Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mapping Matter for ?
MM is a simulation tool designed for audio visual professionals who need to create Video Projection Specs and Recommendations for Large Scale Projects, confirm budget estimations, evaluate luminance, pixel densities and iterate on complex projector placements.
Who is Mapping Matter NOT for ?
MM is not intended for content creation and/or video playback. However it is possible to Preview still images and small .mp4 clips on 3D objects.
Can I model 3D Objects in Mapping Matter?
You can create basic parametric Geometries in MM (Planes, Boxes, Spheres...). But Mapping Matter is not a 3D editor, you will therefor not be able to modify or edit 3D Meshes.
When is Mapping Matter most useful ?
When you have a Large Scale, Multi-Projector Configuration or Concept, and need to efficiently iterate on Projector Placements, Concepts and Specs, MM will make that whole process fast, easy, enjoyable and highly comprehensible.
Can I use MM in my content creation WorkFlow?
MM is not designed for Content Creation, but will allow you to import 3D meshes in .obj. If you have UV coordinates defined on you 3D meshes, you will be able to assign a diffuse texture as well as projection textures and see your images in context (projection coverage & shadows). You can also simulate your images & videos being projected straight from a projector to see how they will warp around an object. If you don’t have UV’s on your 3D objects, you can also do a real-time projective texturing from a chosen point of view.
What 3D objects does MM support ?
Currently, we support .obj - rendering will be optimal when meshes are joint and kept to a minimum (currently maxed at 100M and 500 meshes per File).
We currently don’t support .mtl but you will be able to apply a texture on your mesh once imported.
We currently don’t support .mtl but you will be able to apply a texture on your mesh once imported.
Does MM work on Mac and PC ?
Yes, all you need is Chrome! If you want to support many projectors and large meshes, you will need a decent GPU.
How realistic are Renders ans Analyses ?
Every Object in Mapping Matter is treated as diffuse lambertian surfaces (no specularities, shininess or light reflections) therefore not rendering photo realistic previews, although they are damn good looking Visuals, especially if you have diffused textures on objects. Our Photometric Analyses calculate Illuminance (light falling on surfaces) as well as “Spot” Luminance (illuminance + fall-off + diffused colour), no retracing. If you need to consider projector lamp life and lens transmittance, you can simply use a brightness factor. It does not take into account Luminance uniformity, lens optical distortion, focus range and atmospheric absorption.
How does the Projector Library work?
It’s super simple, you simply define the Projector Size, Brightness and native resolution and you’re ready to insert in in your scene. If you have the 3D mesh of the Projector, you can use that as well. There are no limits on Throw Ratio, Lens Shift, Rotation and Orientation capabilities. You will therefore need to refer to the projectors manufacturer's specifications and recommendations to validate your design.