Hi Curtis, we are 100% with you. We are working on adding new VDL terms and "Lace" is high on the list. In the meantime, the only way to make a good lace effect is by using the custom effect editor. Below is big block of text that represents a custom simulation for a 40mm Red Lace w/Red tail cake shot. You can use this in Finale 3D by copying the entire block of text including the curly braces { }, then going to 'Effects (menu) > Create effect', then use Ctrl+V to paste the text into the VDL field. Here's another forum topic on lace: https://finale3d.com/groups/english/forum/topic/red-ghost-lace-effect/   {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}

Hello to all my fellow pyros!   I am a backyard hobbyist in the USA. Been doing pyro for almost a decade now and thought it was time to up my game! I am currently using the Pro version for PyroJam to figure out exactly what features I would actually use and so far it looks like Lite will satisfy my craving (for now).   I have some pyromusicals out there but don't have a youtube channel to showcase them really. Sorry ;-(

Does anyone have a better way of doing lace other than say 3" Red Ring w/ Dark to Red Big Pistil? Would love if you could just use the syntax "lace" and it knows what to use... I got a fairly good lace by doing "... w/ Dark to Red to Ghost Red" but it looks more like a ghost shell rather than a lace shell.

Email sent with the files you requested.  Let me know if you need anything else, or if there is any more help I can provide.   - Brad

Completely understand why the rules can't change for this year, but I put a vote in with Pyro_72050000 for next year's rules.  It would be great if some of the prox-type flame, strobe, etc. were allowed behind the front row to have the ability to get some depth in the field.

Hi Brad, happy to help. Please make a show with a single effect at 5 seconds on the timeline and then render a video from 00:00.000 to 00:10.000 (10 seconds). Send the show and the matching video support@finale3d.com. I'll try to reproduce the issue using your show. If I can't, that may suggest something unique about your machine that is causing the problem.

Any time I render a video, whenever there are no effects in progress, the left half of the screen is black.  As soon as an effect hits, it renders normally.       Here is my version info: Anyone have a workaround or know the cause?

Hello, I'm Axel and I'm hobbyst of the pyro. And I create some pyro show for fun   Have nice Day

Sounds fair to me.

  Pyro_72050000 wrote: Hello Drew just wanted to ask you a quick question. Is it okay to put strobe pots back in the cake area ? It does not say you can or can’t in the list but since they are small figured their would not be a issue.   While I can appreciate the reason for the request, I have to refer to our rules which state "Strobe Pot" are restricted to the "P" positions.  This is probably an oversight on my part and I will note this for our next competition, but for now, we will have to stick to it since there are already some who have submitted their designs and it wouldn't be fair to change the rules after the fact.  Hope you can understand my position.