Getting Started

Welcome to FutureHoop Designer

Your FutureHoop Designer comes pre-loaded with patterns and default settings, so you can start hooping immediately. You do not need to connect it to a computer or change any settings to enjoy it.

As you become more comfortable, you can add new patterns, organize them into groups, customize playback behavior, and even create your own designs.

Most customization happens through a simple USB connection. When connected to a computer, your hoop behaves much like a USB flash drive. You can browse folders, copy files, and organize content using tools that are already built into Windows and Mac.

Good News: It’s Hard to Break Things

FutureHoop Designer was designed to encourage experimentation. Most customization involves adding, removing, or organizing files. If something does not work as expected, it can usually be fixed by restoring a file or correcting a folder location.

How Designer Is Organized

Designer stores patterns inside folders.

Think of it like a music library:

• Individual songs are Patterns
• Playlists are Modes

A Pattern is a single visual effect or image displayed by your hoop.

A Mode is a collection of related patterns grouped together for easier browsing and playback.

For example, you might have:

• Gradient Mode
  • Rainbow
  • Sunset
  • Aurora
• Fire Mode
  • Flame
  • Ember
  • Inferno

This organization makes it easier to navigate large pattern collections while hooping.

Pattern Files

Each pattern is stored as a bitmap image, also called a .bmp file.

Bitmaps are a common image format that can be opened and edited in many image editing programs.

You do not need to understand bitmap editing to use Designer. Most users begin by downloading and adding existing patterns.

Settings Files

You may also notice text files stored on the hoop.

These files control optional behaviors such as autoplay, transitions, animation speed, and other advanced settings.

You can safely ignore these files when you’re first getting started.

Using the Power Switch

Even if your remote is not available, you can still move between Modes by turning the hoop off and back on again.

Each time the hoop powers on, it advances to the next startup Mode.

This allows you to access different collections of patterns even when your remote is not nearby.

Autoplay

By default, FutureHoop Designer begins playing patterns automatically when a Mode starts.

This feature is called Autoplay. Autoplay advances to the next Pattern after a set amount of time. When the last Pattern in a Mode is reached, playback wraps back to the first Pattern and continues cycling.

The default Autoplay timing is typically 6 seconds, although this can be customized using the Autoplay setting in an options.txt file.

Crossfade Transitions

By default, Designer smoothly fades between patterns during Autoplay.

This transition effect is called a Crossfade.

The duration of the crossfade can be customized using the CrossfadeTime option in an options.txt file.

You can learn more in the Crossfade Between Changing Patterns section.

Playing Without the Remote

If your remote is not available, you can still:

• Advance to the next Mode by turning the hoop off and back on
• Allow Autoplay to cycle through Patterns automatically
• Enjoy all of the patterns already loaded into each Mode

The remote simply gives you faster access to navigation and advanced features.

Most People Start Here

If you want to add new patterns to your hoop, continue to the Loading New Patterns section.