DL.3 Digital Light User Manual 301
Appendix C: Custom User Content
There are several considerations to keep in mind when creating custom content to
control with the DL.3 graphics engine software.

Preparing Custom Content

For the highest quality rendering and playback on a DL.3 fixture or Axon media server, use the
following steps:
1. Commission or Design High Quality (Visually Clean or Never-Compressed) Video, at least
640 x 480 in Photo jpeg 98%-100% or Animation Non Compressed (best) format.
Note: Extracting footage from a playable DVD will not give a high quality
result since it has been highly compressed.
2. Light Optimize the content in a video editing program by boosting Brightness and Color
Saturation and save the a master file in Photo Jpeg 98%-100% or Animation Non
Compressed (best) format.
Note: The DL.3 and Axon media servers can also provide light optimizing as
a visual effect, (see Content Optimization on page 82).
3. Import Video master into Encoder/Compressor.
4. Output encoded files to your hard drive.
5. Upload your Custom Content to the DL.3 fixture or Axon media server, (see Uploading
Content from Your Local Drive to a Media Server on page 199).
Note: If a file is not compatible, it may load but not appear as output. The CMA
thumbnail view of content will note incompatible files with an X.

Encoder Selection

Cleaner on Mac and Expert HD or TMPGEncoder on PC for encoding solutions offer good
quality and the most reliable DL.3 playback.
Any encoder you use will need to provide options that achieve the following specifications:
• Size to 640x480 pixels
• All I-frames (an I frame every 1 frame) for optimal tracking
• Constant Bit Rate (CBR) data rates of 10 to 12 megabits/sec
• Closed Group of Picture (GOP)
• Sequence headers each GOP (every frame)
• Progressive frames (since it's a progressive display device, not interlaced)
• End of sequence “Sequence Style”