Trees/Tree Wraps - Revision history

ErnieHorning: Added a brief introduction describing the challenges of decorating large outdoor trees, improved the organization and readability of the tree cup and tree wrap techniques, clarified several descriptions for easier understanding, added a note that the methods are applicable to modern incandescent, LED, and pixel lighting systems, and preserved the original installation techniques and photographic examples contributed by the DIYChristmas community.

2026-07-21T23:19:34Z

Added a brief introduction describing the challenges of decorating large outdoor trees, improved the organization and readability of the tree cup and tree wrap techniques, clarified several descriptions for easier understanding, added a note that the methods are applicable to modern incandescent, LED, and pixel lighting systems, and preserved the original installation techniques and photographic examples contributed by the DIYChristmas community.

Admin: /* Decorating Large Trees */

2016-09-12T17:25:47Z

Decorating Large Trees

Admin: /* Decorating Large Trees */

2016-09-12T17:24:57Z

Decorating Large Trees

Admin: /* Decorating Large Trees */

2016-09-12T17:24:30Z

Decorating Large Trees

Admin: /* Decorating Large Trees */

2015-05-17T02:52:42Z

Decorating Large Trees

Admin: /* Tree Wraps */

2015-05-12T17:46:48Z

Tree Wraps

Admin: /* Tree Wraps */

2015-05-09T01:01:01Z

Tree Wraps

Admin: /* Tree Wraps */

2015-05-09T00:58:29Z

Tree Wraps

Admin: /* Tree Wraps */

2015-05-09T00:57:08Z

Tree Wraps

Admin: /* Tree Wraps */

2015-05-09T00:54:31Z

Tree Wraps

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Decorating Large Trees ==
+Decorating large outdoor trees can be challenging because of their height, branch structure, and the amount of lighting required. The techniques below have been used successfully by DIYChristmas members to safely decorate trees while minimizing installation time and maximizing the visual impact of the display.
 * [[Slingshot Method]] - what to do when your ladder isn't long enough
-And in the example below, twelve strings of multi-colored LED strings were hung from the peripheral branches going all the way around the tree. Then they were gathered and tied to the trunk of the tree, giving a nice "cup" appearance. Each string was also given its own channel so that the tree could be animated, sort of a mega, mega-tree.
+And in the example below, twelve strings of multi-colored LED light strings were suspended from the outer branches around the entire perimeter of the tree. The strings were then gathered and secured to the trunk, creating a large illuminated "cup" effect. By assigning each string to its own controller channel, the entire tree could be animated much like an oversized mega tree. Each string was also given its own channel so that the tree could be animated, sort of a mega, mega-tree.
 [[File:Tree.jpg|center|400px]]
 == Tree Wraps ==
-Some people wrap lights around the trunk of the tree by winding them around and around and around.... taking hours to do. But when you think about it, from the street where most of your viewers will be, nearly half those lights go unseen because they're on the BACK side of the tree. Here's a way to use common vinyl-covered metal garden fencing, mount lights on it inside the house. Then simply bend the fencing and wrap it around the trunk of the tree; tie it in the back of the tree and your tree is done in about five minutes. This tree used two wrap sections totaling 12 strings of 50 lights which allowed for some nice vertical animation.
+Some people wrap lights around the trunk of the tree by winding them around and around and around.... taking hours to do. From normal viewing angles, many of the lights wrapped around the back of the trunk are hidden from view, meaning a significant portion of your installation effort isn't visible to your audience. Then simply bend the fencing and wrap it around the trunk of the tree; tie it in the back of the tree and your tree is done in about five minutes. This tree used two wrap sections totaling 12 strings of 50 lights which allowed for some nice vertical animation.
@@ Line 15: / Line 19: @@
 [[file: Wrap-1.jpg |200px]] [[file: Wrap-2.JPG | 200px]]  [[file: Wrap-3.JPG | 200px]]  [[file: Wrap-4.JPG | 200px]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 * [[Slingshot Method]] - what to do when your ladder isn't long enough
-And in the example below, twelve strings of multi-colored LED strings were hung from the peripheral branches going all the way around the tree. Then they were gathered and tied to the trunk of the tree, giving a nice "bulb" appearance. Each string was also given its own channel so that the tree could be animated, sort of a mega, mega-tree.
+And in the example below, twelve strings of multi-colored LED strings were hung from the peripheral branches going all the way around the tree. Then they were gathered and tied to the trunk of the tree, giving a nice "cup" appearance. Each string was also given its own channel so that the tree could be animated, sort of a mega, mega-tree.
-[[File:Tree.jpg|center|300px]]
+[[File:Tree.jpg|center|400px]]
 == Tree Wraps ==

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 And in the example below, twelve strings of multi-colored LED strings were hung from the peripheral branches going all the way around the tree. Then they were gathered and tied to the trunk of the tree, giving a nice "bulb" appearance. Each string was also given its own channel so that the tree could be animated, sort of a mega, mega-tree.
-[[File:Tree.jpg:center:300px]]
+[[File:Tree.jpg|center|300px]]
 == Tree Wraps ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 12 September 2016
Line 2:		Line 2:

	* [[Slingshot Method]] - what to do when your ladder isn't long enough		* [[Slingshot Method]] - what to do when your ladder isn't long enough
		+
		+	And in the example below, twelve strings of multi-colored LED strings were hung from the peripheral branches going all the way around the tree. Then they were gathered and tied to the trunk of the tree, giving a nice "bulb" appearance. Each string was also given its own channel so that the tree could be animated, sort of a mega, mega-tree.
		+
		+	[[File:Tree.jpg:center:300px]]

	== Tree Wraps ==		== Tree Wraps ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 17 May 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
	== Decorating Large Trees ==		== Decorating Large Trees ==

		+	* [[Slingshot Method]] - what to do when your ladder isn't long enough

	== Tree Wraps ==		== Tree Wraps ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:46, 12 May 2015
Line 6:		Line 6:


−	[[file: Tree_wrap-front.JPG \| 200]] [[file: Tree_wrap-back.JPG \| 200]]	+	[[file: Tree_wrap-front.JPG \| 200]] [[file: Tree_wrap-back.JPG \| 200]]
		+

	[[file: Wrap-1.jpg \|200px]] [[file: Wrap-2.JPG \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-3.JPG \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-4.JPG \| 200px]]		[[file: Wrap-1.jpg \|200px]] [[file: Wrap-2.JPG \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-3.JPG \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-4.JPG \| 200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:01, 9 May 2015
Line 3:		Line 3:

	== Tree Wraps ==		== Tree Wraps ==
−	Some people wrap lights around the trunk of the tree ~~and wind~~ them around and around and around.... taking hours to do ~~and~~ when you think about it, from the street where most of your viewers will be, nearly half those lights go unseen because they're on the BACK side of the tree. Here's a way to use common vinyl-covered metal garden fencing, mount lights on it and ~~simply~~ wrap it around the trunk of the tree~~. Then~~ tie it in the back of the tree and ~~lighting the~~ tree ~~trunk takes only~~ five minutes. This tree used two wrap sections totaling 12 strings of 50 lights which allowed for some nice vertical animation.	+	Some people wrap lights around the trunk of the tree by winding them around and around and around.... taking hours to do. But when you think about it, from the street where most of your viewers will be, nearly half those lights go unseen because they're on the BACK side of the tree. Here's a way to use common vinyl-covered metal garden fencing, mount lights on it inside the house. Then simply bend the fencing and wrap it around the trunk of the tree; tie it in the back of the tree and your tree is done in about five minutes. This tree used two wrap sections totaling 12 strings of 50 lights which allowed for some nice vertical animation.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:58, 9 May 2015
Line 3:		Line 3:

	== Tree Wraps ==		== Tree Wraps ==
−	Some people wrap lights around the trunk of the tree and wind them around and around and around.... taking hours to do and when you think about it, from the street where most of your viewers will be, nearly half those lights go unseen because they're on the BACK side of the tree. Here's a way to use common vinyl-covered metal garden fencing, mount lights on it and simply wrap it around the trunk of the tree. Then tie it in the back of the tree and lighting the tree trunk takes only five minutes. This ~~section of the trunk~~ wrap ~~had 8~~ strings of 50 lights which allowed for some nice vertical animation.	+	Some people wrap lights around the trunk of the tree and wind them around and around and around.... taking hours to do and when you think about it, from the street where most of your viewers will be, nearly half those lights go unseen because they're on the BACK side of the tree. Here's a way to use common vinyl-covered metal garden fencing, mount lights on it and simply wrap it around the trunk of the tree. Then tie it in the back of the tree and lighting the tree trunk takes only five minutes. This tree used two wrap sections totaling 12 strings of 50 lights which allowed for some nice vertical animation.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:54, 9 May 2015
Line 7:		Line 7:
	[[file: Tree_wrap-front.JPG \| 200]] [[file: Tree_wrap-back.JPG \| 200]]		[[file: Tree_wrap-front.JPG \| 200]] [[file: Tree_wrap-back.JPG \| 200]]

−	[[file: Wrap-1.~~JPG~~ \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-2.JPG\| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-3.JPG\| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-4.JPG \| 200px]]	+	[[file: Wrap-1.jpg \|200px]] [[file: Wrap-2.JPG \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-3.JPG \| 200px]] [[file: Wrap-4.JPG \| 200px]]