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Disguise User Guide

Designer Starter

Designer Starter is available for free and is perfect for learning and evaluating Designer. It is available to download and install via Disguise Cloud using a dedicated Starter installer. Starter users must log in to Disguise Cloud in d3Manager for authentication before launching Designer. There is no need to activate a license, because it is already included in the installer.

Features

Functionality

  • Feature-rich Designer software including all current functionality such as APIs and RenderStream.
  • Programme and pre-visualise projects in the Starter ecosystem.
  • Real-time project editing with other Designer Starter instances.
  • Support for uncompressed RenderStream without watermarks (requires RenderStream license and compatible hardware).

Activation and Installer

  • Users must log in to d3Manager with their Cloud account to activate the license. While d3Manager remains functional without logging in, you will be unable to open a project without a Disguise Cloud account login.
  • The dedicated Designer Starter installer already includes the license required to run Starter. There is no individual Designer Starter license, and Starter does not interact with Designer Pro licenses.
  • Designer Starter runs regardless of whether or not a Pro license is present on the server.

Watermarks and Restrictions

  • Designer Starter does not include access to the new Plugin Framework or our new AI features.
  • Designer projects created or saved with Designer Starter cannot be opened with the Pro license. However, Designer Pro projects can be opened with Designer Starter, but can only be saved as Designer Starter projects.
  • Designer Starter files are saved as .d3starter, rather than .d3. Designer Pro project files continue to use .d3.
  • Feed outputs have an intermittent blue flash watermark.
  • Feed movies are watermarked with a Disguise logo. Stage movies are not watermarked.
  • Feed and Stage movies have a maximum resolution of 4096×2160 pixels (4K DCI).
  • If you click on an object in Designer and export it from Designer Starter, it is not possible to import it into Designer Pro.
  • Supports watermarked RenderStream if Designer Starter is installed on the render nodes.
  • A Designer Starter can only join a d3 session with other Starter Designer instances. Designer Pro machines will not be visible on the network.

Upgrading to Pro

To upgrade from the Designer Starter to Designer Pro, you will need to purchase a Designer Pro license and install the Full version of Designer. Once upgraded, you will have access to all the advanced features, including the new AI capabilities and plugin framework.

Please refer to our Designer Starter v Pro comparison page on the Disguise website for more information.

If you have any specific queries, please refer to the Designer Licensing FAQ page or contact our support team.

Training Courses

If your training course does not require a Disguise server, Designer Starter is the ideal choice, as it provides full access to Designer’s core functionality without restrictions. Students should sign up for Disguise Cloud, install Designer Starter, and log in to d3Manager using their Disguise Cloud account.

For courses that do involve a Disguise server, you have two options:

  1. Using Designer Starter: Install Designer Starter on the Disguise server and log in to d3Manager on the server with a Disguise Cloud account. Additional Starter instances can then join a d3 session with the server. Note that outputs will display an intermittent blue flash.
  2. Using Designer Pro: If students require Designer Pro, please contact your account manager to discuss options for obtaining Pro licenses for the training course.

Learn more about Designer Pro here.

The Designer website has a comparison chart here, and Designer Licensing FAQs here.