2.2 Adding Projection Surfaces

Projection Surfaces need to be added in the 3D Scene in order to create Screens that will be made visible for Virtual Displays (see Section 2.5 Projection Surfaces Visibility in Chapter 2 Setting Up a Show). When Screens are paired with Virtual Displays they can be calibrated with their real-life counterparts. Screens will also co-exist in the Timeline module, where they hold layers of video content.

Projection Surfaces are virtual 3D objects that formally correspond to their real-life counterparts; they make it possible for a wall (onto which video content is projected) to be represented by a rectangular plane, or the surface of a planetarium to be represented by a hemisphere, etc.

TACHYON features a library of Default Objects from which you can pick and choose. This library contains commonly used Projection Surfaces (sphere, cube, rectangular plane, etc.). It is also possible to import custom-made 3D objects in TACHYON in order to represent complex Projection Surfaces such as theatrical props and set elements (see Section 2.1 Import 3D Objects in Chapter 3 Importing Content).

Add a Projection Surface

1. Open the 3D Scene module by pressing [Alt+C] or by selecting {System > 3D Scene}.

2. Enable the Modeling mode by pressing [1] or by clicking on the [Modeling] toggle.

3. Select a Default Object through {Primitive > Default Objects > one of the objects listed in the Default Objects library} or a custom 3D model through {Primitive > XSI or OBJ or FBX or .BLEND}.(which need to first be imported via the File Manager)

Once selected, the new Projection Surface will appear in the 3D Scene as an entry in the Scene Primitives list. It will also appear in the 3D Scene Preview.