Creating a multidisplay show using one computer

In this tutorial we are going to show you how easy it is to create and present a multidisplay show via one PC. Using the corresponding graphics card you can output up to four displays. This tutorial is based on the assumption that you know how to handle Wings in general. If not, we recommend working through the tutorials of workshop Digital AV Show first.

In this tutorial you will be provided with detailed knowledge about the special features of a multidisplay show illustrated at the example of a panorama show for two projectors:

For our example we are going to use panorama format at 3600 x 1200 pixels, projected with two projectors and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels each. On the other hand, we are using a computer with a Multidisplay License for two displays or a Wings Engine. Your computer must have three graphics card outputs in order to allow proper adjustment and show programming on a separate monitor.

 

 

Creating a project

Use the Wizard for Mixed-Media Projects to create your show. On the first page you can make entries that refer to media and project type.

Media

  1. Specify the types of media you want to use for your project. For this exercise you should only choose Audio, Pictures and Video.

  2. At the bottom you should specify that you want to create a multidisplay project.

  3. Click on Next.

Multidisplay screen

Here you can make various settings for screen and display configuration.

  1. Under Output settings and Display size enter the resolution of an individual video projector, i.e. 1920 x 1200 pixels for our tutorial.

  2. At Displays enter the number and arrangement of displays, i.e. in our case, 2 x 1 for two video projectors arranged next to each other.

  3. The next step is to enter a total size of 3600 pixels in width. The resulting overlap is 240 pixels which are displayed immediately above. As an alternative, you could also have specified an overlap and the width of the whole picture would be the result of this entry.

  4. Next to Multidisplay configuration click and select All displays on the master starting with monitor 2, so that output 1 is available for the control monitor.

  5. Click on Next.

Pool template

This dialog allows you to select a project template, Media Pool components of which can be transferred to the new project. Thus you can use previously created ramps and effects in a new show.

  1. Place a checkmark next to Add Media Pool components from following project template.

  2. The preselected template Default Pools contains a few ramps and control tracks for effects.

  3. Click on Next.

Media Pool

  1. Here you select the required components you want to import. Select Effects, Control tracks and Ramps.

  2. Click on Next.

Timeline tracks

  1. Here you specify the number of the corresponding track types to be created in the timeline. Do not worry about the entries; tracks can be added or removed any time.

  2. The checkmark next to Group tracks automatically installs additional group tracks which allow hiding and displaying of tracks.

  3. Click Finish and the timeline with the corresponding tracks appears. If there is a message saying that Synchronization Mode Multihead (manual sync adjustment) is recommended, click OK to select it.

Saving the show

Before you actually start editing you should create a project folder and save the show. Click Save in the toolbar below the main menu and a dialog box will appear. Select the appropriate drive, create a new folder for your project and enter a name for your show. Finish by clicking on Save.

If you want to keep saving all projects to the same location , you can specify a Default folder under Options.

 

Aligning projectors and adjusting the softedge masks

Align the projectors by means of test images. Do so by modifying test picture Pattern black, white background.tif which was copied to folder Media Samples\Test Charts from DVD ROM or USB stick. You can find this folder by clicking Extras - Open folder Sample media. If it is not available no sample media have been installed yet. In any case, the picture can always be copied from the installation medium for Wings at :\Wings 5\Media Samples\Test Charts.

  1. Open the picture Pattern black, white background.tif with an image editing program and crop the picture to the total size 3600 x 1200 pixels.

The cropped grid should look as shown in the illustration (illustration is reduced in size). Important note: The test image must not be scaled as it will be reduced in sharpness by interpolation.

  1. Save the image as Pattern 3600x1200.tif, using LZW compression if you like so that you can see the size immediately.

  2. Drag test picture Pattern 3600x1200 and, if necessary, a couple of other test images from folder Testcharts, drop them into the Media Pool and arrange the pictures in the timeline.

  3. To ensure that Wings Vioso RX uses image Pattern 3600x1200 without scaling, go to the main menu and click Media Pool - Optimize display data followed by clicking Start.

  4. Check by right-clicking the object Pattern 3600x1200 and selecting Properties. At Resulting Picture size, Picture size must be exactly 3600 pixels. After checking, close the dialog by clicking OK.

  5. In order to open the render displays click button  Show render displays in the toolbar at the top. It may take a few seconds until the render displays are reliably open. Wait for this period to elapse before you start playback.

  6. Start playback and press the space bar to pause it when the test image appears. You can now align the projectors using image Pattern 3600x1200. The lines should be exactly one pixel wide and be very well visible. The circles allow you verification of whether the picture is displayed without any distortion or not.

  7. For the time being you need to resort to a camera and the separate Vioso calibrator for final adjustment and creation of softedge masks. The Vioso Calibrator can be started by clicking Programs - Vioso Calibrator in the main menu. In principle calibration is done as described in topic Camera-based calibration. However, you need to export the completed calibration and import it again as follows:

  8. In the main menu Multidisplay click VIOSO calibration.... and Load calibration.

  9. After loading and checking the previously created calibration click on Save as Startup calibration so that is loaded automatically at Wings Vioso RX start.

  1. After the calibration position the other test patterns in the overlap areas. See also Motion: Position - Zoom - Rotation. Images Grey _steps_1 and Grey _steps_2 are well suited for checking the softedge masks. All the other test pictures can be used to check homogeneity with different tonal values and colors.

Following this you can create the show as described in the tutorials for single display shows.

You should now be familiar with the most important steps for creating and presenting a multidisplay show  using one PC. Some other interesting and additional information can be found in the following topics :

Show Control Functions