ENTTEC Pixel Designer

LED media facade planner

Divide the facade's width and height by the dot spacing to get the grid, then size the universes, controller ports, power and injection from the dot count. A 20 × 8 m facade at 300 mm spacing is 27 rows of 67 Smart PXL60 dots (1,809): 35 universes on 8 controller outputs, 3,821 W from 9 × 600 W supplies at 24 V, and 32 power injection points.

Work it out for your layout

Planning a media facade, step by step

  1. The grid. Dots across = width ÷ spacing + 1; rows = height ÷ spacing + 1. Strings can run along the rows or down the columns.
  2. The spacing. Closer spacing shows more detail to people standing near; wider spacing covers more wall with fewer dots.
  3. The strings. Each row is split into near-equal strings, joined lead to lead so the spacing stays even across every join.
  4. Universes and ports. Count universes from the dots, then outputs from the frame rate: see pixels per universe and per port.
  5. Power. Watts from the dot count, supplies with headroom: see the LED pixel power calculator.
  6. Injection. Feed power in before the far dots dim: see voltage drop and power injection.
  7. The controller location. Close to the facade or in a plant room: see pixel data distance.

Worked example: a 20 × 8 m facade at 300 mm

Grid67 × 27 = 1,809 Smart PXL60 RGBW dots
Strings216, up to 9 dots each
Universes35
Controllers2 × OCTO MK3, 8 outputs
Power at full white, 24 V3,821 W
Supplies9 × 600 W
Power injection points32

Pixel Designer also draws the wiring, lists every part with its ENTTEC part number, makes a PDF drawing of each string, and opens the layout in ELM so you can play content on it before you buy.

Other layouts

  • Dot grid, vertical columns: Strings hang from the parapet. Fewer fixings across the facade.
  • Vertical runs, spaced apart: Separate runs of dots up a building, columns or poles, with a gap between runs.
  • Building or sign outline: Dots trace the edge of a roofline, window or sign.
  • Dots on parallel cables: Catenary cables over a plaza, street or atrium.
  • Dot curtain backdrop: Dense vertical strings behind a stage or in a window.
  • Single line: A bridge edge, handrail or cove line.
  • Circle: One ring of dots around a round sign, column or ceiling rose.
  • Concentric rings: Rings inside rings, for a target, a ceiling dome or a round feature wall.
  • Polygon outline: Dots trace a triangle, hexagon or any regular shape up to 12 sides.
  • Star outline: Dots trace a star with 4 to 12 points.
  • Spokes or wheel: Spokes from a centre, for a sunburst, a wheel or a Ferris wheel. Add rings for a rim.
  • Christmas tree (cone): Lines of dots from the top down to a round base, for a pixel Christmas tree or maypole. Drawn unrolled.
  • Arches in a row: Round arches side by side, for a tunnel, archways or a colonnade. Width and height are for one arch.
  • U-frames in a row: Up one side, across the top and down the other: portals, door frames or a tunnel of frames. Width and height are for one frame.

Work it out for your own layout

Pixel Designer is ENTTEC's free online tool for planning pixel dot installations. Enter your layout's size and dot spacing and it applies every rule on this page: strings, controllers and ports, universes, power supplies, injection points and cabling, with a parts list. No account needed.

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Questions

How many pixels do I need for a building facade?

Divide the width and the height by the dot spacing and add one to each, then multiply. A 20 × 8 m facade at 300 mm spacing is 67 × 27 = 1,809 dots.

What dot spacing should a media facade use?

Closer spacing shows more detail to people standing near; wider spacing covers more wall with fewer dots. Pixel Designer offers 150 mm (tight), 300 mm (medium), 500 mm (open). Halving the spacing roughly quadruples the number of dots.

How much power does a pixel facade need?

About 2.11 W per Smart PXL60 RGBW dot at full white on 24 V. The 20 × 8 m example draws 3,821 W and uses 9 × 600 W supplies.

Can I preview content on my facade before buying?

Yes. Open your Pixel Designer design in ELM, ENTTEC's pixel-mapping software for Windows: every dot arrives in place and patched, so you can play effects on your exact layout. ELM Free outputs up to 8 universes.

How do I get a price for a pixel facade?

Finish the design in Pixel Designer and press Request a quote. An ENTTEC sales engineer checks the design and replies with pricing and lead times.

More pixel planning guides

The figures on this page come from Pixel Designer's own engine and settings, which follow the Smart PXL, OCTO, PIXELATOR and PLink manuals and datasheets. Background reading on the ENTTEC support site: Design your Pixel Dot system with Pixel Designer, How many pixels fit in a DMX universe?, Pixel: power supplies, Managing voltage drop and "pinking" in pixel runs.