Graphical Selection
A layout view, or magic sheet, is simply a graphical lighting plot displayed on your lighting console. This allows you to select fixtures directly from the plot and also usually see information about the state of the fixtures. Most consoles with this type of view will display the pan/tilt, intensity and color information on the fixture symbol as well as gobos or other information. The graphical representation quickly provides you with abundant information that rivals data in a spreadsheet.
Being able to select fixtures from a plot on a touch screen has many advantages, too. First, you don’t have to rely on fixture numbers and can instead just touch the fixture(s) in the location that you want to control. Second, it lets you easily select many fixtures in a certain location, usually by dragging a box around the desired fixtures. Third, it provides a very quick way to view the data in the desk and understand what fixtures are doing at any given moment. You can see at a glance, for example, that the upstage center spot fixtures are at full intensity and in red. It’s much easier seeing that on a plot than scrolling through a spreadsheet, trying to read numbers.
Creating the Magic
Of course, every console has different methods and terminology, so it is always best to consult your console’s user manual. But in general, the common methods of setting up a magic sheet or layout view follow. After you have added fixtures to your patch, you will need to set up your fixture layout. Typically, you will start with a blank screen and then add in your fixtures. Some consoles allow you to define the fixture symbols while others automatically provide symbols based on type. Once you have inserted the fixture symbols, you will need to move them about to match your rig or however you desire to have them. Generally, there will be grid and/or alignment tools to aid in the positioning.
Once the layout is set up, then you are free to select the fixtures and begin programming. Most consoles also allow you to load a background image. This enables you to have a truss plan or stage design with your fixture symbols positioned on top. Additionally, most consoles allow you to store multiple layout/magic sheet views and change between them easily via tabs or specific buttons.
Advanced Operations
Having a touchable plot on your console is really cool, but there is so much more that can be achieved. Many consoles allow you to basically build a custom GUI for selecting elements from your desk. For instance, instead of just having the 24 U.S. fixtures individually represented on a truss, you could also place icons for specific groups near the same location (all, odd, even or thirds). This lets you quickly select the groups of lights that you want. You might also place position palettes/presets on the plot in the areas where the lights will point. A chart of common colors could be placed on one side of the layout as well.
As you start to add more elements of your programming to a layout/magic sheet screen, you can quickly see how your programming time can become more productive. With common elements on one graphical screen, you no longer have to page through various pre-defined windows to use the basic building-blocks of your show.
Some consoles go so far as allowing you to define specific buttons on the layout/magic sheet. These buttons can trigger anything on your desk such as keys, macros, playbacks and more. Now you can envision how a custom GUI can be made that allows anything to happen on your own graphical layout. Having the ability to lay out your console as you desire only helps you program more efficiently and quickly.
Timing is Everything
Now that you are excited by the possibilities of a layout/magic sheet view, I will tell you the bad news. When you make even a simple layout view of your lighting plot, you will also be using up precious programming time. Building complex layout/magic sheets requires an even greater time commitment. If you are doing a one-off and have only a few hours to program the lighting, then you probably should not spend even 30 minutes building a layout or magic sheet view.
The best plan is to prep your show file before your programming sessions. It is always handy to build your patch, palettes/presets and groups prior to programming, so why not take the time to make a very useful layout/magic sheet at the same time? Usually you can even do this on an off-line editor of the console.
I Don’t Have That!
Not all automated lighting consoles on the market have this cool feature. Don’t fret though, because there is a work-around that people have been doing for years on older consoles. Typically your desk will have a group function and a group window where you can see multiple groups in a spreadsheet or grid configuration. Instead of just building your groups and containing them within the grids/cells numerically, you can use this type of screen to build a “poor-man’s” layout/magic sheet view.
If you build groups that each contain only a single fixture, then you can store these into locations on your grid/cells that mimic the stage layout. With a little work, you too can have a basic plot layout on your desk that allows you to quickly and visually select your fixtures. This can be very useful as it provides a quick visual indicator of the locations of the fixtures in relation to each other and the stage.
Share It With Others
Layout/magic sheet views can be useful for more people than just the programmer of the show. For example, if you are working in a venue that may have other crew members playing back cues or operating the lights, then you can create a custom screen that provides them with the buttons they will need to run the show. The screen could even include the plot layout so they can quickly and graphically see what the fixtures are doing. This allows volunteers, lighting directors, technicians and others to quickly understand the layout in the desk without having to learn fixture numbering and other more advanced console items.
Visual Stimulus
Humans generally work better with a visual representation than simply reading numbers. This is why layout/magic sheet views are extremely useful and popular. Once you get used to working in this manner, you will find it so easy and fast that you will never want to do a show without it again. The possibilities are truly endless, as long as you have the time to create useful layouts and views. As always, refer to your console documentation to see what is possible and how to achieve it. Then devise a plan to build the best layout/magic sheet for your production and have fun!
