For this module, I continued working with my pavilion structure from Module 3. To test out the image rendering across panels, I created a surface using 3 model lines following the desired curves of my roof, and utilized the rectangular solar panels with resizable openings on the surface. The test image file turned out pretty well.
After confirming the test image worked well, I tried to render this photo of my dog onto the solar panels.
The colors didn’t show up on the panels at all at first, so I maxed out the number of U and V points and increased the number of panels in case that was the problem. I also changed the panels back to the seamless panel style shown in the example to add the embossed effect that doesn’t seem to be possible with the solar panels. The colors in this photo aren’t as bright as in the test image but I think the end result is still quite legible.
Just for fun, I ran another version with this photo of my friend Emma and I at a rooftop bar in LA. I really like how the panels make a sort of pixelated feature out of images.
I then created a copy of my project file to work on part 2. When running the initial simulation, I had some issues with all the panels showing up as the same two colors on the color scale, without the desired gradient impact.
It seemed like an issue with the color spectrum was that the panels seemed to be placed twice, and they didn’t match the color palette I chose. I deleted everything then ran the simulation again and it worked for some reason.
Since my roof is only slightly curved, there isn’t much variation across the surface, but I confirmed the color change function was working by trying out the simulation with the sun in various positions. Finally, I changed the panel type back to the solar aperture panel to test out the opening/closing node. Again, there wasn’t much fluctuation across the surface since the curve is slight, but I was able to get the panels to open/close at various times of the day.
Model at 2pm (left) and 7pm (right)