# Matrix gap/map file help?
**URL:** https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236
**Category:** Questions
**Created:** [March 19, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236 "2025-03-19T01:34:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sdart\_17](https://wled.discourse.group/u/sdart_17)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/1 "2025-03-19T01:34:50Z")
I’m trying to create a multi-panel matrix. Each is 12x12 (144 LEDs), starting at the bottom left, serpentine pattern.
The problem is, each panel is made up of 150 LED strings connected together as one long string, leaving 6 unused LEDs between panels. I would just cut off the last 6 LEDs of each string, but these particular LEDs are very fragile, and difficult (impossible) to solder back together to continue the connection to the next strip.
I’d like to just ignore the 6 LEDs between the panels, as if they didn’t exist. I believe this should be possible with a 2d map file. I attempted the below, but the 6 LEDs between the panels continue to light, making the second panel offset by 6, messing up the matrix effects. Gap files seem to accomplish this for 1d strips, but I have not figured out how to make this work on 2D matrixes.
Here is my map file. Any suggestions on alternate approaches would be appreciated if I’m going about this the wrong way. I plan on expanding the number of panels, so I can’t solve by just skipping the first 6 LEDs of the string.
{
“map”: {
“width”: 24,
“height”: 12,
“map”: [
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197,
48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209,
60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221,
72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233,
84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245,
96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257,
108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269,
120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281,
132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293
]
}
}
Thanks!
---
### Author:  [@Mobiart](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mobiart)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/2 "2025-03-21T02:22:52Z")
I would make a gap file like this.
In the 2D Configuration, create a 12x13 matrix. If the matrices are 2, 3 , then respectively, 24x13, 36x13, etc.
From 0 to 143 (144 pixels), a pixel is present (it is 12x12). Write “1”
From 144 to 149 (6 pixels), the pixel is present, but not lit; Write “0”
From 149 to 155 (6 pixels), the pixel is missing. We write down “-1”
Accordingly, the GAP-fille will look like this
Если матрицы две, то справа добавляем ту же конструкцию
?
We also repeat to the desired number of matrices. I don’t know how true it is. There’s nothing to try it on. Maybe I’m wrong, and I’ll be corrected.
Сохраняйте файл из блокнота в формате “2D-gaps.json”
---
### Author:  [@sdart\_17](https://wled.discourse.group/u/sdart_17)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/3 "2025-03-21T18:36:56Z")
Thanks - I’ll experiment with this. It sounds like you’re suggesting both a 2D map file and a gap file. I thought they were mutually exclusive concepts. I’m also unclear on the naming of these files, and how to know if they are even being used?
In the short term, the workaround I have found is to treat the first panel as ‘master controller’ and all subsequent panels as ‘virtual’ LED strips in the LED config. So far this works great, and the only downside is that it requires additional WLED controllers.
---
### Author:  [@Mobiart](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mobiart)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/4 "2025-03-22T01:42:35Z")
It should work. Check out this [post](https://wled.discourse.group/t/addressable-icicles-tutorial/9920/14). I was taught in it. You don’t need a map file. You only need the Gap file. You need to download it here.
It is done in any text editor (Notepad++). Copy directly what I pasted below.
[0,0,0,0,0,0,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,0,0,0,0,0,0,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1]
And save it in json format (select Sintax from the editor menu) with the name 2d-gaps (required). UTF-8 encoding. This should work for 2 (if there are more matrices, then the file needs to be redone, I wrote above how to do this) your matrices. Just check it out. And you will only need one controller.
---
### Author:  [@sdart\_17](https://wled.discourse.group/u/sdart_17)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/5 "2025-03-24T04:00:30Z")
Thanks - the gap file worked perfectly! I was over complicating things with the map file.
I expanded it to a 2x2 grid, defining each panel as a 12x13 matrix.
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### Author:  [@Mobiart](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mobiart)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/6 "2025-03-24T14:29:54Z")
I’m very glad that you did it, and I was able to help in some way.
What kind of screen do you have?
What’s the size?
It looks very beautiful!
---
### Author:  [@sdart\_17](https://wled.discourse.group/u/sdart_17)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/7 "2025-03-25T01:44:56Z")
Thanks! This project uses 4 picture frames, each about 300mm. They are somewhat deep, like a shadow box.
I created a template for holding LEDs in whatever arrangement I need for projects like this, and in this case each frame holds a 12x12 grid of ws2812 fairy lights
The lights go inside the frame, and the outside holds a 3d-printed diffuser (plain white PLA). This one is a design I got from paragami, which works very well, but I’ve been experimenting with many different designs.
> **[3D MODEL EXPORT for PARAGAMI 07\_06 - RANDOM PENTAGONS (3x COLOUR VERSI](https://www.paragami.com/products/3d-model-export-for-random-pentagons-paragami-07_06-wall-art)**
>
> Geometric 3D wall art for your home decoration. Get Paragami and create a visually impressive wall hanging. This is 3D model export of the Paragami Paper Templates. STL file included for 3D printing.
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### Author:  [@Mobiart](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mobiart)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 8:51am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/8 "2025-03-25T08:51:19Z")
And each panel is 300x300 mm in size? If it’s not difficult, upload a photo with or without lighting. Is the plastic white for printing, or transparent? It’s not clear how white plastic lets light through.
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### Author:  [@sdart\_17](https://wled.discourse.group/u/sdart_17)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/9 "2025-03-25T20:22:52Z")
Here are some closer photos both with and without lighting, as well as a look at how the lights are arranged behind the diffuser.
I’ve found that plain white PLA is actually better than transparent for this application, because the lights are close enough and bright enough to shine through, and the height differences naturally add interesting shadow effects. I’ve tried transparent (translucent) PLA, but it’s not as pleasing - the LEDs create hot spots and don’t diffuse enough.
The shapes are small enough that supports are not needed - even with the flat tops, the printer can bridge smoothly. The walls are solid, but they are pretty thin, so not too much material or weight, and you don’t get any visible infill patterns.
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### Author:  [@Mobiart](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mobiart)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2025, 12:05pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/10 "2025-03-26T12:05:38Z")
Thanks for the answer!
And what is the approximate height of these pentagons? 10 millimeters? And is each element inside empty or filled?
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### Author:  [@sdart\_17](https://wled.discourse.group/u/sdart_17)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/11 "2025-03-26T22:40:46Z")
The individual shapes are hollow. They are all random heights, but roughly between 15-45mm. Of course you could scale the STL to any dimensions you wanted, but I’m pretty happy with this size
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### Author:  [@Mobiart](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mobiart)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2025, 9:40am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/matrix-gap-map-file-help/14236/12 "2025-03-28T09:40:52Z")
Ok! Thank you!