Shows and Cues
Shows and Cues are the organizational foundation of FXCanvas, allowing you to manage your work and recall complete visual states during live performances. A show contains your project settings and all associated cues, while cues capture snapshots of your visual configuration that can be triggered instantly.
What are Shows?
A show in FXCanvas is a project container that holds all the settings and content for a specific production, event, or performance. Think of it like a project file in other creative software.
Each show maintains its own:
- Render resolution — The master canvas size for your visuals
- Output configuration — NDI stream settings and mappings
- Default BPM — Starting tempo for the show
- Cues — All saved visual states for the show
- Presets — Source, effect, and palette presets saved within the show
Shows keep your work organized and make it easy to switch between different projects or events. You might have separate shows for different venues, clients, or performance types.
What are Cues?
A cue is a complete snapshot of your current visual state. When you trigger a cue, FXCanvas instantly recalls:
- Source — The active source type and all its parameter values
- Palette — The color palette in use
- Effects chain — All effects in order with their parameter values
- Composition settings — Hue shift, saturation, and mirror settings
Cues are designed for live performance. Instead of manually adjusting multiple parameters during a show, you prepare cues ahead of time and trigger them when needed. This allows for instant, reliable transitions between completely different looks.
Understanding Show Files
What Gets Saved in a Show
When you create or save a show, FXCanvas stores:
- Show configuration — Name, render resolution, BPM, and output settings
- Cues folder — All cue files specific to this show
- Source presets — Custom source configurations saved to this show
- Effect presets — Custom effect configurations saved to this show
- Palette presets — Color palettes saved to this show
Show File Location
Shows are stored in your user data folder:
- Windows —
%APPDATA%/FXCanvas/Shows/{ShowName}/ - Each show has its own folder containing show.json and subfolders
The folder structure for a show looks like:
{ShowName}/
- show.json (main show configuration)
- Cues/ (cue files)
- Sources/ (source presets)
- Effects/ (effect presets)
- Palettes/ (palette presets)
Creating and Managing Shows
Creating a New Show
To create a new show:
- Go to File → New Show... from the menu bar
- Enter a name for your show
- Set the render resolution using presets (720p, 1080p, 4K) or custom values
- Click Create
The New Show dialog provides:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Show Name | A descriptive name for your project (required) |
| Render Resolution | Width and height of the master canvas |
| Preset buttons | Quick selection for 720p (1280×720), 1080p (1920×1080), or 4K (3840×2160) |
Show names cannot contain special characters like \/:*?"<>| and must be unique among your existing shows.
Opening Existing Shows
To open a previously created show:
- Go to File → Open Show... from the menu bar
- Select a show from the list
- Click Open or double-click the show name
The Open Show dialog displays:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The name you gave the show when creating it |
| Last Modified | When the show was last saved |
Shows are sorted by most recently modified, with the newest at the top.
Saving Shows
Shows save automatically when you:
- Close the show
- Create a new cue
- Exit FXCanvas
You can also save manually using File → Save Show (Ctrl+S).
Closing Shows
To close the current show, use File → Close Show. This saves the show before closing.
Recent Shows
FXCanvas tracks your recently opened shows for quick access via File → Recent Shows. Select any show name to reopen it, or use Clear Recent to remove the list.
Working with Cues
The Cues Panel
The Cues panel is where you view and manage all cues in your current show. The panel features a dual-view architecture that lets you switch between List View and Thumbnail View depending on your workflow.
Look for the Cues panel in your workspace. If it's not visible, you can open it from the View → Panels menu.
When no show is loaded, the panel displays a message prompting you to open a show. Cues only exist within shows — there are no global cues.
Action Bar
At the top of the Cues panel, you'll find the action bar with essential controls:
| Button | Icon | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Save Cue | square-plus | Save the current visual state as a new cue |
| Previous | chevron-left | Load the previous cue in sequence |
| Next | chevron-right | Load the next cue in sequence |
| List View | list | Switch to List View (table format) |
| Thumbnail View | grip | Switch to Thumbnail View (visual grid) |
The Previous and Next buttons navigate cues based on their cue number ordering, making it easy to step through a setlist during performance.
Cue Properties
Each cue has the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Cue Number | A decimal number used for ordering (e.g., 1.0, 1.5, 2.0). Use decimals to insert cues between existing ones without renumbering. |
| Name | A descriptive name for the cue |
| Description | Optional notes or description field for additional context |
| Source | The source type and all parameter values |
| Palette | The ID of the active palette |
| Effects chain | Every effect in the chain with all parameters |
| Composition | Hue shift, saturation, mirror X/Y settings |
The snapshot approach means cues remain stable even if you later modify the original preset they were based on.
View Modes
List View
List View displays cues in a table format with configurable columns. This view is ideal for managing large numbers of cues and editing cue details quickly.
Available Columns:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Number | Cue number (for ordering) |
| Name | Cue name (with asterisk if dirty) |
| Description | Optional notes/description |
| Source | Source preset name or type |
| Palette | Palette name used by the cue |
| Effects | Effect count with tooltip showing preset names |
Configuring Columns:
Right-click on any column header to show or hide columns. By default, Number, Name, Palette, and Effects columns are visible.
Inline Editing:
Click or double-click editable cells to modify them directly in the list:
| Field | Trigger | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cue Number | Click | Change the cue's position in the sequence |
| Cue Name | Double-click | Rename the cue |
| Description | Double-click | Add or edit notes |
To confirm your edit, press Enter or click outside the edit field. To cancel, press Escape.
Effects Column:
The Effects column shows the number of effects in the cue (e.g., "2 effects"). Hover over the cell to see a tooltip listing the names of all effect presets used.
Thumbnail View
Thumbnail View displays cues as a responsive grid of visual previews. This view is ideal for quickly identifying cues by their visual appearance during a live performance.
Features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 1:1 Aspect Ratio | Thumbnails are square images generated when you save a cue |
| Cue Number Overlay | Each thumbnail displays the cue number in the bottom-left corner |
| Responsive Grid | The number of columns adjusts based on panel width |
| Hover Tooltips | Hover over any thumbnail to see cue details |
Renaming Cues:
In Thumbnail View, right-click a cue and select Rename to open a rename dialog. Enter the new name and click OK.
Thumbnail Generation:
Thumbnails are automatically generated when you save a cue, capturing the current render output. If the render resolution isn't square, the thumbnail is cropped to the center square. Thumbnails are stored in the show's Cues/Thumbnails/ directory.
Visual State Indicators
Active Cue
The currently loaded cue is visually distinguished in both views:
- List View — The active row is highlighted with a blue tint
- Thumbnail View — The active thumbnail has a blue border
Dirty State
When you modify the current visual state (by adding/removing effects, changing the source, or changing the palette), the cue becomes "dirty" — meaning the live state no longer matches the saved cue. This is indicated with:
- List View — An asterisk (*) appears after the cue name (e.g., "Intro *")
- Thumbnail View — The thumbnail border changes to an orange glowing border
What Makes a Cue Dirty:
- Adding or removing an effect from the chain
- Changing to a different source
- Switching to a different palette
What Does NOT Make a Cue Dirty:
- Adjusting effect parameters (this is a preset-level change)
- Modifying composition settings like hue shift or saturation
The dirty indicator helps you know when you might want to update a cue to preserve your changes.
Creating Cues
Saving Your Current State as a Cue
To create a new cue from your current visual state:
- Configure your source, effects, and composition to your liking
- Click the Save Cue button (square-plus icon) in the action bar
- Enter a name for the cue in the dialog
- Click Save
The cue name automatically suggests "Cue X" where X is the next number in sequence, but you can use any descriptive name.
Unsaved Items Warning
Before saving a cue, FXCanvas checks if your source and effects have been saved as presets. If any items are unsaved, a warning dialog appears showing:
- Which source or effects are not saved as presets
- A Save button next to each unsaved item
You can either save the items as presets first, or cancel if you prefer to do that manually.
Cue Naming
Good cue names help you remember what each cue looks like during a live performance. Consider names that describe:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Visual style | "Warm Ambient", "High Energy Pulse", "Cool Scanner" |
| Song section | "Intro", "Verse", "Chorus", "Bridge", "Drop" |
| Moment | "Opening Look", "Build Up", "Impact", "Cooldown" |
Triggering Cues
Loading a Cue
There are two ways to trigger a cue:
- Double-click — Double-click any cue in the list or grid to load it immediately
- Context menu — Right-click a cue and select Load Cue
When a cue loads:
- The source changes to the cue's source type and parameters
- The palette switches to the cue's saved palette
- The effects chain rebuilds with the cue's effects
- Composition settings (hue, saturation, mirror) apply instantly
Current Cue Status
The Cues panel shows the current cue status above the cue list:
- Current: [Name] — Shows the loaded cue name
- #[Number] — Shows the cue number in dimmed text
- Asterisk (*) — Appears after the name if the cue is dirty
Cue Tooltips
Hover over any cue to see a tooltip with details:
- Cue name and number
- Description (if any)
- Source type
- Palette name
- Effect count and names
Organizing Cues
Cue List Order
Cues in the panel are sorted by cue number (ascending). Use cue numbers to control the order:
| Cue Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | Opening |
| 2.0 | Build |
| 2.5 | Transition |
| 3.0 | Drop |
| 4.0 | Break |
Use decimal cue numbers (1.5, 2.5) to insert cues between existing ones without renumbering everything.
Updating Cues
To update an existing cue with your current visual state:
- Right-click the cue you want to update
- Select Update Cue
- The cue is replaced with your current source, effects, and composition
This also regenerates the thumbnail to reflect the new visual state.
Deleting Cues
To delete a cue:
- Right-click the cue in the list
- Select Delete
- Confirm the deletion in the dialog
Deleted cues are removed from disk and cannot be recovered. Be careful when deleting cues before a performance.
Context Menu Options
Right-click any cue to access these options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Load Cue | Trigger this cue immediately |
| Update Cue | Replace cue content with current visual state |
| Rename | Change the cue name |
| Regenerate Thumbnail | Update thumbnail (Thumbnail View only) |
| Delete | Remove the cue permanently |
Live Performance Workflow
Setting Up Cues Before a Performance
A typical pre-show setup workflow:
- Open or create a show for the event
- Build your first look using sources, effects, and palettes
- Save it as a cue with a descriptive name
- Build your next look and save as another cue
- Repeat until you have all the looks you need
- Test each cue by loading them in sequence
- Adjust and update cues as needed
Using the Live Panel
The Live panel complements the Cues panel during performance. It provides:
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Master Dimmer | Overall brightness control |
| Saturation | Color intensity adjustment |
| Hue Shift | Global color offset |
| Blackout | Instant fade to black |
| Mirror controls | Flip output horizontally or vertically |
These controls apply on top of whatever cue is active, giving you real-time adjustment capability.
Quick Switching During Performance
During a performance, you can switch looks instantly by:
- Double-clicking the next cue in the Cues panel
- Using Previous/Next buttons to step through cues in order
- Using the context menu to load a specific cue
The transition is immediate — there is no crossfade between cues. For smooth transitions, consider using similar source types between adjacent cues, or adjust the master dimmer down before switching and back up after.
Tips and Best Practices
Cue Organization Strategies
| Strategy | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| By Song Section | Name cues after song parts (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Outro) | Fixed setlists |
| By Energy Level | Name cues by intensity (Ambient 1, Medium Build, High Energy, Peak) | Flexible sets |
| By Visual Style | Name cues by their look (Warm Scanner, Cool Pulse, Rainbow Flow) | Live cueing to music |
| Numbered Sequences | Use cue numbers to maintain specific ordering | Complex shows |
Naming Conventions
Establish consistent naming patterns:
- Use consistent capitalization
- Include the source type if helpful ("Plasma - Warm", "Scanner - Blue")
- Keep names short enough to read quickly during performance
- Avoid special characters that might cause issues
Pre-Show Preparation Checklist
Before a performance:
- Open the correct show file
- Verify all cues load properly by testing each one
- Check that the output resolution matches your needs
- Confirm NDI outputs are enabled and named correctly
- Test the Blackout button on the Live panel
- Set the master dimmer to your starting level
- Load your first cue so it's ready
Backup Recommendations
Protect your show files:
- The show folder is located in
%APPDATA%/FXCanvas/Shows/ - Copy the entire show folder to back up all cues and presets
- Consider keeping backups on external storage for important performances
- Test backups by copying to a different machine and opening