Quickstart
Ready to start projection mapping? Here's the quickest path to your first projection: create a new project, add a layer (start with a Surface if you're new), align it to your physical setup in the Output panel, and you're mapping. That's it.
The rest of this guide will walk you through the essentials—the five layer types, the four panels that make up Map Club's interface, and the basic workflow. But if you're the type who learns by doing, feel free to jump down to the tutorial at the bottom and start experimenting. You can always come back here to understand what you're working with.
Layer Types
Surfaces
Your foundation layer. Surfaces are typically used as the base canvas for your projection—think of them as the digital representation of your physical surface. You can add colors or images to surfaces, and like all layers, they can be aligned to match your physical setup.
Shaders
Animated visual effects. Shaders add dynamic, procedurally-generated visuals to your maps—gradients that shift, noise patterns that evolve, abstract shapes that pulse and flow. Perfect for adding movement and energy to your projections.
Trackers
Interactive hand tracking. Trackers use your webcam to detect and follow your hands in real-time, displaying a 3D hand model that moves with you. Great for interactive installations where you want your hands to be part of the projection.
Webcams
Live video feeds. Webcam layers display your camera feed directly in your projection. Perfect for live performances, interactive displays, or when you want to incorporate real-time video into your mapped content.
Text
Text overlays and typography. Add text to your projections with full control over fonts, sizes, colors, and styling. Whether you need titles, labels, or artistic typography, text layers give you the tools to make words part of your visual composition.
Masks
Custom polygon shapes. Mask layers allow you to create polygons with any number of points, giving you complete freedom to etch out custom shapes. Perfect for mapping onto irregular surfaces or creating unique geometric patterns.
The Panels
Layers
Your command center. This is where you manage all your layers—add new ones, rename them, reorder them, hide them, or delete them. Think of it as your project's layer stack.
Input
Preview and edit your source content before it gets projected. Upload images, videos, or other media here and see exactly what you're working with before it hits your surface.
Output
This is where the magic happens. The output panel shows you exactly what will be projected onto your physical surface. Align your layers here to match your real-world setup.
Properties
Fine-tune everything. When you select a layer, this panel lets you adjust all its properties—colors, opacity, position, size, and more. It's your precision tool for perfecting each layer.
How to Projection Map
Projection mapping might sound complex, but the basic workflow is actually pretty straightforward. Here's how it works:
1. Set up your physical space
First, you need something to project onto. This could be a wall, a canvas, a sculpture, or any surface you want to bring to life. Position your projector so it's pointing at your surface—you'll want to make sure it's stable and the angle works for your setup.
2. Create your first layer
In Map Club, start by adding a layer. Many people begin with a Surface layer as their foundation, but you can start with any layer type. Each layer represents something in your projection—a surface to map onto, an effect to display, or content to show.
3. Align your layer
This is where the magic happens. In the Output panel, you'll see your layer. Use the corner handles to drag and reshape it until it matches the exact shape and position of your physical surface. This process is called "warping" or "mesh mapping"—you're essentially telling Map Club "this digital shape corresponds to this real-world surface." Every layer type can be aligned this way.
4. Add more layers
Now for the fun part. Add more layers—maybe a shader for some animated effects, a webcam feed, or upload an image or video in the Input panel and assign it to a layer. You can stack multiple layers to create complex compositions. Each layer can be aligned independently to different parts of your physical space, so you can have different content mapped to different surfaces or areas.
5. Fine-tune and project
Use the Properties panel to adjust colors, opacity, and other settings. The Output panel shows you exactly what will be projected. Once everything looks good, use the "View Project" feature to open a fullscreen window that you can send to your projector. That's it—you're projection mapping!
The key insight is that projection mapping is all about creating digital representations of your physical space, then aligning each layer to match. Every layer—whether it's a surface, shader, tracker, webcam, or text—can be warped and aligned independently. Once that alignment is dialed in, you can layer on effects, animations, and media to create something truly unique. The more you experiment, the more you'll discover what's possible.