What is the difference between a Display and a Surface?

Last updated 27 March 2026

Both represent physical screens in your installation, but they serve different purposes.

Display

A Display represents a flat screen or LED wall where the content position is defined in 2D pixel space. Use a Display when:

  • You have a flat LED wall or monitor

  • You want to position content by pixel coordinates

  • No projection geometry or warping is needed

Surface

A Surface represents a projection target defined in 3D space. Backstage calculates how to project content onto it based on geometry. Use a Surface when:

  • You are projecting onto a physical screen, dome, cylinder, cube, or custom shape

  • You need projection mapping or geometric correction

  • You are using the Calibrator for camera-based alignment

In Short

Use a Display for LED walls and flat screens driven directly by a GPU output.
Use a Surface for anything you are projecting onto.

The two can coexist in the same scene. Both are routed to GPU outputs via the Video Routing window.