Editing projectors
This sub-chapter explains the definition of the projector properties. These properties can be edited using the projector editor. To understand how to use the properties please see the sub-chapter Manual Calibration and QuickCal.
Editing a projector
To edit a projector, either right-click directly on a projector in the Stage, or right-click the projector from the screens list in the Stage editor
General projector properties
Resolution
The x and y resolution of the projector, set in pixels. This should ideally be the native resolution of the physical projector model you’re using.
Currently outputting
Type of output mode that currently is active.
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Content: Outputs the content played on the timeline.
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Wireframe: Outputs the wireframe of the model.
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Identify: Full colour image with the projectors name on it.
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Grid: Outputs a coloured grid applied to the projection object.
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None: Outputs nothing (except reference points during QuickCal lineup).
Settings
Offset
The x, y and z position of the projector based from the origin point (0,0,0), set in meters.
Rotation
The rotation of the projector around the x, y and z axes respectively, in degrees.
Look At
The x, y and z position (in meters) of the Look At point. The projector always rotates to point at the Look At point.
Look Distance
The absolute distance between the projector position and its Look Atposition, in meters.
Throw ratio
The throw ratio is defined as the throw distance “D” divided by the width of the projected image, “W”. Since D and W are both in meters, the throw ratio quantity itself has no unit. Simply, the larger the throw ratio, the narrower the focus. Projector lenses are usually rated at particular throw ratios; you would simply type in the lens throw ratio here.
Field of View
Field of view in degrees for the specified throw ratio.
Lens shift
Represents horizontal and vertical lens shift. When horizontal shift is set to 0, there is no shift; when it’s set to 1, the left edge of the projected image lines up with the central projection axis. The same applies to negative numbers (-1 lines up the right edge) and to the vertical shift (bottom and top edges respectively).
Radial distortion
Radial lens distortion coefficients k1, k2, k3
Tangential distortion
Tangential lens distortion coefficients p1, p2
Surfaces
The list of screen surfaces the projector will project onto. The projectors view of the virtual stage will only contain these surfaces.
To add a projection surface to the list:
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Left-click the + button to open the Surfaces manager.
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Select the surfaces you wish the projector to see.
Mask objects
The list of objects this projector should render as black.
To add a mask object to the list:
- Left-click the + button to open the Objects manager.
- Select the objects you wish the projector to mask out (render black)
Mask scale
Mask scale allows you to scale the texture that is generated as the mask.
Blur shadow
Blur shadow allows you to add a blur effect to the edges of the generated mask.
Mask resolution
Mask resolution, set to Full by default, allows you to only generate the mask at half and quarter resolution for times when full resolution is not needed, or to save performance.
Appearance
Colour
The colour of the projector beam in the visualiser.
Render Mode
Switches the projector’s output in the virtual stage for easier identification of testing.
Types of render mode:
- Hidden
- Beam
- Wire
- Beam & Wire
Calibration
Configuration
The configuration of a projector stores its calibration - a precise measurement of its actual position and lens settings. Calibrated quantities are not necessarily the same as the properties you enter in the preceding boxes, but will usually match fairly closely.
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Left-click on the configuration property to open the library of settings for all projectors. You can also create multiple configuration files for the same projector.
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Right-click configuration to start a QuickCal lineup.
Output
Master Fade
Controls the output brightness.
Feather
Shrinks or grows screens in the projector’s view, to fix over-projection.
Final Adjust
Adjust the offset added to a projector’s position, in meters.
Final Adjust Rotation
Offset added to a projector’s rotation, in degrees.
Anti-Aliasing
The anti-aliasing options for the projector.
- None
- 2X FXAA
- 2X MSAA
- 4X MSAA
- 8X MSAA
Face Cull Mode
Use this to skip rendering faces with normals pointing toward (Front) or away (Back) from the projector.
Colour shift
The Colour shift property allows you to perform a number of colour-correction operations on the output of a projector.
To apply a Colour shift to a projector:
- Left-click Colour shift to open the Colour shift manager
- Either create a new Colour shift by typing a name into the newcolour shift text box and hit Enter , or select a colour shift configuration from the list.
To edit a Colour shift :
Right-click a Colour shift in the Colour shift manager to bring up the Colour shift editor.
Colour Profile
Colour/gamma space of the output display.
Colour LUT
Cube LUT applied to correct display device output; does not appear in the visualizer.
Hold Output
Stops the output of this display until unchecked.
Change Output Mode
Left-click to change the type of output mode that currently is active.
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Content: Outputs the content played on the timeline.
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Wireframe: Outputs the wireframe of the model.
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Identify: Full colour image with the projectors name on it.
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Grid: Outputs a coloured grid applied to the projection object
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None: Outputs nothing (except reference points during QuickCal lineup)
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BlackTrax: For Blacktrax line up
Dynamic Blend
Dynamic Blend
Allows you to enable/disable Dynamic blend on individual projectors.
Membership function
Dynamic Blend Membership Algorithm:
Options are Linear, Radial, and Linear to Radial
Gamma bias
Adjusts the estimate of this projector’s gamma relative to the Stage’s global blend gamma.
Barn door (top)
Top edge of the Dynamic Blend
Barn door (left)
Left edge of the Dynamic Blend
Barn door (bottom)
Bottom edge of the Dynamic Blend
Barn door (right)
Right edge of the Dynamic Blend
Exclude Projectors
Projectors excluded from the Dynamic Blend
Use snapshot
Lock the Dynamic Blend in a snapshot
For more information on using Dynamic Blend, please visit this link.
Hierarchy
For more information on Hierarchy, visit this link.