set the Universe
Number in their
Properties

Your turn- Exercise 10

Patching
Patch All Channels to sACN Universe 1
Production Dimmers 1-72 (3kw)
101-112 (5kw)
White Workers 201-204
Blue Workers 211-214
Relays 151-162
Houselights 221-226

LCD Stations

Configuration Options
When using a Paradigm
Touchscreen Station there are
several ways to configure the
layout. You can choose to use an
Automatic Configuration
generated by Light Designer or
you can use Paradigm Control
Designer to create your own.

LCD Stations
Automatic Configurations
Automatic configuration of LCD pages automatically
configures buttons for presets and faders for each
channel in the configuration. Additionally you may
choose a standard theme or import a custom
LCDtheme.

Automatic configurations
can also be exported to
Control Designer and edited
to suit your system.

LCD Stations
Custom Configurations
Custom configurations are created/edited using
Paradigm Control Designer.

Paradigm Control Designer New Configuration

New Configuration
Properties
A new configuration is
started with the New
Configuration Wizard.
Choose the Theme
you want to use for
your configuration.
Give your
configuration a name
and description.
Choose the
background you want
for each page of your
configuration along with
any layout, default

Paradigm Control Designer

Using Control Designer you are able to add/remove all the controls
required for your Touchscreen.
You can
Pages Popups
add:- Tabs Frames Buttons Labels Faders Level Indicators
Clocks Keypads

Simply select the tool you require and drag it to the required size on
your page.

Paradigm Control Designer

Once you are happy with
your layout you can add
actions to controls to assign
how users Navigate around
the various pages on your
Touchscreen.

You can also edit/create different states for each control that can then
be selected in Light Designer to indicate various uses/conditions for the
controls.

Paradigm Control Designer

Use Paradigm Control
Designer to design and build
your custom touchscreen
station.

The function of what each control does within your configuration is

still assigned in Light Designer just like any other station.

Your turn- Exercise 11

Touchscreen Configuration
Create a touchscreen configuration with
3 pages: Page 1 with 4 Frames: House Lights
Presets
White Workers
Blue Workers

Add buttons for your House Light, Rehearsal and Worker

Presets.
HL Full, , , and Off
Presets Rehearsal 1, 2, & 3
White Workers On & Off
Blue Workers On & Off
Add an extra button to each of the worker frames.

Add labels to the buttons using the Text box in the

Property
Editor
Add 2 blank
pages and 2 pop-ups with
keypads.
Add actions to the 2 extra worker buttons
to show pop-ups 1 & 2 respectively.
Set the keypads to change to pages 2 & 3
respectively.
Set the button and keypad actions with the
Action Editor.

Add buttons for each worker channel on the appropriate

page.
Add a Record button on each edit page.

Set all the actions so that the navigation of works a bit like this.
(Dont forget youll need to add back buttons to each page and
pop-up to get back to Page 1.

Select your LCD Station in Light Designer. Right click on the Icon
and choose Change LCD Configuration. Choose the new config
you have just created and apply the appropriate controls to each
of the buttons.

Add another button in the Presets frame allowing recording to

any of the Rehearsal states

Save your Control Designer configuration then assign the

function for the button in Light Designer. Note the popup you see
when going back to Light Designer after making a change to the
LCD config.

Network View
Network View
From this view you can upload a project to the
processor, retrieve a project configuration from a
connected processor, change a processor IP
address, retrieve the system log, store Neuron
ID's for LonWorks devices into the configuration,
and bind control stations.

Network View
You can upload the current Light
Designer project configuration to a
connected Paradigm processor using
the Upload Project button in the
Network View.

Network View
You can wink a station to identify it.
Once you have identified the correct station you can
permanently assign the Neuron ID directly from the
Network View.

Status Color Coding

The Device List provides convenient color coding to
represent current status of particular objects and properties.
Any status field that is highlighted in green denotes that
the device is ok.
Any status field that is highlighted in red denotes a device
error that requires your attention.
Any status field that is highlighted in yellow denotes a
device error that is non-critical.

Your turn Excercise 12

Connect to the Processor and upload

your configuration.
Associate any missing Neuron IDs with
the correct Station from your
configuration.

Indicator States
Allows you to set the colour and intensity for any state of a
button or fader
Some default behaviours are available or you can use a custom
one
Once you have created a custom indicator this can be used on
other buttons just remember to rename them when first created.

Portable Touch Screens

This only applies to screen which have the portable connector
fitted.
Screens with a RJ45 or other connect will behave as a
normal screen when plugged in.
To create a portable touch screen you add a normal screen then
in the property editor change the setting for Portable Wired to
yes.

You will need to enable the screen for the correct plug in point.
This doesnt mean you have to have 2 screens but if you
want a different configuration for the 2 plug in points you
will need to enable one screen for one and another screen
for the other.

To Bind a plug in point you will need to note down the neuron ID
from then sticker or plug a touch screen in to read it. They wont
show up in the network veiw.