How To 3D Layer Reference

This HowTo chapter will guide you trough the steps that are necessary for working with a 3D Layer Reference Node.

Introduction

The 3D Layer Reference is very useful if you want to reuse a 3D Layer and want to publish it on another screen, but with a slightly different content.

One of the use-cases we will discuss in this HowTo will be a gameshow. Let's say you need the same Content, Layout, etc. for the Game-Show-Master as well as the Guest. The only difference is that the Game Show Master has also the correct answers already marked. He might even have some hints that he is allowed to mention appearing on his screen aswell. In this case, all you would need is to filter out the content for the Guest.

Additionally to the first example, another use-case for the 3D Layer Reference is the possibility of using the same 3D Layer but with different camera angles to display on different monitors. The Advantage with the 3D Layer Reference is to have a unique layer effect for each reference.

3D Layer Reference - Game Show

Let's assume you have already created the layout for your Game Show and the Question - and Answer fields are in their position. Additionally, you have created a panel for the Game Show Master which can contain hints for the Guest. The render setup has been configured for two screens, one for the Game Show Master (Main) and one for the Guest.

In the screenshot below we have marked the Area as Generic Content, this content is visible for both: the Game Show Master and the Guest. The Content in the Filtered Content Area is ONLY visible to the Game Show Master since it has the LayerRefFilter node in front and is set to be only visible in Main.

Create a new 3D Layer Reference. All you need to do now is select which layer you want as the reference. You can find the according setting in the 3D section under Layer. Select your 3D Layer and under Filter set your filter to A (you would need to uncheck all other filter groups). With that, it will show all Unfiltered Content as well as the content which is in the Filtergroup A.

Furthermore we also want to use the original MainCam from the 3D Layer 1. Use the Camera drop-down menu and switch from (default) to Normal. Now select the Camera, in this case, the renamed MainCam from the Camera drop-down menu.

You can resize and reposition your layers to your needs. In our case, we have a 2x1 layout configuration and therefore we can split the render view in half. Moreover, our Main view / Original 3D Layer is on the left and the Guest View is positioned to the right. To do so, change the Layout of each layer.

Select the 3D Layer 1 and all the content that you want to filter out. The Guest view should be placed behind the LayerRefFilter. Now select the LayerRefFilter and in the Filter property Main should be checked (you might have to uncheck all other filter groups).

Since we set the Filter in the 3D Layer Reference already to A the content should be filtered correctly. Everything that is now behind the LayerRefFilter node will be ONLY shown in the MAIN view.

Multi Camera Angles

A great advantage to Ventuz is the possibility to have different cameras inside a 3D Layer and use those camera views for the 3DLayerReference layers. You can achieve a so called Multicamera View. Furthermore, each Layer can have their own effects applied. Next to that, you can use the LayerRefFilter node to filter specific content out of individual referenced 3D Layers.

To make use of the Multicamera angles you need to setup more than one camera inside your 3D Layer. In our example, we wanted to have 4 Camera views. Therefore we created 4 cameras and assigned individual positions for each camera. You should also consider renaming the cameras to make your selection later on easier.

Since the original 3D Layer 1 is already used for one of the four camera angles, we only needed to add 3 more 3D Layer Reference layers. Each 3D Layer Reference will represent one camera view. Inside the 3D Layer Reference properties select for the 3D - Layer the 3D Layer 1 which is the layer we wanted to use as reference.

The next step is to change the Camera for each 3D Layer Reference. Select for each of the RefLayer one of the Cameras. In the example we used the Front Camera for the Main - 3D Layer One, Right, Left, Dramatic for each RefLayer. To do that, you need to select the Camera property group and switch from (default) to Normal. Change the Camera property to any of the other available Cameras. Since we have already defined the layer we want to reference from, we get a list of available cameras.

You should also use the Layout to align all the different layers on the screen. In our example, we are using the Percentage and split our screen into four sections by changing the Width and Height to 50% and reposition each view by using the X/Y. Main / 3D Layer 1 is the top left, Right in the upper right, Left to the bottom left and the Dramatic is assigned to the lower right section of our screen.

You should now have your screen split into 4 Sections or Areas. Each of them should show your 3D Layer 1 content from a different angle or should be viewed by a different camera.

In addition to that, you can add individual effects to each 3D Layer Reference.