Pipeline

Defines how video content is processed in a project

The pipeline defines how video content flows and is processed from the Show till the video outputs of Smode.

Learn more about how to use the Pipeine by reading: Introduction to Pipeline .

Pipeline columns

Here is a picture of a typical pipeline :

• Content Mapping : Logical targets for content (Optional)

• Content Map : Rasterized targets for content

• Video Projector : Processors of the Video projector in the Stage (Optional)

• Processor : Additional 2D or pre-visualization processors (Optional)

• Video Output : The actual Video Output Device

Simplest Pipeline

The simplest pipeline is made of one Content Map connected to a Video Output .

Full Pipeline

Here is a little schematic to help you understand the whole mapping process:

• Scene rendering in content maps: The content is defined in the Show , in which 2D Layer are sent either to Content Mapping or to Content Map (or Content Area ). This rendering process is equivalent to making one Compo per Content Map .

• Processors to define post-processings: As many Processor as wanted can be created to define how to post-process the video content.

• Binding to video outputs: The last step of the pipeline is to bind the Video Output Device to either Processor or to Content Map directly.

Pipeline link with Stage

The pipeline is tightly linked to the Stage , which is the 3D modeling of the actual stage with screens, surfaces, video projectors and cameras.

Here are some example of connections between the pipeline and the stage:

• The content of stage Surface and Led Screen is defined by Content Map

• Video Projector Processor are relative to the Video Projector in the stage

• Content Mapping refer to 3D cameras that are defined in the Stage

3D video mapping

Here is the principle of the 3D video mapping pipeline:

• First, the video content of the Content Map is mapped to the projection Surface according to how they are defined in the Stage .

• Then, each Video Projector will act as a camera in 3D space that sees the surfaces with associated mapped content. This automatically computes the correct 3D deformation to achieve video mapping.

• Blending and warping is defined inside the video projector Processor .

• Most oftenly, the video projector processor will be selected on one of the Video Output , but if it’s needed to pack the signal differently (e.g. multiple video projectors on a single large output), it’s possible to create custom Processor to assemble multiple projectors in once. The same technique can also be used for example to convert a 16/10 signal into 16/9 or the other way around.