u/Ux9410

Quick mid-beta update on FieldLux, the browser-based projection planning and handoff tool a few of you have been trying out.

Like I said last time, it stays free through August while I keep working on the beta. So please poke at it and tell me what breaks.

Here's what's new:

Rear projection + per-part materials

Assign different materials to individual layers of a model. A window, a scrim, and a wall no longer have to share one surface. Rear projection, scrim, blackout, and physical materials (clearcoat, IOR) are all in. Right-click a layer or open Object settings to edit.

Real luminance heatmap (cd/m²)

This is the one I most want eyes on. Alongside surface lux and pixel density, there's now a luminance mode showing actual perceived brightness on the surface. It factors in incidence angle, so an angled face reads dimmer like it should. Probe points show cd/m² directly, built on standard photometric math.

Surface primitives

Dome, cylinder, curved wall, flat surface, and basic room. Quick blocking before you bring in real geometry.

Circular projector arrays

Ring your projectors around a pivot with count, radius, and arc control. Live preview, then bake. Handy for domes and 360 setups.

It's still a beta, and the material and surface side has rough edges. I'd rather hear about them now than later.

Coming in August: lighting fixtures and a desktop app.

Try it (no install, runs in browser): https://field-lux.com

Discord (bugs, requests, or just lurk): https://discord.gg/6aurm9MREg

If you do real mapping work, I'd love your read on the luminance side especially. That's the part I most want to nail before this leaves beta.

Quick mid-beta update on FieldLux, the browser-based projection planning and handoff tool a few of you have been trying out.

Like I said last time, it stays free through August while I keep working on the beta. So please poke at it and tell me what breaks.

Here's what's new:

Rear projection + per-part materials
Assign different materials to individual layers of a model. A window, a scrim, and a wall no longer have to share one surface. Rear projection, scrim, blackout, and physical materials (clearcoat, IOR) are all in. Right-click a layer or open Object settings to edit.

Real luminance heatmap (cd/m²)
This is the one I most want eyes on. Alongside surface lux and pixel density, there's now a luminance mode showing actual perceived brightness on the surface. It factors in incidence angle, so an angled face reads dimmer like it should. Probe points show cd/m² directly, built on standard photometric math.

Surface primitives
Dome, cylinder, curved wall, flat surface, and basic room. Quick blocking before you bring in real geometry.

Circular projector arrays
Ring your projectors around a pivot with count, radius, and arc control. Live preview, then bake. Handy for domes and 360 setups.

It's still a beta, and the material and surface side has rough edges. I'd rather hear about them now than later.

Coming in August: lighting fixtures and a desktop app.

Try it (no install, runs in browser): https://field-lux.com
Discord (bugs, requests, or just lurk): https://discord.gg/6aurm9MREg

If you do real mapping work, I'd love your read on the luminance side especially. That's the part I most want to nail before this leaves beta.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask a question from people who deal with more complex projector setups.

I’m working on a small projector planning tool called FieldLux. It’s not meant to replace normal projector calculators, home theater setup advice, or real on-site measurement. The goal is more specific: helping people pre-check projector placement, throw distance, image size, surface coverage, estimated brightness/lux distribution, and multi-projector overlap before arriving on site.

I know this subreddit is mostly for projector help and purchase advice, so I want to be respectful and avoid spamming. I’m mainly curious whether this kind of workflow would actually be useful for people here who do installs, events, projection mapping, galleries, museums, outdoor projection, or other non-standard setups.

The lux values are only planning estimates, not certified light meter readings. The goal is to make early planning less blind, not to claim perfect accuracy.

If this is not the right place, no worries at all. I’d still appreciate any thoughts on whether this kind of preflight workflow makes sense for projector users.

Website:
https://field-lux.com

Hey everyone,

A while ago I posted here looking for closed beta testers for FieldLux.

Since then, I’ve received a lot of helpful feedback from people working with projection mapping, AV installs, live events, and exhibition projects. That feedback helped FieldLux improve a lot during the closed beta, especially around projector placement, coverage checks, lux heatmaps, overlap review, measurement tools, and PDF reports.

FieldLux is now moving into open beta, so I wanted to share an update and ask for more feedback from this community.

FieldLux is a projection preflight tool for planning projector setups before you arrive on site.

It is not a media server, and it is not meant to replace Resolume, MadMapper, TouchDesigner, disguise, PIXERA, Watchout, etc.

The idea is to sit before that stage, when you are still trying to answer questions like:

- Will this projector position actually cover the surface?

- Is the image size / throw distance realistic?

- Are some areas likely to be too dim?

- Where do multiple projectors overlap?

- How risky is the setup if the projector position or tilt is slightly off?

- Can I explain the setup clearly to a client, producer, or crew before install?

Current beta features include:

- real projector and lens profiles

- 3D scene import

- projector placement in 3D

- throw distance and image size checks

- projection coverage preview

- lux / brightness heatmaps on surfaces

- 9-point and 13-point lux inspection

- hover-based lux probing

- multi-projector overlap review

- edge-blend planning

- lens shift and placement risk checks

- measurement tools

- cloud save and share links

- PDF preflight reports for client / crew communication

During the open beta, all features are free to use until August.

I’m also working on a desktop app during the open beta period, so FieldLux can connect better with real production workflows and eventually support more on-site, offline, and handoff use cases.

Website:

https://field-lux.com

Discord for feedback, bug reports, feature requests, and projector/lens database requests:

https://discord.com/invite/JpeQ7Hgsnd

I’m especially looking for feedback from people working with VJ setups, projection mapping, installations, museums, live events, and weird real-world projector problems.

Even rough feedback is useful. What feels confusing, what would make this actually useful for your workflow, what is missing, or what you would never use.

Thanks again to everyone who helped during the closed beta.

Hey everyone,

I’m opening the beta for FieldLux, a projection preflight tool for checking projection setups before install.

It is not a media server or mapping replacement. The goal is to help review projector placement, throw, lens shift, surface coverage, lux distribution, overlap, and possible risk areas before going on site.

For the next 3 months, all features are free after sign-up.

Over the last month, I’ve been improving FieldLux based on feedback from Discord, Reddit DMs, and early testers. I’m keeping it free during open beta because I want real workflow feedback from video engineers, projection techs, media server operators, TDs, and installation teams.

Current features include:

- Real projector, lens, throw, and lens-shift controls

- 3D model, room, surface, photo, and LED wall import

- Absolute, normalized, and deviation lux heatmaps

- 13-point lux diagnostics, hover lux, pixel density, and lens view

- Multi-projector overlap review

- PDF export, cloud share, and read-only client viewer

Site:

https://field-lux.com/

Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/JpeQ7Hgsnd

I’d really appreciate any feedback on what feels useful, confusing, or not trustworthy yet for real production work.

I’ve been beta testing FieldLux, a browser-based projection preflight planner for checking projection setups before going on site.

The goal is not to replace mapping software or media servers. It’s more of a planning / checking layer before production: projector placement, throw feasibility, surface coverage, brightness assumptions, overlap, and setup risk.

The diagnostics / stress-analysis layer is currently locked while I continue validating the assumptions and edge cases with beta feedback.

The long-term goal is to expose simple production-facing states like READY / AT_RISK / NOT_RECOMMENDED so results can be communicated more clearly between clients, technical directors, and install crews, but I’d rather keep that layer limited until the logic is reliable enough.

FieldLux is designed to reduce uncertainty before site visits, not replace on-site calibration or final photometric verification.

I’m opening a few more beta slots for people with real-world projection setups, especially messy ones: awkward surfaces, tight throws, low brightness, multi-projector overlap, temporary installs, touring setups, or client handoff situations.

You can check the project here:

https://field-lux.com/

I’m also keeping a small Discord open for beta feedback, bug reports, and projection workflow discussions:

https://discord.com/invite/JpeQ7Hgsnd

Happy to share access if you want to test it on a real case.

Hey all,

A month ago I posted the projection planning tool I was building. Got really useful feedback in the comments, kept building, and it's now in closed beta.

A few things that changed since:

- Judgment engine runs on real physics now, not heuristics. Returns READY / AT_RISK / NOT_RECOMMENDED, and when something is off it tells you what to change instead of just flagging it.

- Stress scenarios actually catch the drift you see post-install (lateral, throw, rotation, surface measurement error).

- Added cloud share links so you can hand the analysis to clients or install crews without them needing to install anything.

- PDF tech rider export got cleaner.

Quick recap of what it does for anyone who missed the original post:

- Place real projectors (from a spec database) onto a 3D model, photo, or room walls

- Real-time lux heatmap on the actual surface

- Auto edge blending detection for multi-projector setups

- Stress test the setup and returns a verdict

- Export PDF report + cloud share link

One honest note: the stress analysis logic is still being refined during closed beta, so the scenarios will shift as we collect more install data.

Looking for working TDs, projection designers, and AV integrators to keep breaking it. Closed beta testers who stick around and send real feedback get 1 year free after public launch.

Beta access: https://field-lux.com

Discord for live discussion: https://discord.gg/JpeQ7Hgsnd

Same kind of questions I asked last time, just updated:

- For multi-projector blends, do you mostly pre-plan the geometry or eyeball it on site?

- What's the planning step you wish was automated the most?

- Anyone tried similar preflight tooling? What worked, what didn't?

Not selling anything — just trying to see if this kind of tool is actually useful outside my own workflow. Would appreciate any thoughts 🙏