Dollhouse aquarium project - 1920x480?

drfish · 01-25-2021, 09:32 AM

I'm considering making a dollhouse aquarium using this screen and an x86 Raspberry Pi equivalent.

I've never run the aquarium at 4:1 before, though. I know the background is 32:9. Will it letterbox the sides or stretch weirdly if I try to make it jump through this specific hoop?

Jim Sachs · 01-25-2021, 12:20 PM

It's designed to letterbox (not stretch) after reaching its max aspect ratio.

drfish · 01-25-2021, 12:42 PM

Awesome, thanks for confirming, Jim. I'll be sure to post the results if I build/print it.

drfish · 02-12-2021, 06:38 AM

It's going to be a little large for a dollhouse at about 10" wide, but everything should come together next week for this project.

patscarr · 02-17-2021, 07:28 AM

Fun! I want to see the finished product!

drfish · 02-17-2021, 09:47 AM

It's getting close, no spoiler photos yet, but here's another render.

Ralph · 02-18-2021, 08:52 AM

Interesting project, being as it has width, how are you going to display the ends?

drfish · 02-18-2021, 09:32 AM

I debated about that a lot and decided there's was no way I could satisfactorily hide things and have them look any better than just embracing the idea of showing off the internals instead. I'm quite happy with the "hybrid" look so far.

Ralph · 02-19-2021, 08:01 AM

Being as the SS will display on multiple monitors.. you could get really fancy by putting a monitor on each end. It would shorten your overall aquarium though so probably wouldn't give you the effect you are after.
Putting the screen as far back as possible and blocking the working parts you see from the ends would "perhaps"allow a view from the ends.

drfish · 02-19-2021, 10:06 AM

Getting closer, can't help but share these...

Ralph · 02-20-2021, 07:52 AM

Looking good

drfish · 02-20-2021, 12:25 PM

It's finished! It stretches the aquarium instead of letterboxing the sides, but it's such a minor stretch from 32:9 to 4:1 that I don't even mind. It looks great!

Ralph · 02-21-2021, 07:36 AM

Thanks for including the vernier caliper, it's a lot smaller than I first thought it would be. When you mentioned 10" wide, I took that to be the depth. Looks good though, nice job.

drfish · 02-21-2021, 07:46 AM

Heh, the caliper deserved its time in the spotlight, it was critical to the project. I keep it next to me at all times these days.

drfish · 02-21-2021, 09:46 AM

Strange... It appears that in full screen mode the aquarium gets ~20fps at 1920x480, but if I go into windowed mode it hits ~70fps at 1940x500.

The poor little chip and the passive heatsink actually can't quite keep up with the wattage running that fast though, so it starts to throttle and slow down to ~45fps after a while.

I don't understand why full screen is so slow to begin with though, the CPU and GPU only hit about 20% utilization...

Jim Sachs · 02-22-2021, 12:23 AM

Looks fantastic!

patscarr · 02-22-2021, 07:12 AM

I love it! Now we need a picture of it in the dollhouse.

drfish · 02-22-2021, 07:29 AM

We're going to need a bigger dollhouse.

Jav400 · 02-22-2021, 07:46 AM

Looks good Doc,

So where are the little bottles of food sitting around the aquarium?

drfish · 02-22-2021, 08:35 AM

Aww man, you're right, even digital aquariums need accessories if they are toys.

01-25-2021, 09:32 AM	#1
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Dollhouse aquarium project - 1920x480? I'm considering making a dollhouse aquarium using this screen and an x86 Raspberry Pi equivalent. I've never run the aquarium at 4:1 before, though. I know the background is 32:9. Will it letterbox the sides or stretch weirdly if I try to make it jump through this specific hoop? I don't watch commercials.

01-25-2021, 12:20 PM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	It's designed to letterbox (not stretch) after reaching its max aspect ratio. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-25-2021, 12:42 PM	#3
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Awesome, thanks for confirming, Jim. I'll be sure to post the results if I build/print it. I don't watch commercials.

02-17-2021, 07:28 AM	#5
patscarr Pet Shark Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Back in Buffalo Posts: 5,455	Fun! I want to see the finished product! Patrick

02-18-2021, 08:52 AM	#7
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,441	Interesting project, being as it has width, how are you going to display the ends? Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

02-18-2021, 09:32 AM	#8
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	I debated about that a lot and decided there's was no way I could satisfactorily hide things and have them look any better than just embracing the idea of showing off the internals instead. I'm quite happy with the "hybrid" look so far. I don't watch commercials.

02-19-2021, 08:01 AM	#9
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,441	Being as the SS will display on multiple monitors.. you could get really fancy by putting a monitor on each end. It would shorten your overall aquarium though so probably wouldn't give you the effect you are after. Putting the screen as far back as possible and blocking the working parts you see from the ends would "perhaps"allow a view from the ends. Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

02-20-2021, 07:52 AM	#11
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,441	Looking good Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

02-21-2021, 07:36 AM	#13
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,441	Thanks for including the vernier caliper, it's a lot smaller than I first thought it would be. When you mentioned 10" wide, I took that to be the depth. Looks good though, nice job. Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

02-21-2021, 07:46 AM	#14
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Heh, the caliper deserved its time in the spotlight, it was critical to the project. I keep it next to me at all times these days. I don't watch commercials.

02-21-2021, 09:46 AM	#15
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Strange... It appears that in full screen mode the aquarium gets ~20fps at 1920x480, but if I go into windowed mode it hits ~70fps at 1940x500. The poor little chip and the passive heatsink actually can't quite keep up with the wattage running that fast though, so it starts to throttle and slow down to ~45fps after a while. I don't understand why full screen is so slow to begin with though, the CPU and GPU only hit about 20% utilization... I don't watch commercials.

02-22-2021, 12:23 AM	#16
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	Looks fantastic! Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

02-22-2021, 07:12 AM	#17
patscarr Pet Shark Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Back in Buffalo Posts: 5,455	I love it! Now we need a picture of it in the dollhouse. Patrick

02-22-2021, 07:29 AM	#18
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	We're going to need a bigger dollhouse. I don't watch commercials.

02-22-2021, 07:46 AM	#19
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Looks good Doc, So where are the little bottles of food sitting around the aquarium? Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

02-22-2021, 08:35 AM	#20
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Aww man, you're right, even digital aquariums need accessories if they are toys. I don't watch commercials.