Layers Types Index

Designer includes six main layer types:

• Content layers
• Control layers
• Effects layers
• Generative layers
• Legacy layers
• Previsualisation layers

This section provides an overview of each type, explains their functions and features.

For guidance on creating and editing layers, see the working with layers section.

Content layers

The function of content layers is to play back pre-rendered content, map them onto screens and, if needed, apply a number of effects built into the layer.

• 2.5D: Creates parallax scenes from layered image or video plates with depth, bridging 2D video and full 3D workflows.
• Audio: Plays back audio files inside your Designer timeline, routed through Disguise’s audio output system.
• Depth Video: Applies a depth-map video directly to a Depth Map Mesh, deforming its geometry in real time based on the content’s depth values.
• RenderStream: Used to control third party render engines running externally to Designer.
• RenderStream Local: Used to control third party render engines running locally on a VX or GX range media server.
• StageRender: Renders surfaces assigned to Frontplate or Backplate render layers from a camera’s point of view.
• Video: Plays pre-rendered video files, combining editable colour, effects, optional audio, keying, movement, and cropping functionality, with full timeline control.
• VideoTrigger: Plays pre-rendered video files triggered by a value change (OnReset or OnChange) rather than timeline playback.
• VirtualLineup: Aligns and calibrates camera views for xR stages using virtual tracking and calibration workflows.
• Web: Displays and interacts with HTML-based content or browser-rendered pages inside the Designer timeline.

Control layers

Control layers are technical layers that control other equipment in the show. For example, DVI matrices, switchers or DMX controlled equipment.

• Camera Control: Sends commands to control physical or virtual cameras, such as zoom, focus, or position.
• CameraCutControl: Sequences camera cuts on the timeline with calibrated delay compensation for xR workflows.
• Control: Sends custom serial, Telnet, or UDP commands to third-party devices directly from the timeline.
• DMXLightsControl: Controls DMX lighting fixtures by outputting DMX values.
• DMXShare: Shares and synchronises DMX values between layers or systems.
• ExpressionVariables: Animates or sets numeric variables that drive expressions or dynamic behaviours.
• HTTPControl: Sends HTTP requests (GET/POST/etc.) to trigger actions on web-enabled devices or APIs.
• IndirectionControl: Allows indirections to be sequenced on a timeline.
• MDC: Sends Motion Data Control commands to devices and systems using the MDC protocol.
• MTC: Sends MIDI Timecode to synchronise external devices with Designer.
• MasterBrightness: Sets the brightness level of all displays of a given projection.
• MatrixControl: Sends commands to video or signal routing matrices for switching sources and destinations.
• MidiNote: Sends MIDI note messages to trigger cues or behaviours.
• Open: Controls any property of any object in Designer from the timeline, even if not normally animatable.
• OscControl: Sends OSC messages to OSC-compatible systems and software.
• PlayMode: Changes the project’s play state between modes like Play, Play to end of section, Loop section.
• ProjectorControl: Animates projector parameters in the stage, and in turn, those parameters can be output to real projectors.
• TargetObject: Sets the target used by other control layers that need to reference a specific object or device.
• TimecodeMode: Sets the timecode chase mode of the current transport manager to either Default, Force Chase, or Force Ignore.
• TrackJump: Jumps the playhead to a specific cue on a specific track.
• TransportBrightnessLocal: Adjusts the brightness of the current transport manager.
• TransportControl: Sends transport jump commands to a given transport manager.
• TransportVolumeLocal: Adjusts the volume for the current transport manager.

Effect layers

Effect layers can be used to apply visual effects to other layer types such as Video layers.

Input a bitmap, a video or an output from another content layer into Designer effects layers. For example, you can spin, pixelate, blur images or video, or add any effect to other inputs to create a new look.

• Blur: Softens the input image by applying a blur filter with adjustable strength.
• CDL: Applies ASC-CDL colour corrections (Slope, Offset, Power, Saturation) for standardised colour grading across pipelines.
• ChannelRouter: Re-routes colour channels or alpha channels from the input to create customised channel outputs.
• ColourAdjust: Adjusts brightness, contrast, gamma, saturation and other colour characteristics.
• Compose: Combines multiple inputs spatially on a single screen with optional edge blurring for seamless composition.
• EdgeFilter: Detects and highlights edges in the input image for stylised or technical looks.
• Fade: Fades a layer or input in and out over time using timeline-driven parameters.
• FilmicGrain: Adds film-style grain to the input for a textured or cinematic look.
• Kaleidoscope: Applies a kaleidoscope effect by mirroring and repeating the image.
• Lut: Applies a 1D or 3D LUT to recolour the input based on a lookup table.
• MotionBlur: Applies motion-based blur using velocity or temporal sampling to smooth movement.
• OCIO : Applies OpenColorIO (OCIO) colour space transformations to the input, ensuring consistent and standardised colour management (such as ACES) across your display pipeline.
• Noise: Overlays procedural noise for texture, distortion, or stylisation.
• PixelMap: Remaps pixels from one coordinate space to another using a pixel mapping texture.
• Pixelate: Reduces resolution to create a blocky, pixelated appearance.
• Scroll: Moves the input horizontally or vertically for looping or animated motion.
• SpinBitmap: Rotates the input bitmap around a pivot point over time.
• Trigger: Triggers still image content at specific points on your screens.
• UVLookup: Re-maps image pixels using UV coordinates from another texture.
• VideoTransition: Applies transitions (such as wipes, dissolves, or slides) between two video inputs.

Generative layers

Generative layers are packets of algorithms inside Designer that produce visuals based on a number of animatable properties. They share some of the same properties as all the other layer types such as the Mapping property.

• Bugs: Generates swarming particle-based visuals with animatable motion properties.
• Chevron: Produces repeating angled chevron shapes with controllable colours and speed.
• Colour: Outputs a solid colour that can be animated or mapped like any other layer.
• Gradient: Generates multi-stop gradients with animatable direction and colour values.
• Notch: Plays real-time Notch Blocks for complex graphics, effects, or simulations.
• Radar: Creates radar-style sweeping graphics with rotating arms or pulses.
• RGBColour: Generates RGB colour bars or blocks for testing or stylised visuals.
• Readout: Displays numeric values or data readouts dynamically from variables or inputs.
• Scan: Produces a scanning bar or sweep effect similar to a sensor or line scan.
• Strobe: Generates rapid flashing or strobing patterns based on adjustable timing.
• Tennis: Creates bouncing animated “ball” visuals used mainly for testing and calibration.
• Testpattern: Outputs test pattern grids for calibration and system verification.
• Text: Renders vector text that can be animated, styled, and mapped.
• TrackingMarker: Generates a repeating pattern of tracking markers for xR, calibration, and virtual production workflows.

Legacy layers

Legacy layers remain for backwards compatibility with older projects.

• Bitmap: Displays still images. Still used with precomps, but for general use the Video layer is recommended.
• Legacy Video: Plays pre-rendered video files. Replaced by the modern Video layer.

Previsualisation layers

Previsualisation layers are usually used during the design and pre-production phases of the project when accurate visualisation is required, for example animating screens or creating camera fly-throughs.

• AnimateCameraPreset: Animates transitions between saved camera presets for previz or fly-throughs.
• AnimateCameraControl: Drives camera movement directly using animatable timeline properties.
• AnimateObjectPreset: Animates transitions between object position/rotation presets.
• SceneAnimation: Plays back imported 3D scene animations (such as Alembic caches), allowing you to sequence stage automation, moving screens, or object movements directly on the timeline.
• TargetControl: Moves a camera or object to track or look at a specific target point.
• TargetPreset: Stores and animates transitions between different target positions.