Set Up a Projection Surface

This guide walks through creating a single-projector setup from scratch — a projection surface, a virtual projector aimed at it, and content playing through a physical GPU output.

Before you start

• Backstage is running with a valid project open
• At least one GPU output is connected to a projector or display
• You have a video asset ready to assign

Steps

1. Create a projection surface

In the Scene window, right-click the scene hierarchy and select Add scene object → Projection Surface.

Choose the shape that matches your physical screen:

For a standard flat screen, select Flat and set the width and height in metres.

The surface appears in the scene hierarchy and in the 3D viewport.

2. Create a projector

Right-click the scene hierarchy again and select Add scene object → Projector.

A projector appears in the scene. It represents the physical projector's position and optical properties — Backstage uses it to calculate how content maps from your surface geometry to the projector's lens.

3. Configure the projector optics

Select the projector in the scene hierarchy. In the Inspector, set:

Position and aim the projector in the 3D viewport by dragging it into place. The projector's frustum (the projected cone) should overlap the surface.

4. Assign the projector to the surface

By default, a projector automatically projects onto all surfaces in the same scene group — if your projector and surface are in the same group, the assignment is already active.

To check or configure this manually, open the Outputs window. Find your projector in the list and confirm the correct surface is checked in its surface routing section.

5. Connect the projector to a GPU output

In the Outputs window, locate your projector and assign it to a physical GPU output by checking the corresponding box in the output routing matrix.

The projector now sends its rendered view to that physical output.

6. Assign content to the surface

Drag a video asset from the Assets window onto the projection surface in the Scene viewport. When you hover over the surface, a label confirms the drop target. Release to open the Create Sequencers? dialog and confirm.

The video plays on the surface and appears on the physical output through the projector.

Projection Setup Wizard (alternative for multi-projector setups)

For multi-projector setups, the Projection Setup Wizard creates a surface and a set of pre-positioned projectors in one step.

Right-click the scene hierarchy → Add scene object → Projection Setup Wizard. Configure the number of projectors, screen dimensions, throw ratio, and projector spacing. Backstage creates the full rig automatically.

Common Mistakes

• Projector does not render the surface — the projector and surface are in different scene groups. Projectors auto-assign only to surfaces in the same group. Move both into the same group, or configure the surface routing manually in the Outputs window.

• Content appears skewed or stretched — the Aspect Ratio on the projector does not match the physical projector's native resolution. Check the data sheet and update the Aspect Ratio value.

• Output is active but nothing appears on the physical display — the projector has not been assigned to a GPU output. Open the Outputs window and check the output routing matrix.

Tips

• The projector frustum in the 3D viewport shows exactly what the projector sees — use it to verify alignment before connecting hardware.

• For off-centre mounting, adjust Lens Shift rather than rotating the projector — this keeps the projection geometry correct.

• Multiple projectors can project onto the same surface for blending setups — each projector gets its own entry in the Outputs window.

Related

Blend Multiple Projectors — set up soft edge blending between projectors

Set Up a Panoramic Scene — use the Projection Setup Wizard for panoramic scenes

Map Content to an Irregular Shape — mapping and warping for non-standard screen shapes