PIXERA can convert the color information of a screen into DMX values and transmit it to LED pixels, LED tubes, or LED strips via Art-Net, sACN, or KiNET v1. Each mapped pixel is assigned to DMX channels within one or more universes. This workflow is commonly referred to as Art-Net mapping or pixel mapping.

The complete workflow is shown in the video below.

For information about receiving DMX data in PIXERA, see:

• Art-Net/sACN DMX Input Patching in Version 25.1
• Art-Net/sACN DMX Input Patching for earlier versions

Creating an Output Stream

First, create an Art-Net output stream. In the Live system under Mapping > Live, right-click Art-Net and select Add Output Stream. Alternatively, select Art-Net and choose Add Art-Net / sACN Output Stream in the Inspector.

Expand Art-Net in the Live system to display the newly created output stream. The stream must then be assigned to a screen.

To configure the pixel mapping, dive into the assigned screen by clicking the following icon:

Video Stream Options

Protocol Defaults

Name

Defines the name of the output stream in the Live system and in output assignments. The name is also used as the stream's persistent handle, so each output should have a clear and unique name.

The initial name is Pixera Art - Net / sACN Output.

Active

Starts or stops the output stream. When enabled, PIXERA renders the assigned mapping and passes the resulting DMX data to the selected output channel.

This option is unavailable while the corresponding output component is not present in the PIXERA engine, for example when the assigned system is offline or the engine-side stream has not yet been created.

Output Channels

Selects the network output channel used to transmit the packets. The available entries are reported by the selected PIXERA system and normally represent its network adapters.

• NONE: No explicit output channel is assigned.
• Output channel name: Uses the network adapter represented by that output channel.

When importing streams from CSV, the value of network_adapter must exactly match the name shown here.

Protocol

Selects the network protocol used by the stream.

• Art-Net: DMX-over-IP output with support for broadcast and unicast targets.
• sACN: DMX-over-IP output using ANSI E1.31. PIXERA disables the Broadcast control and uses the configured target address.
• KiNET v1: KiNET version 1 output with support for broadcast and unicast targets. Multiple-stream synchronization and the whole-packet option are unavailable in the Inspector.

Target Host

Expand Target Host to configure where PIXERA sends the packets.

Broadcast

Determines whether PIXERA sends to the IPv4 limited-broadcast address 255.255.255.255.

• When enabled, PIXERA replaces the target address with 255.255.255.255, and the IP Address field cannot be edited.
• When disabled, IP Address becomes editable, allowing a specific unicast or multicast target.
• For sACN, this option is always off and unavailable.

Broadcast traffic reaches the local broadcast domain and can create significant network load. Prefer a specific target whenever the receiver and network design support it.

Send To Monitoring IP Address

Temporarily replaces the stream's normal target with the DMX Monitoring IP Address configured under Settings > General > DMX. Use this option to redirect the stream to a diagnostic application such as an Art-Net or sACN monitor.

This control is available only while Broadcast is disabled. The configured IP Address remains stored but is not used while monitoring redirection is enabled. PIXERA resets this temporary diagnostic setting to off when a saved project is loaded.

IP Address

Defines the destination IPv4 address for unicast or multicast output. The field is editable when Broadcast is disabled.

PIXERA normalizes the entered address to IPv4 notation. An empty value is ignored. Entering 255.255.255.255 for Art-Net or KiNET automatically enables Broadcast.

• Art-Net initial value: 255.255.255.255
• sACN initial value: 239.255.0.0
• KiNET v1 initial value: 255.255.255.255

Use an address that is reachable through the selected Output Channel. For directed broadcast, multicast, or routed unicast, verify that the network infrastructure permits the required traffic.

Port

Defines the destination UDP port.

• Art-Net: 6454
• sACN: 5568
• KiNET v1: 6038

Retain the protocol default unless the receiving device explicitly expects a different port. Use a valid UDP port from 1 to 65535.

Universe Filter

The Universe Filter distributes the feeds of one mapping across multiple output streams. This is useful when different universe ranges must be sent through different adapters or to different target hosts without recreating the same screen mapping.

All participating streams must belong to the same Art-Net video device in the same Live system.

Share Feeds between Streams with Universe Filter

Defines the role of the selected stream.

• Off: The stream uses only its own assigned mapping. Processed Universes is unavailable.
• Provide Feeds: The stream acts as the mapping provider. PIXERA evaluates its mapped feeds and distributes them among participating provider and consumer streams according to their universe lists.
• Consume Feeds: The stream receives matching feeds from the provider instead of creating an independent mapping.

Use one Provide Feeds stream per group. PIXERA resolves the first provider on the device when a consumer requests its feed source.

Processed Universes (Comma Separated)

Lists the universe numbers processed by this stream. Separate values with commas:

1, 2, 3, 10

PIXERA accepts non-negative integer values, removes duplicates, and stores them in ascending order. Entries that cannot be parsed as non-negative integers are ignored.

Each required universe should be assigned to one participant. If a mapped feed's universe is not present in any participant's filter set, that feed is not added to an output stream. Avoid overlapping universe lists because the first matching participant receives the feed.

Transmission Options

Synchronize Multiple Streams

Enables synchronized transmission for multiple output streams. PIXERA passes the synchronization state to the output engine so that related Art-Net or sACN streams can be presented as one synchronized update by compatible receivers.

Enable this option on all streams in the synchronized group. The receiver must support the corresponding synchronization mechanism. This option is available for Art-Net and sACN only.

Default: Off

Always Send Whole Packets

Forces the output engine to send a complete universe payload instead of limiting a packet to the currently required channel range. This can improve compatibility with receivers that expect full-universe packets, at the cost of increased network bandwidth.

This option is available for Art-Net and sACN only.

Default: On

Rendering Options

Utilized Graphics Device

Selects the GPU that renders and samples the pixel mapping for this stream. The list contains the graphics devices available on the selected PIXERA system.

If no GPU has been stored explicitly, PIXERA displays and uses the first available graphics device. For systems with multiple GPUs, select the GPU that owns or can efficiently access the mapped screen content. Changing this option while the stream is active reconfigures the output.

FPS

Defines how often PIXERA updates the network output per second.

• Default: 44.00 FPS
• Accepted range: 1.00 to 1000.00 FPS

Higher values reduce the time between DMX updates but increase rendering, CPU, and network load. The effective useful rate is also limited by the protocol, receiver, and network. Use the lowest rate that provides the required visual result.

Why There Is No Resolution Option

Art-Net, sACN, and KiNET streams do not expose manual Horizontal and Vertical resolution fields. PIXERA derives the stream resolution from the applied screen mapping, destination size, and fixture configuration.

Set the mapping's destination size deliberately before activating the stream. An unnecessarily large pixel map can generate millions of DMX channels and excessive network traffic.

Feed Setup

Create a feed by clicking the + button. Its size can be adjusted in the Inspector. Additional feeds can be generated with the Auto Transform Editor. Set the number of feeds at the top of the editor and use the X and Y values to define their start and end points.

After assigning an Art-Net mapping, adjust the destination size. It is initially set to 1 × 1 pixel as a safety measure. Accidentally activating a Full HD or 4K pixel mapping could otherwise generate excessive Art-Net traffic.

In the Auto Transform Editor, configure the DMX settings such as Address, Net, Universe, Sub-Net, Footprint, and Offset. For an RGB layout, the footprint is the number of pixels multiplied by three. Layouts with a different channel count or encoding produce a different footprint.

Switching the DMX settings from Auto to Manual exposes separate start and end values for Address, Net, Universe, and Sub-Net, allowing precise control over the output mapping.

The same settings are also available in the Inspector. In Auto mode, PIXERA patches the feeds into consecutive DMX universes and subnets.

To verify that the output is transmitting correctly, use the ArtNetominator or another compatible Art-Net/sACN monitoring tool.

Fixture Setup

Fixture Setup defines the fixtures that receive the mapped data, their channel footprint, and the assignment of color and control channels.

Export

Exports the current fixture selection as a JSON file.

Import

Imports a previously exported JSON file or a GDTF fixture file.

Start Pixel

Defines the first pixel used by the current mapping.

Addressing Direction

Defines the direction in which PIXERA assigns the pixels.

Layout

Defines the fixture's channel format. Multiple layout entries can be used to add control channels with fixed values, such as a dimmer channel.

Stride

Defines the number of channels reserved per pixel. Increase the stride to include additional fixture channels. Unassigned channels remain empty.

Shift

Moves the color channels within each pixel by the specified number of channels. A shift of 1, for example, moves the red channel from position 1 to position 2 without overwriting the next pixel.

Value

Is unavailable for standard color channels. For additional control channels, enter a fixed output value—for example, 255 for a dimmer at maximum intensity.

Common Mistakes

Only One Pixel Is Visible

Cause: Immediately after assigning an Art-Net mapping, the destination size is set to 1 × 1 pixel. This safety measure prevents accidental network flooding. A 1920 × 1080 RGB mapping would require 6,220,800 DMX channels.

Solution: Set the correct Destination Size or enable Lock to Source Size.

White Flickering or White Output

Cause: Art-Net pixel mapping requires an output license. When the project exceeds the licensed outputs, the PIXERA watermark is also applied to the Art-Net mapping and may appear as white flickering or white values on the Art-Net channels.

Solution: Check the license status in the On-Screen Statistics.

Static Values or No Pixel Changes

Cause: An enabled test pattern can override the mapped content and produce static values on the output channels.

Solution: Disable the test pattern and verify the stream again.

Limitations

Fixtures currently support color channels such as RGB across multiple pixels only when those channels are arranged in a consistent order. If control channels are inserted between the color channels of each fixture, PIXERA cannot map that fixture configuration across multiple pixels.

As a workaround, assign the fixture to a single pixel and configure all channels for that pixel, or use Create multiple Art-Net/sACN/KiNET output streams from CSV.

PIXERA 26.1 R 39 | 18 August 2026 | J.B. and S.H.