Map Content to an Irregular Shape

Last updated 5 May 2026

Fitting content onto a non-standard surface involves two separate tools in Backstage: the Mapping Gizmo (controls how content sits on the surface geometry) and Mesh Warping (corrects distortion in the physical projector output to match the real screen shape). Most installations need both.

Fix the mapping (content layer) before output warping — warping a badly-mapped image compounds the problem.

Content mapping — how the image fits the surface

Open the mapping controls

Select the surface in the Scene hierarchy. In the Inspector, find the Mapping section.

Each surface has a mapping type that defines how 2D content coordinates relate to the 3D surface:

Mapping type	Use when
Planar	Flat projection — content fills the surface as a flat image
Cylindrical	Curved surface — content wraps around a cylinder
Spherical	Dome or sphere — spherical coordinate mapping
Dome	Hemispherical dome with configurable lower border angle
Equirectangular	360-degree panoramic content mapped to a full sphere

Adjust the mapping with the Mapping Gizmo

Click Edit on the active mapping to activate the Mapping Gizmo — a visual frame that appears over the surface in the 3D viewport.

Control	Effect
Position	Shifts the content left/right/up/down on the surface
Rotation	Rotates the content within the surface
Scale	Stretches or shrinks the content to fit the surface boundaries

All changes are undoable.

Multiple mappings per surface

A surface can hold more than one mapping configuration. Use Duplicate to create a copy and modify it independently. This is useful when different sequences need different content layouts on the same surface.

Output warping — correcting physical distortion

Mapping controls adjust the content layer. Output warping corrects the projector layer — compensating for a projector that cannot be aimed perfectly, or a screen shape that does not match the geometry model.

Open the Mesh Warping window

In the Outputs window, select the projector output you want to warp. Enable Mesh Warping in the output options.

The Mesh Warping window opens, showing the projector's output as a grid of control points. Drag individual control points to correct the output geometry.

Warp presets for dynamic installations

If the projector needs to switch between positions (for example, a projector on a rotating stage), save multiple warp presets and switch between them from the Node Editor using an Outputs:MeshWarping node. This node accepts a preset index input so your graph can select the correct warp automatically.

Which tool to use

Problem	Tool
Content is shifted or rotated on the surface	Mapping Gizmo — adjust Position or Rotation
Content is stretched — doesn't fill correctly	Mapping Gizmo — adjust Scale or change Mapping Type
Projected image is keystoned or distorted at edges	Mesh Warping — drag control points to correct
Screen shape doesn't match any standard mapping type	Mesh Warping + custom surface geometry

Common Mistakes

Mesh Warping applied but image still looks wrong — the content mapping has not been configured correctly. Fix the mapping first — warping a badly-mapped image compounds the distortion.
Mapping Gizmo Edit button is greyed out — no content is assigned to the surface. Assign a video or image asset first.
Warp preset switch from the Node Editor has no effect — the Outputs:MeshWarping node is not connected or the preset index input is not receiving a value.

Tips

For very irregular screens, import a 3D model of the screen shape so the geometry accurately represents the physical screen before applying any mapping.
The Blendmask debug view in the Outputs window can help verify the warped output region.

Set Up a Projection Surface — single-projector setup from scratch

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

Edit Mappings — detailed mapping editing guide (BAC space)