# mcopy An open platform for controlling small-gauge film optical printers (16mm, Super8, 8mm). ------- 1. <a href="#intro">Introduction</a> 2. <a href="#downloads">Downloads</a> 1. <a href="#usage">Usage</a> 2. <a href="#software">Software</a> 3. <a href="#firmware">Firmware</a> 3. <a href="#hardware">Hardware</a> 4. <a href="#why">Why?</a> ------- ## Introduction <a name="intro"></a> The `mcopy` project is comprised of software and hardware for optical printers, built with re-purposed broken projectors. #### Components * Sequencer desktop app * Scripting language, called `mscript`, for orchestrating complex sequences * Arduino firmware for projectors, cameras, lights and existing printers * 3D models of parts used for modifying projectors and printers * Schematics for simple Arduino-based electronics ## Downloads <a name="downloads"></a> ### Latest Installers * [1.4.9](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/releases/tag/1.4.9) for macOS and Linux (.deb) ### Older Versions * [1.2.0](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/releases/tag/1.2.0) for macOS and Linux (.deb) * [1.0.3](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/releases/tag/1.0.3) for macOS and Linux (.deb) For Windows, you can [install from source](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/tree/master/app#mcopy-desktop-app) for now. ## Usage <a name="usage"></a> The software requires your hardware to be in place before the mcopy control app is useful. ![mcopy app](docs/mcopy.png?raw=true "mcopy app") ## Software <a name="software"></a> The mcopy desktop app is an Electron-based project which can be built for Linux, Windows and macOS. Pre-built packages will be made available for macOS, initially, with the other two target platforms to follow. To build the desktop app from source, see the [installation and running instructions](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/tree/master/app#mcopy-desktop-app). The desktop software also interoperates with two related projects; the Bluetooth + Wifi capable, Raspberry Pi-based [INTVAL3](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval3) and the Arduino-based [intval2](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval2). ## Firmware <a name="firmware"></a> This project contains Arduino formware for controlling: * a projector * a camera (see [intval2](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval2) for more info) * a light * a projector + a camera * a projector + a light * a camera + a light * a camera + a projector + a light Using a simple serial interface, this modular platform can be used to control DIY components, modified existing optical printers or a mixture of components. The desktop app can connect to multiple serial devices, so your mcopy optical printer can be built from various designs that suit your hardware tastes/needs/available parts. ## Hardware <a name="hardware"></a> All non-electronic hardware for this project is available as plaintext OpenSCAD files and 3D print-able .STL files. The hardware component of this project is aimed at modifying broken Bell & Howell projectors into USB serial-controlled projectors to be used in optical printing. As a secondary capability, this desktop software and firmware package can be used to replace the sequencers for early-model JK optical printers, with some modification. ## Why? <a name="why"></a> I'm interested in expanding the viability and access of the 16mm film format and to repurpose thre rising tide of discarded film technology.