3D Compositing with Action > Action: Textures >
Projecting Textures

Like a slide projector, textures can be projected onto 3D models to create an effect where a texture is animated on an object in 3D space. The advantage of using a Projector node is that you can cast images on arbitrary surfaces. You can create a spotlight texture and project it onto a 3D model, so that you can see “into” it.

NoteDiffuse, Emissive, Normal, and Specular maps also allow you to use Projection mapping as a type of texture mapping. This method of projecting behaves as if it were projected by the selected camera.

The texture projection properties are located in the Projector menu.

The Projector controls are described as follows.

MBlur
  Enables or disables a motion blur only for the projection.
Enable button
  Activates or deactivates the projected texture effect in the scene. When this button is disabled, the Projector node remains in the schematic and the projector icon appears smaller in the image area.
Position X, Y, and Z fields
  Position the projector in 3D space. You can also set the texture projector position by dragging the projector in the scene.
Rotation X, Y, and Z fields
  Rotate the projector in 3D space.
Motion Path button
  Enables motion path animation for the projector.
Projection Blend Mode box
  Displays the projected texture effect. See Blending Projections.
Transparency field
  Modifies the transparency of the projected texture effect. Transparency values are 0 to 100.
FOV field
  Adjusts the projector's field of view. FOV values are 1.00 to 180.00.
Aspect field
  Specifies the ratio of height to width for the projected image. Aspect values are 0.10 to 100.00.
Order field
  Sets the order of projectors.
RGB fields and colour pot
  Specify RGB colour values. You can also pick a colour with the colour picker.

To project a texture:

1. Click Media to access the Media menu.
2. In the Media list, select the media that you want to project.
3. Do one of the following:
   - Drag the Projector node from the node bin and place it in the schematic.
   - Drag the Projector node from the node bin and place it where you want it in Result view.
   - Double-click the Projector node. You do not need to be in Schematic view to add a node in this manner.

   The Projector node appears in the schematic and a projector icon appears in the scene.

   (a) Projector node

4. Double-click the Projector node to display the Projector menu, or follow the tab population rules for the Object menu (see Populating Menu Tabs of Selected Objects).

   The Projector is selected.

5. Switch to Camera view to manipulate the projector in the scene using the View box.

   The following example illustrates projected media on a 3D model using Spotlight projection blend mode. See Blending Projections.

   (a) Projector icon(b) Yellow outline shows the projector field of view

To add multiple projections:

1. Click Media to access the Media menu.
2. In the Media list, select the media you want to use as projectors by Ctrl-clicking the media.
3. Use the node bin to add a projector.

   Multiple Projector nodes appear in the schematic and projector icons appear in the scene.

4. Use the Order field in the Projector menu to set the order of projectors.

   The front projector is projector1. A new projector is always added to the back. Changing the order number of a projector affects the order of other projectors.

#### Topics in this section

- Blending Projections
- Applying Selective Projections