12 - Lift Matrix
Module: SuperAssets
Target Users: Lighting designers and stage technicians
Prerequisites: 00 - DMX System Overview, 03 - DMX Actor Basics
Last Verified: 2026-06-28
1. Overview
LiftMatrix is a 42-channel light machinery fixture Actor. Its display name is LiftMatrix, and it is included in the SuperAssets module inside the SuperStage plugin.
It creates 5 lift layers. Each layer contains 2 effect components, for a total of 10 light-emitting units. DMX or property control drives the lift position, per-unit effect selection, and per-unit RGB color.
Note: This manual does not describe LiftMatrix as a moving light with Pan/Tilt control.
2. Placement And Basic Setup
- Find LiftMatrix in the SuperStage asset or fixture list.
- Place it in the level, then set Universe, Start Address, and ControlMode like any other DMX fixture.
- To drive it from DMX, set
ControlModeto DMX and make sure the fixture library asset is available. - To preview it from the Details panel, set
ControlModeto Property and adjust PosZ.
The default fixture library path is:
/SuperStage/SuperCore/SuperLight/Machinery/LiftMatrix/SL_Machinery_LiftMatrix
3. Editable Parameters
| Parameter | Category | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PosZ | C.ControlParameter | 0.0 | Normalized lift amount. In Property mode, this value directly drives the lift movement. |
| LiftRange | B.DefaultParameter | 500.0 cm | Deployment range. Larger values spread the layers farther apart at full deployment. |
| MaxIntensity | B.DefaultParameter | 5.0 | Brightness limit passed to the effect components. |
In DMX mode, PosZ is read from the PosZ attribute as a 16-bit value. In Property mode, the Details panel value is used by the lift calculation.
4. Structure And Motion
LiftMatrix currently creates a fixed structure:
| Item | Count | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lift layers | 5 | LiftComponent_0 through LiftComponent_4. |
| Effect components | 10 | Two effect components per lift layer. Group A uses SM_Effect; group B uses SM_Matrix. |
| Cables | 4 | UE cylinder meshes placed at the four corners. |
The lift positions are calculated across 6 divisions. The 5 lift layers occupy divisions 1 through 5, leaving the top division empty:
Layer i, i = 0..4
Retracted position = initial offset - 5 cm * i
Expanded position = initial offset - LiftRange * (i + 1) / 6
Final position = Lerp(retracted position, expanded position, PosZ)
So PosZ = 0 is close to the retracted state, while PosZ = 1 deploys the layers according to LiftRange. Cable length is updated from the lowest layer position.
5. DMX Channel Behavior
The Actor asset data marks this fixture as 42CH. The source reads these main attributes:
| Attribute | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PosZ | Lift | Read as 16-bit data and used to deploy or retract all 5 layers. |
Effect | Effect selection | Matrix-read into the 10 effect components and mapped through the effect LUT. |
Red1 / Green1 / Blue1 | Color | Matrix RGB-read into the 10 effect components. |
The 42-channel count matches the current implementation as 2 channels for PosZ, plus 10 light-emitting units with Effect, Red, Green, and Blue channels. The exact address order is defined by the fixture library asset.
6. Usage Notes
- Reserve the full 42-channel range from the fixture
Start Address. LiftRangeis measured in centimeters; high values make the model deploy over a much longer distance.- If the panels do not show color or effects, first confirm that DMX data reaches the configured Universe and address, then check that the fixture library asset is loaded.
- The number of layers and light-emitting units is fixed in the current implementation; there is no layer-count setting in the user interface.