Notch integration

The Notch Integration offers solutions to some more advanced use cases and combines the advantages of both Notch and Ventuz. This page gives you an overview of the features, use-cases and limitations of that integration. If you want to dive into implementing a Ventuz presentation using the Notch connection, head to our E2E Notch How To.

The current implementation of the Notch integration sends an RGBA Buffer from Notch synchronously with ancillary data in both directions, like camera tracking data, dynamically read data sets or text, live videos and movies. Ventuz manages multiple instances of notch, with different content if needed - these can be different Notch Blocks or different Layers inside of one Notch Block

Introduction

To use the Notch-Integration in standalone, you would need to have a) The Code Meter / Wibu drivers installed and b) make changes to your Registry. Keep in mind making changes to your registry can harm your OS! So apply the changes at your own risk.

The Notch Integration works with Ventuz' Engine to Engine connection (E2E) and offers a synchronized, in-thread transmission of Notch's rendering result to Ventuz. Following is list of the most important features and, if applicable, the proper pages with more details on that topic. As well you can check out the Notch How To that gives you a general overview of the integration.

• Synchronization: Ventuz times the rendering of Notch and catches the RGBA after each rendered frame to composite them into each layer using the E2E connection.
• Multi-Connections: You can have virtually unlimited connections to Notch instances in your Ventuz Scene. Each E2E Node can define which connection to use via Bindings to a Provider Node.
• Ancillary Data: You can send any data that you need on the other engine to render the next frame. These are sent synchronously, just like the RGBA buffer. So this can be especially useful in cases where you have e.g. Tracked Cameras. Ancillary data can be sent or received with the E2E Axis Nodes and E2E Data Nodes.
• Auto-Start Configurations: You can control a connection with the E2E Control Node.
• Keying/Alpha Channel: The Notch integration supports Keying/Alpha by changing or adjusting the given properties from within the Notch Project. Change the setting by selecting the Notch root, and select your desired Composite Blend Mode.

Getting Started

To start working with this integration you can follow the Notch Integration How To. Here you can find a quick guide to the most important features of the integration.

Limitations

While being highly flexible, the Notch Integration also comes with some limitations. Keep these things in mind while designing an application using the integration:

• Transparent Notch Objects: As transparent objects need to be rendered last to function properly, it is not possible to place Ventuz behind semi-transparent Notch Objects. This includes glass, smoke, light cones etc.
• Reflections, Shadows etc.: Keep in mind that Ventuz has no further information about the Notch World, except how it looks from the camera perspective. And Notch doesn't even have these information from Ventuz while rendering. So reflections, shadows and anything that needs rendering from another perspective is harder to implement, while eventually possible.
• Depth Buffer: Notch doesn't provide us actually with a Depth Buffer. Therefore we can not occlude Ventuz Objects or have them anywhere between Notch Object. We will keep you posted and are working on this.
• Touch / Interaction: Touch and othere interaction is not implemented in the Notch SDK for now. As soon as this will change we will check to integrate this.
• MultiGPU: If you use notch in a MGPU scenario make sure that every GPU has its own notch block assigned inside the .vee file even if not all GPU`s are used.

Conclusion

While this page gives a rough overview of the Notch Integration, there are more advanced topics to explore, have a look at the Notch Integration How To. Also if this is your starting point of your journey with Ventuz you might want to check out some of our Quick Guides - especially the 3D Quick Guide and Logic Quick Guide.