Page 1 of 1

Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 18:18
by Alvis_Cortex
Sorry but Am I missing something here?

I can't get the blend mode (between layers) to work once I have my output as Advanced Output.

I mean, no matter what blend mode I choose the only thing I can do is to fading the layers in/out.

I am using Arena 4.1.11

Thanks in advance

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:17
by Joris
Could it be you are using layer to slice routing?

When you route a layer to a slice, the compositing stage of blending one layer with another is skipped. Instead, slices are composited on eachother based on their order in the Advanced Output and their alpha values.

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 14:26
by Alvis_Cortex
Thanks for replying Joris.

That is right, I am using Layer > Slice routing.

So does that mean there is no way I can use different blend modes when using this method? and the only way to achieve that is not using Layer > Slice but Composition > slice instead?

Thanks

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 15:16
by Oaktown
Hey Alvis Cortex, can you describe what you are trying to achieve with the blended slices?

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 17:33
by Alvis_Cortex
Hi Oaktown

I managed to achieve what I want using VisutionMapio2.

But I will try to explain as I would prefer to use Resolume Advance output instead.

Basically my set up is a big square screen divided into 9 small squares. - pict1
Pict1
Pict1
So

Layer 1 and 2 - to cover the whole screen, like a full screen - lets called it 'main screen'- pict2
Pict2
Pict2
Layer 3 - on the screens on the corner - pict3
Pict3
Pict3
Layer 4 - middel screens - pict4
Pict4
Pict4
The problem is that I would like to use different blend modes when mixing layers to create interesting effects with the layers bellow, more important it means I could use layer 2 on 50Mask blend mode and black&White PNGs to mask layer 1 - the main screen - so I can create different patterns - pict5
Pict5
Pict5
But because I am using Layers to Slice it seems that (according to Joris) the blend mode does not work and all I can do is to fade in and out between layers.

Does it make sense?

I resolved the problem applying VisutionMapio2 on layers.

It might be something to think about for next version of Resolume.

Many thanks

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 19:15
by Zoltán
if you want to blend only layers 1 and 2 set the whole screen sclices' input to composition.

if you want to use the corners to blend with something on the corner set up the composition
size so that you have 4x3 size instead of 3x3, you can use the first 3 colums of the 4x3 to route to the whole screen, and then the 4/1 and 4/2 rectangle spaces to route to the corners and the middle destinations
output setup will be 3x3.
all slice sources will have to be composition

or for simpler positioning you can do 6x3, and so you only have to position the layers for corners and middle horizontal.
hope it is clear what I mean :)

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 17:12
by Joris
It might be something to think about for next version of Resolume.
It is indeed something that is often requested, but it's not a development that's likely to happen.

Resolume already has a very solid system for blending, positioning, applying effects and routing layers. Adding a second set of options for blending, mixing, effects ( because that's of course the next logical step ) would make the workflow a lot more complicated. Having the same options in two places is never a good idea.

Rather, we'd like to make positioning, duplicating and adjusting content in layers easier in the layer itself. If you could use the same drag and drop positioning and duplicating options to create your cross shapes * in the layer *, you get the best of both worlds ( this is pretty much what Mapio also does ).

You could then create the shapes you want in the layers, and use the advanced output to map it with a minimal amount of slices to adjust.

That way, the advanced output setup is used for what it's meant: setting up your output.
The composition is then used for what it's meant: compositing.

Hope that explains our ideas on this a bit...

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 18:48
by Joris
Btw, I couldn't resist trying to recreate this using effects.

The square aspect ration made things a bit difficult, but attached is a comp that recreated your setup. It uses Tile and a few Crops on layer 3 and 4.
FuzzyDice.png
Nice choice of content btw. You don't see it used that much, but we still love it.

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:14
by Alvis_Cortex
First of all I want to say thanks you to Ravensc for the 4x3 suggestion as I managed to recreate that and it works well. The problem I was having with using Mapio is that having the effect on every layer was slowing down my MBP quite a lot. Now it runs much better.

And also thanks to Joris for coming up with this great solution as well using Tiles and Crop effects (and for sharing the project), I just love Resolume community. The advantage with this option is that I can see how the final output looks like on my output screen in Resolume since this is quite important to me as I am performing on stage.

But since this is work in progress and it one of the ideas is to be able to have different arrangements of the screen (keeping the same set up) during the whole concert (so people do not get tired) I will be doing tests with all the options - including mapio - and let you guys know how it goes.

The idea is to have a small (physical) gap between the squares, so they will be 'floating' in the air.

You can see some of our videos (using the old and traditional rectangle screen) on http://www.dicepeople.com

And Joris, regarding the content, indeed it is great. simple and powerful :)

Thanks 'Reso-lumers' :D

Re: Blend mode with advanced output?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:03
by Alvis_Cortex
So another question to you guys would be about a second outup screen - mirroring my projector - but I placed the question in another post, please see it here

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11395&p=46468#p46468