Effects
Effects are post-processing filters that transform the visual output of sources in FXCanvas. They process the source output through GPU shaders to add blur, mirroring, kaleidoscopic patterns, and more.
What are Effects?
Effects are real-time image processing filters applied after a source generates its visual pattern. While sources create the base content, effects modify and enhance that content before it reaches your fixtures.
The visual processing pipeline flows like this:
- Source — Generates the base visual pattern
- Effects Chain — Applies zero or more effects in sequence
- Output — Final image sent to fixture mapping
Each effect in the chain processes the output of the previous step. This means you can stack multiple effects to create complex visual transformations, with each effect building on the results of those before it.
The Effects Chain Panel
The Effects Chain panel displays and manages all effects currently applied to the source output.
Finding the Panel
Look for the Effects Chain panel in your workspace. It's typically docked alongside other panels or can be opened from the Windows menu.
Panel Layout
The panel header contains:
- Add button (square-plus icon) — Click to add new effects to the chain
- Effects count — Shows the number of effects in the chain (e.g., "2 effects")
Below the header, each effect appears as a collapsible section showing:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Drag handle (equals sign) | Reorder effects by dragging |
| Enable checkbox | Toggle the effect on or off |
| Effect name | The preset name or effect type |
| Save button (floppy disk icon) | Access save options menu |
| Remove button (X icon) | Delete the effect from the chain |
Adding Effects
To add an effect to your chain:
- Click the Add button (square-plus icon) at the top of the panel
- Select an effect type from the menu (Blur, Mirror, Kaleidoscope)
- Choose Default for standard settings, or select a preset from the list
The new effect appears at the bottom of the chain.
Double-click a type header in the Effect Presets panel to quickly add an effect with default settings.
Enabling and Disabling Effects
Each effect has a checkbox to toggle it on or off:
- Enabled — Effect is applied during processing
- Disabled — Effect is skipped, appearing dimmed in the list
Disabling effects is useful for comparing with/without or temporarily removing an effect without losing its settings.
Reordering Effects
The order of effects matters because each effect processes the output of the previous one.
To reorder effects:
- Click and hold the drag handle (equals sign) next to an effect
- Drag the effect to its new position
- Release to drop
For example, applying Blur before Mirror produces a different result than Mirror before Blur.
Removing Effects
Click the Remove button (X icon) on any effect to remove it from the chain.
This action cannot be undone. Save any custom settings as a preset first if you want to keep them.
Effect Parameters
Click the arrow on any effect section to expand it and reveal its parameter controls.
Modified Indicator
When you change parameters from their saved values:
- The effect name displays in orange text with an asterisk (*) appended
- The panel tab shows an orange overline to indicate unsaved content
BPM Sync for Parameters
Like source parameters, effect parameters can sync to the beat:
- Right-click a parameter to access BPM sync options
- Synced parameters oscillate between min and max values in time with the beat
- The sync indicator pulses to show the current beat phase
This is powerful for creating effects that pulse or shift with the music.
Saving Effect Changes
The save button (floppy disk icon) opens a menu with options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Save | Updates the current preset with your changes. Only available for user presets that have been modified. |
| Save As... | Creates a new preset with a custom name. Use this to save variations or create your own presets. |
| Revert to Saved | Discards changes and restores the original preset values. |
Built-in presets cannot be overwritten. Use Save As to create your own versions.
Available Effects
FXCanvas includes three built-in effect types.
Blur
The Blur effect softens the image by averaging nearby pixels, creating a smooth, diffused look. It's useful for softening harsh edges, creating glow effects, or adding a dreamy quality to visuals.
| Parameter | Range | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radius | 0 – 50 | 5 | Controls the blur strength in pixels. Higher values create more diffusion. |
| Quality | 1 – 8 | 4 | Number of blur passes. Higher values produce smoother results but use more GPU. |
Use low radius values (2-5) for subtle softening. Higher radius with high quality creates a strong glow effect.
Mirror
The Mirror effect reflects the image across a horizontal, vertical, or both axes. It creates symmetrical patterns from asymmetric sources and can dramatically change the visual character.
| Parameter | Options/Range | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis | Horizontal, Vertical, Both | Horizontal | Which axis to mirror across. |
| Offset | 0.0 – 1.0 | 0.5 | Position of the mirror line. 0.5 is center. |
Horizontal mirroring works well with sources that have vertical movement. The Both option creates four-way symmetry.
Kaleidoscope
The Kaleidoscope effect creates radial symmetry by duplicating and rotating segments of the image around a center point. It transforms any source into mesmerizing, mandala-like patterns.
| Parameter | Range | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segments | 2 – 24 | 6 | Number of mirror segments. |
| Rotation | 0 – 360 | 0 | Rotates the kaleidoscope pattern in degrees. |
| Zoom | 0.1 – 5.0 | 1.0 | Scales the input before kaleidoscope processing. |
Even segment counts (4, 6, 8) create balanced symmetry. Animate the Rotation parameter with BPM sync for spinning kaleidoscope effects.
Working with Effect Presets
Using the Effect Presets Panel
The Effect Presets panel provides a library of available effect configurations. Sources are organized in a hierarchical tree view grouped by type.
View Mode Filters — At the top of the panel, toggle buttons filter which presets are shown:
| Icon | Filter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cube | Built-In | Factory presets that ship with FXCanvas |
| User | My Presets | Custom presets you've created |
| Theater masks | In Show | Presets saved to the current show file |
Saving Custom Presets
To save your current effect configuration:
- Adjust effect parameters to your liking
- Click the save button (floppy disk icon) on the effect
- Choose Save As...
- Enter a name for your preset
- Click Save
Your preset appears in the Effect Presets panel for future use.
Preset Storage
FXCanvas stores effect presets in different locations:
- Built-in presets — Ship with the application, read-only
- User presets — Stored in your user profile, available across all shows
- Show presets — Stored within a show file, travel with that show
Combining with Source Presets
Effects work independently from sources. You can:
- Load any source preset and apply any combination of effects
- Change sources while keeping your effects chain intact
- Save different effect combinations to quickly switch looks
This separation gives you flexibility to mix and match sources with effect combinations.
Tips and Best Practices
Effect Combinations
Some effect combinations that work well together:
Blur + Mirror — Creates soft, symmetric patterns. Apply blur first for a dreamy mirrored look.
Mirror + Kaleidoscope — Creates complex symmetry. The mirror doubles the pattern before kaleidoscope multiplies it further.
Subtle Blur + Any Effect — A light blur at the end of the chain smooths any hard edges from other effects.
Processing Order
Remember that effect order matters:
- Effects at the top of the chain process first
- Each effect works on the output of the previous one
- Experiment with different orders to discover new looks
For example:
- Blur then Kaleidoscope — Soft edges are multiplied into the kaleidoscope pattern
- Kaleidoscope then Blur — Sharp kaleidoscope is softened overall
Performance Considerations
Effects are GPU-accelerated but consider these factors:
- Each enabled effect adds processing time
- Higher blur quality and radius values are more demanding
- Multiple stacked effects multiply the GPU load
If experiencing performance issues:
- Reduce the number of active effects
- Lower blur quality or radius values
- Disable effects you're not actively using
Creating Variation
Use these techniques to create visual variety:
- BPM sync parameters — Rotation on kaleidoscope, offset on mirror
- Chain variations — Save different effect chain configurations as presets
- Quick toggles — Enable/disable effects to create instant changes during performance
Related Topics
- Effects Reference — Complete parameter reference for all effect types
- Sources — Learn about the visual generators that feed into effects
- BPM Sync — Synchronize effect parameters to the beat
- Getting Started — Overview of FXCanvas basics