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Geometry effect

Depth displace

Depth displace is a kaleidoscope and geometry effect in FRCTL, the browser VJ studio. Estimates depth from the frame and pushes it into real geometry.

Runs live on video, images, a camera or generated art. Stack it with any other effect, and route LFOs, envelopes or any of ten audio bands to its controls so it moves with the music.

Try Depth displace freeAll effects
The untouched demo art: an eye inside a triangle over wavy teal, blue and peach lines
Source
The eye-in-triangle art almost untouched, pushed slightly off the frame with thin dark slivers along the edges
Depth displace, default settings

What Depth displace does

Estimates how far away each part of the frame is, pushes it into a real 3D mesh and orbits a camera round it, so near things slide over far ones. A live camera gets a brightness-based stand-in. Mode picks smooth relief, stacked cut-out planes or a recessed void. Depth sets how far planes travel, Focus which depth stays put, Swing the orbit, and Edge whether steep steps stretch or tear.

Using Depth displace

Where it works
Turning a still photo or cover into a slow 3D parallax move for a Reel or visualiser, and giving flat footage depth on a big screen. Clear foreground subjects separate most cleanly.
With the music
Audio routing is switched off here, since the mesh reads depth from a map rather than a routed control. Swing orbits on its own clock with Speed setting the pace, and a MIDI-mapped Depth lets you push the relief by hand.
Starting point
Mode on Extrude, Depth at centre, Swing at a quarter, Focus at centre, Edge at a quarter, and Speed under centre for a slow drift.

Controls

Mode
Continuous relief, quantised cutout planes, or a recessed void.
Depth
How far near and far pixels travel apart.
Swing
Camera orbit around the displaced frame. Held still under reduced motion.
Focus
Depth that stays put; below it recedes, above it advances.
Edge
Whether steep depth steps stretch like a sheet or tear open.
Speed
Rate of the effect motion. Centre is the authored speed, hard left a tenth of it.

Pairs well with Depth displace