VSM LITE editor

You can complete the studio with object layers. These can be any objects of a studio decor: a desk, a lamp, etc. You can also place logos anywhere in the studio, e.g. a sports club logo on the studio’s floor. This layer can be scaled, moved, and rotated by any angle. It is assumed that this layer is partially
transparent, but it is not obligatory. There can be also several layers of this type. However, if you want to insert a TV station’s logo that is supposed to be in the same place on the Screen all the time on the air, regardless of the virtual camera’s movements, you should not put it on your set design. Instead, use DSK function in LITE Production module at the production stage and load your logo as DSK. On the image, you can see the object layers with two different objects loaded.

This type of layer is used for placing graphic files representing the studio’s interior (background).

Graphics loaded into studio layers are scaled so that they fill an entire Screen. Graphics with a resolution lower than the Screen’s resolution will be stretched to full Screen, which may cause deterioration of their quality. It is therefore recommended to use files in PNG, JPG, JPEG, or BMP formats with resolution of 1920×1080 or 2880×1620, that is with image aspect ratio of 16:9.

You cannot perform any transformations on Studio layers, therefore, when you select such a layer to be edited, its transformation controls are not active (they are dimmed) and a padlock symbol appears next to the layer’s thumbnail. PNG files that you place on a studio layer may contain transparency. This allows you to create a background by combining several graphic files, you just have to note that the files should have the same resolution. If you load a PNG file with no transparency or a JPG, JPEG, or BMP file on a studio layer, it will completely cover all the layers placed below the layer containing such file. The order of studio layers can be freely changed using arrows located at the top of Layers area. On the image
below, a file on a studio layer contains transparency in the areas of studio’s windows (areas with a grid representing transparency on the thumbnail).

NOTE: if you want to avoid automatic stretching of the file you are planning to put as a studio layer (e.g. when you want to use some part of it or scale it appropriately), then you should load it as an object layer.

On the image, you can see a view with an additional loaded layer of a city panorama outside studio windows. When you click an object layer’s thumbnail in the layers window, the size and location of the image is indicated with a white frame.

Composition of a studio consists of flat images and areas for the sources. These are the layers.They are placed one above the other, and their order ‘on the stack’ can be freely changed. There are four types of layers in the program:

• a Studio layer,
• an Object layer,
• sources A and B (Talents),
• sources C and D (Screens).

Studio layer – an image that covers entire screen – it cannot be scaled or moved. However, this layer may be partially transparent and more than one studio layer can be added.

Object layer – it is a graphic layer that can be scaled and moved. It is assumed that this layer is partially transparent, but it is not obligatory. There can also be several layers of this type.

Talent layer – it is an area for the ‘source signal’ from a camera. Such a layer can be scaled or moved.

Screen layer – a place where graphic files or video files can be displayed. This layer also can be scaled or moved.

Talent layers and Screen layers are represented differently in the editor, but the difference between them is arbitrary – they are identical on a technical level. It is even more evident later on, in the LITE Production module, where they can have any kind of input signal assigned, i.e. camera image, video, static image, etc.

Virtual Space Maker’s application screen can be divided into four areas. They will be described in detail in the further part of this manual.

• Area 1 – Menu bar, where you have access to many of the editor’s functions.
• Area 2 – Layers window – contains buttons for adding, removing and changing layers order. In addition, thumbnails representing project’s individual layers are shown in this area.
• Area 3 – Control window with controls to change properties of a layer currently marked for editing.
• Area 4 – Workspace screen window for previewing the created set design. It shows ongoing changes introduced to the studio’s design.

Virtual Space Maker – a virtual set design editor is an additional module of RECKEEN LITE system, complementing its Production LITE module. It has also been prepared to operate as a stand-alone program that can be installed on any PC. With its help, you can easily set up your own virtual studio
scenography. The design of a studio is carried out with the use layers placed one above the other. This way, you can make a composition of pre-prepared graphics and layers representing signals – sources A and B (Talents) and sources C and D (Screens). A Talent is a presenter or an actor in front of the camera. After saving a project prepared in this manner as rec2D file, you can use it as a ready-made virtual studio’s set design, that is, load it into RECKEEN LITE system. Before you begin working with VSM Editor, on a startup screen you should choose an image system in which you are going to work in the editor. See picture section: Reckeen 3D Studio System Startup> LITE VSM Editor.

• create your own virtual set designs,
• graphic file layers layout,
• edit layers: add a new layer, reorder the layers, hide existing layers or remove unwanted ones,
• changes in a layer such as zoom, changes in its position and rotation along its X, Y and Z axes,
• special .rec2D file format that can be easily loaded into the production module,
• menu available in different languages,
• various Talent views to be set: full, behind the desk, middle – showing shots of a set.
• choice of application style: white or black.