Graphics

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------

The reason I did not put the mask in the same scene is because my background is a timed animation: it starts with an intro animation and then switches into a loop. The mask, however, should appear at an arbitrary moment – whenever the operator triggers it.

If everything could indeed be built into one scene, that would be great, but I am not sure how to structure such a timeline in XPression. I would need the background animation to play (on trigger), while the mask could be brought in independently at any time by the operator.

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 08:12
From: Simon Redmile
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------

Best method would be to script some sort of GPI trigger for the animation, do you need help with that? 

The reason I did not put the mask in the same scene is because my background is a timed animation: it starts with an intro animation and then switches into a loop. The mask, however, should appear at an arbitrary moment – whenever the operator triggers it.

If everything could indeed be built into one scene, that would be great, but I am not sure how to structure such a timeline in XPression. I would need the background animation to play (on trigger), while the mask could be brought in independently at any time by the operator.

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 08:12
From: Simon Redmile
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------

Yes, help would be very welcome. I am not very experienced with scripting GPI triggers in XPression, so any guidance or examples you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Best method would be to script some sort of GPI trigger for the animation, do you need help with that? 

The reason I did not put the mask in the same scene is because my background is a timed animation: it starts with an intro animation and then switches into a loop. The mask, however, should appear at an arbitrary moment – whenever the operator triggers it.

If everything could indeed be built into one scene, that would be great, but I am not sure how to structure such a timeline in XPression. I would need the background animation to play (on trigger), while the mask could be brought in independently at any time by the operator.

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 08:12
From: Simon Redmile
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------

dim output as xpoutputFramebuffer
dim sd as xpSceneDirector
dim scene as xpScene
engine.Getoutputframebuffer(0, output)
output.GetSceneonlayer(1, scene)
scene.GetSceneDirectorByName("sceneDirector1", sd)
sd.Play
sd.autostop = true

Yes, help would be very welcome. I am not very experienced with scripting GPI triggers in XPression, so any guidance or examples you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Best method would be to script some sort of GPI trigger for the animation, do you need help with that? 

The reason I did not put the mask in the same scene is because my background is a timed animation: it starts with an intro animation and then switches into a loop. The mask, however, should appear at an arbitrary moment – whenever the operator triggers it.

If everything could indeed be built into one scene, that would be great, but I am not sure how to structure such a timeline in XPression. I would need the background animation to play (on trigger), while the mask could be brought in independently at any time by the operator.

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 08:12
From: Simon Redmile
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------

Hi Simon, Thanks!

But I need a little more help. Where do I need to put this code?

dim output as xpoutputFramebuffer
dim sd as xpSceneDirector
dim scene as xpScene
engine.Getoutputframebuffer(0, output)
output.GetSceneonlayer(1, scene)
scene.GetSceneDirectorByName("sceneDirector1", sd)
sd.Play
sd.autostop = true

Yes, help would be very welcome. I am not very experienced with scripting GPI triggers in XPression, so any guidance or examples you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Best method would be to script some sort of GPI trigger for the animation, do you need help with that? 

The reason I did not put the mask in the same scene is because my background is a timed animation: it starts with an intro animation and then switches into a loop. The mask, however, should appear at an arbitrary moment – whenever the operator triggers it.

If everything could indeed be built into one scene, that would be great, but I am not sure how to structure such a timeline in XPression. I would need the background animation to play (on trigger), while the mask could be brought in independently at any time by the operator.

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 08:12
From: Simon Redmile
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------

oh my bad! 

In edit keyboard mapping you need to add a script action to your projects shortcuts. 

hopefully these screen shots help. 

If you get stuck shout! :)

Hi Simon, Thanks!

But I need a little more help. Where do I need to put this code?

dim output as xpoutputFramebuffer
dim sd as xpSceneDirector
dim scene as xpScene
engine.Getoutputframebuffer(0, output)
output.GetSceneonlayer(1, scene)
scene.GetSceneDirectorByName("sceneDirector1", sd)
sd.Play
sd.autostop = true

Yes, help would be very welcome. I am not very experienced with scripting GPI triggers in XPression, so any guidance or examples you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Best method would be to script some sort of GPI trigger for the animation, do you need help with that? 

The reason I did not put the mask in the same scene is because my background is a timed animation: it starts with an intro animation and then switches into a loop. The mask, however, should appear at an arbitrary moment – whenever the operator triggers it.

If everything could indeed be built into one scene, that would be great, but I am not sure how to structure such a timeline in XPression. I would need the background animation to play (on trigger), while the mask could be brought in independently at any time by the operator.

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 08:12
From: Simon Redmile
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Why not just put the mask in the same scene? 

------------------------------
Simon Redmile
Senior Graphic Programmer & Designer
Ross Video
Bristol United Kingdom

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2025 07:52
From: Harm Dijkman
Subject: Question about using a scene as a mask in XPression

Hello Ross Support,

I am working with XPression Studio (v11.5 build 5823) and I want to use one scene as a mask over another scene.

• Scene 1: contains a looping video (playing on Framebuffer 1, Layer 1).

• Scene 2: contains a quad with a black/white texture that I would like to use as a mask (placed on Framebuffer 1, Layer 2).

My question:
How can I configure Scene 2 so that it acts as a mask on Scene 1?
In other words, I want the black/white (or alpha) values of Scene 2 to "cut a hole" in the video below (Scene 1).

I tried looking in the Take Inspector, Scene Control, and Output Monitor layer menus, but I do not see an option for "Alpha Mask" or "Luma Mask" in this version. Do I need to set this via a Layer Object inside the Scene Director of Scene 2, or is there another way to enable a scene to be used as a mask on another scene in the framebuffer?

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

------------------------------
Harm Dijkman
RTV OOST
------------------------------