2D Projection Mapping Workflow

Projection mapping on a facade during Luma festival in 2025 Photo courtesy of Show Sage

As an example of 2D projection mapping functionalities, we will be a projection mapping on a facade during Luma festival done by Show Sage.

Good to know: in 2D projection mapping, you usually do not use Projector viewport objects at all. All the warping and blending is done in the Output maps window.

The approach you will want to follow when working on a project like this is described below.

Initial calculations

1. Based on the physical size of the projection object, the required brightness of the projection and the viewing distance of the audience, determine the number and resolution, the lens properties of the projectors you will be using. This will also give you the amount of projector overlap (usually expressed either in pixels or in percentage). Projection study feature will help you with that.

2. Using the data you obtained, calculate the overall resolution of the content.

Project setup

There are probably different approaches from here on, but one option is to create a Video screen with the correct physical size and resolution based on the data you calculated above. Render some test content onto this video screen.

In the Output Maps, you create 2 Virtual outputs corresponding to your projectors.

Good to know: in this example, we will be using 2 vertically oriented FullHD projectors. That was also what Show Sage used in the real project.

Create subareas in the Video screen that match the resolution of the projectors. Snap them to the edges of the video screen.

Map the subareas to the Virtual outputs representing the projectors.

Right click on the destination subarea and select Create layout.

Mapping Layout Setup

In the Mapping layout you will probably want to use:

1. Perspective warp: this will probably be the first node in your chain. Use it to align the corners of the projection with the corners of the object.

2. Mesh warp: use this node to fine tune the warping so that it falls perfectly onto the object.

3. Softedge: use this node to blend the projectors together.

Result with Left projector set up already.

Good to know: usually you warp one projector first, then you warp all the second projector according to the first one and so on. Blending is usually the last step in the process.

Good to know: for blending you might want to switch to White Content override. On the other hand, some users prefer red color instead of white.

Good to know: if the color of the projectors doesn't match, you might want to use varius color correction nodes in the Layout as well. For example, Texture Modify or Channel Multiply.