Share a Mapping Across Surfaces

Last updated 31 August 2026

A Shared Mapping is a UV mapping that lives in the scene rather than on one surface. Create one, link surfaces to it, and every linked surface re-unwraps when you move its gizmo. This is how you keep several surfaces mapped from a single point without adjusting each one individually.

Before you start

  • At least one surface added to the scene.
  • The surface and the Shared Mapping must be in the same scene group, or the surface must be in a child group of the one the Shared Mapping is in.

Steps

1. Create a Shared Mapping node

In the Scene Objects panel, open the Add menu of the scene group where your surfaces live. Select Shared Mapping. A new node appears in the group.

2. Choose a mapping type

Select the new Shared Mapping in the scene graph. In the Inspector, set the mapping type (Planar, Cylindrical, Spherical, Dome, Cube or Equirectangular). The node draws its mapping type's wireframe reference shape in the scene view so you can see where it stands.

3. Position the node

Use the 3D transform gizmo in the scene view to translate, rotate and scale the Shared Mapping. You can also type exact values into the Position, Rotation and Scale fields in the Inspector.

4. Link a surface to the Shared Mapping

Select a surface. In the Inspector's Mapping section, look for the Shared Mappings heading. Tick the Shared Mapping you created. The surface's mapping now follows the node.

The Shared Mappings list only appears when the scene contains at least one Shared Mapping node that could serve this surface. If you do not see it, go back to step 1 and confirm the node exists in the surface's own group or a parent group.

5. Repeat for additional surfaces

Select each surface you want to share the mapping with and tick the same Shared Mapping in its Shared Mappings list. Moving the node's gizmo now re-unwraps every linked surface at once.

Convert an existing mapping to a Shared Mapping

If you have already tuned a mapping on a surface and want other surfaces to follow it, you do not need to recreate it as a node.

  1. Select the surface and open its mapping for editing (click E beside the mapping name).

  2. Click Convert to Shared Mapping.

  3. A new Shared Mapping node appears in the surface's scene group. The mapping keeps its id, name and role, so every content destination, pixel-map raster pin and preview mask that already points at it keeps working.

  4. Other surfaces in the same group (or child groups) can now tick this node in their Shared Mappings list.

Undo restores the exact state the mapping had before conversion. Redo re-creates the node and re-links the mapping.

Common Mistakes

  • "I don't see a Shared Mappings list on my surface." — The list hides itself when the scene contains no Shared Mapping node that could serve this surface. Create a Shared Mapping node in the surface's group (or any parent group) first.

  • "Linking two domes of different arc gives unexpected results." — Once linked, a surface unwraps against the node's cylinder opening angle and dome lower-border angle, not the surface's own values. If two surfaces have different trims, they will share the node's trim. Adjust the Shared Mapping's values, or use separate nodes for surfaces that need different arcs.

  • "I cannot link an imported or custom mapping." — Imported and custom mappings carry their own mesh and cannot be driven by a Shared Mapping node. Only the analytical mapping types (Planar, Cylindrical, Spherical, Dome, Cube, Equirectangular) are supported.

  • "Clicking inside the wireframe shape does nothing." — A click that starts inside the Shared Mapping's reference shape does not select it. This prevents a camera placed inside a dome from claiming every click. Click on the wireframe itself, or select the node in the scene graph.

Tips

  • A linked mapping's Pixel Values stay surface-owned. Each surface keeps its own pixel canvas resolution and sub-canvas, even when the UV mapping comes from a shared node.

  • Moving a scene group moves every Shared Mapping and surface inside it together. The Convert to Shared Mapping button places the node in the surface's own group for this reason.

  • Use Convert to Shared Mapping when you have already set up a mapping you are happy with. It preserves every reference to that mapping and saves you from reconfiguring the node from scratch.

  • To delete a Shared Mapping, right-click its node in the scene graph and choose Delete. Any surface that was linked to it reverts to its own independent mapping.

Create an Additional Mapping on a Display — add more than one mapping to a surface.

Edit Mappings — adjust a mapping's position, rotation, scale and type.

Frustum Projection Mapping — the frustum mapping type and when to use it.