Show Editor Quick-Start Tutorials

Show Editor Quick-Start Tutorials

This chapter contains a series of quick-start tutorial designed to teach the basics of FWsim quickly. You can read these tutorials here or watch them in this Youtube Playlist: FWsim Fireworks Simulator Tutorial Series

Part 1 - Show Editor Overview

Creating a new show

First, create a new show. For this tutorial, we are using the Explo firing system.

Defining firing positions

A great show needs a great stage. Let’s define our firing positions.

  1. Go to the ‘Positions’ tab.We need three main positions for our large shells. I’ll add them here and drag them back.
  2. Click ‘Positions’ tab. Click ‘Add Position’ three times.
  3. Name them ‘Left’, ‘Center’, ‘Right’.
  4. Drag them back in the 3D view.

How to insert music

  1. Find your music in Windows Explorer and drag it to the timeline.
  2. You drag the music directly from Windows Explorer onto the timeline without clicking on the music platter.
  3. Let’s lock the music position. To do that, right-click on the music and uncheck ‘Display Music in Timeline’.

Setting up a front line with Multi Add

Now for our frontline. We need ten positions for single shots. Instead of adding them one by one, use ‘Multi Add’. This is an FWsim Pro feature that saves significant time.

  1. Open the “Positions” tab on the right
  2. Click “Add Multiple”, and enter a count of 10
  3. The ten positions will appear. Drag the start and end positions until you’re happy.
  4. Confirm with OK

How to insert fireworks

With our stage set, let’s choreograph. We’ll start with a bang.

  1. Select the three shell positions, by dragging a selection box.
  2. Click the “Single Cue” icon.
  3. The effect selection window will open. Find an effect and double-click it - for example, the Titanium Salute Shell.
  4. Click on the timeline to place the cues.

Next, some single-shot sequences across the frontline:

  1. Select all ten positions by dragging a selection box
  2. This time, we click the “Sequence” icon. This can be used to create fans and stepper runs easily.
  3. Again, the effect selection window opens. Double-click the effect you want. For example, Comet & Mine: Dark Green & Blue.
  4. Click into the timeline, like before, to place the cues.

Review work

Let’s review our work. Click the “Play” button. It’s good, but the comets are all vertical. That’s boring.

  1. Select the comet sequence on the timeline, and adjust the angle in the 3D view.
  2. Click on the “Play” button again to see the results.

Adding and adjusting more copies

  1. Use Copy & Paste to insert several copies.
  2. How do you move the playback cursor and then keep pressing CTRL+V? Keep the mouse cursor over the top of the timeline; this will insert the cues at the playback cursor onto the first free track.
  3. We also want to adjust the timing. To do that, simply drag the right edge of the sequence in the timeline.

How to play the show

Let’s see the result. In just a few minutes, you’ve designed a professional-looking sequence. In our next video, we’ll add realistic 3D environment and adjust the camera position.”

Part 2 - 3D Environment, Camera and Video Export

This tutorial will show you how to take the simulation to the next level with a Google Earth 3D environment and a better camera perspective.

In this video, you will learn how to:

By the end of this tutorial, you will have configured a 3D environment using the “Real location” feature, set the audience perspective with the “Orientation” slider, placed shots on a real surface like a rooftop, mastered camera control with your mouse, and exported your simulation as a 4K video.

Part 3 - Export to your Firing System

This tutorial will show you generate the script to run your show in the field

In this video, you will learn how to:

By the end of this tutorial, you will have configured your hardware, used the auto-assign feature to map cues to channels, resolved any module shortage issues, and generated the final firing script ready for your system’s controller.

Part 4 - High-Speed Choreography

In this new video, you will learn how to choreograph at high speed as FWsim becomes an instrument for your creativity

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

By the end of this tutorial, you will have mastered high-speed choreography by using the Automatic Beat Detection function, leveraging the Favorites section for quick effect selection, and combining beat-snapping, patterns, and keyboard shortcuts to create a complex, perfectly timed firing sequence.

Part 5 - Dynamic Sequences

This time, you’ll learn to how to use FWsim’s Sequence tool to create complex sequences in a single step

In this video, you will learn how to:

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to use the Sequence tool to automatically and cleanly generate complex firing routines, such as a classic left-to-right chase, and you will know how to adjust the timing (faster/slower) and choose between automatic creation or building from single cues for increased control.

Part 6 - Automated 3D RACKING

In this last tutorial you’ll learn how to use automated 3D Racking

In this video, you will learn how to:

By the end of this tutorial, you will have learned how to use automated 3D Racking to professionally and automatically generate a complete show layout, including building a virtual rack inventory, optimizing the rack placement, generating the final firing system script, and exporting a detailed PDF report for your team.

Using CraigCo Rack Holders

FWsim supports the popular CraigCo rack holders: the MinCom series of singleshot holders (for single shots up to 50mm) and the Medusa 18 (for single shots up to 62mm). This section shows how to use them with the automated rack layout feature introduced in Part 6.

Step 1: Create your Rack Inventory

First, tell the software which racks you have. Open the rack editor and add your rack types — for example, some standard 100mm shell racks and set the quantity you own.

Then add the CraigCo holders for your single shots. You might have ten MinCom X5 20-shot holders and five MinCom X7 35-shot holders. Set the “Nr in Inventory” for each.

Step 2: Automatic Rack Planning

Confirm your rack inventory and enter the main rack editor. Click “Auto-Place All” and FWsim will place all racks on all positions automatically.

Click through the positions to inspect the generated layout. Click a grey ground plate to see information about the rack type, and click individual mortars to find out which effect is loaded. On the right side, a list of all shots on the current position is displayed.

Step 3: Auto-Addressing

When closing the rack editor, FWsim will ask whether to apply the rack layout to your channel assignment. Confirm the highlighted option to proceed.

Under “Modules”, place your firing system modules and drag them to the appropriate positions. Then run Auto Address to generate a channel layout that matches your rack setup.

Step 4: Exporting a Plan

Go back to the rack editor and open the “Actions” tab. From here, you can export a PDF showing the entire rack layout and the channel assignments you just generated.