Quick Reference
Fast answers to every metric, toggle, and feature name in BT Laser Studio — searchable definitions with links to full pages.
A searchable quick-reference for every term, metric, and feature in BT Laser Studio. Find what a label means, then follow the link to the full documentation page for deeper context.
Core Metrics
PPS — Points Per Second
The rate of coordinate updates requested by the file. BeamTracer calculates required PPS as the total records in the largest frame, including blanked records, multiplied by FPS. Scanner ratings only have meaning with the manufacturer's stated test pattern and scan angle.
Example: 500 total records × 30 FPS = 15,000 pps requested
Scanner Load
A point-rate comparison against the selected device profile. The percentage is required PPS divided by the profile rate. It does not measure mirror motion, temperature, or wear; use the jump-distance tools and your projector manufacturer's limits alongside it.
Example: 90% load on a 30K profile = 27,000 pps requested
kpps — Kilo-Points Per Second
Thousands of points per second. A "30K" rating usually refers to performance on a stated test pattern and scan angle. It does not promise identical results for every frame or angle.
Visualization Features
Stress Heat Map
Colors lines by relative jump distance between points. It makes larger coordinate changes easy to find. The colors are an authoring aid, not measured force, temperature, or a hardware-safety rating.
Color guide: Green = shorter jump | Yellow = mid-range jump | Red = longer jump
Scanner Path
Shows blanked moves as dashed lines. Reveals the stored coordinate path, including segments where the laser is off. Use it to find long invisible jumps between shapes.
Galvo Simulation
Simulates the stored scan sequence. Progressively reveals points in file order. Its speed is a preview setting, not a measurement or model of a particular scanner.
Persistence
Onion-skin/ghosting trail effect. Higher values keep older preview positions visible for longer. It helps show animation motion paths; it is a display effect rather than a hardware measurement.
Point Types
Anchor Points
Repeated points used to hold a coordinate at a corner or transition. The useful repeat count depends on point rate, projector response, content, and the intended appearance; there is no universal count for every scanner.
Example: Repeated corner points can make a square hold its corners longer, but they also add to the point budget
Guide Points
Intermediate positions during long blanked jumps. They divide one large coordinate change into smaller changes. Whether they improve a particular projector's output depends on its response and the chosen point rate.
Blanking Points
Points where the laser is turned off. The laser must turn off to jump between separate shapes without drawing a visible line. More blanking = cleaner images but more scanner travel. The blanking bit in the ILDA format tells the DAC to cut the beam.
Collinear Points
Redundant points on straight lines. Points that lie perfectly on a line between their neighbors add no visual detail but consume scanner bandwidth. Removing these (optimization) allows more complex images at the same PPS. However, some are intentional for color fades.
File Validation
EOF Marker
End-of-file marker (header with 0 records). ILDA files should end with a special header containing zero points. This tells players "the file is complete." Missing EOF markers cause some hardware to fail to loop properly or crash.
Format Code
ILDA format version (0, 1, 2, 4, or 5). Format 0: 3D + indexed color (8 bytes/point). Format 1: 2D + indexed color (6 bytes/point). Format 5: 2D + true RGB color (8 bytes/point). SD card projectors often only support Format 0. Modern software typically uses Format 5.
Reserved Bytes
Bytes 4–6 in ILDA headers should be zero. The ILDA specification reserves certain header bytes for future use and requires them to be 0x00. Some older software wrote non-zero values here — usually harmless, but indicates a non-standard source.
ILDA Test Pattern
Industry test pattern for scanner adjustment and comparison. At the specified point rate and scan angle, trained technicians use its elements to evaluate scanner response. Follow ILDA's procedure and the projector manufacturer's instructions; the BeamTracer preview does not calibrate hardware.
Example: A mismatch between the circle and square is a symptom to diagnose at the specified test condition, not proof of one particular adjustment
Playback
FPS — Frames Per Second
Animation speed. How many complete frames are drawn per second. Higher FPS increases required PPS for the same point count. The appropriate rate depends on the content and output system.
Example: 30 FPS with 500 points = 15,000 pps
Beat Sync
Sync animation to musical beats. Locks animation loops to BPM. "Per beat" restarts the animation every beat; "Per bar" restarts every 4 beats. Tap tempo or enter BPM manually. Essential for making laser content feel connected to music.
Device Profiles
Reference point rate for BeamTracer's load calculation. Select the rating stated by your hardware manufacturer at the relevant test condition, or enter a custom value. The profile changes warnings and point-budget arithmetic; it does not certify the projector or venue as safe.
Example: A 30K profile compares the file's requested PPS with 30,000 pps
Audio-Reactive Features
Audio Reactive
Author laser motion to an uploaded track. Audio mappings can drive properties such as scale, rotation, and position while you preview the composition. ILDA export stores the resulting fixed animation frames, so cue the export with the same track or a deliberately tempo-matched cue; the file does not listen to live audio.
RMS
Root Mean Square — overall audio level. Best for broad energy effects such as pulsing or breathing.
Example: Map RMS → Scale (0.8 to 1.5) for shapes that grow with music volume
Bass
Low-frequency energy. Emphasizes kick drums, bass guitars, and sub-bass. Use it for heavy, impactful movement.
Example: Bass → Scale creates a classic "thump" effect synced to kick drums
Mid
Mid-frequency energy. Emphasizes vocals, guitars, snares, and melodic content.
Example: Mid → Rotation for spinning that follows vocal intensity
High
High-frequency energy. Emphasizes hi-hats, cymbals, and other bright transients. Use it for rapid accents.
Mapping Curve
Response curve for audio-to-parameter mapping. Linear: direct 1:1 mapping. Exponential: quiet sounds have minimal effect, loud sounds are exaggerated (good for dramatic impact). Logarithmic: more sensitive to quiet sounds, compresses loud ones.
Example: Exponential curve makes bass hits feel more "punchy"
Audio Visualizer Types
Edge Deform
Shape edges pulse and deform with the selected audio band. Creates an organic, breathing outline that follows the music.
Example: A circle becomes a dynamic blob that pulses with bass and wiggles with highs
Radial Bars
Spectrum analyzer bars extending from shape center. Creates a classic audio spectrum visualization with bars radiating from the center of your shape. Each bar represents a frequency band's energy.
Waveform
Audio waveform traced along the shape path. Draws the actual audio waveform amplitude along your shape's path, creating oscilloscope-style effects.
Loop Wire
A continuous circular loop that moves with the uploaded waveform. Use it for a stable pulsing-ring look.
Lip Sync
Animated talking mouth driven by speech audio. Use it for character animation and voiceovers synchronized to the uploaded track.
Geometry Animation Types
Static
No animation — shape remains fully visible. The layer displays as a complete, static shape with no animation effects. Default mode for most layers.
Morph
Shape transformation between forms. Smoothly transforms the layer from its current shape into a target shape (circle, square, triangle, star, heart).
Modifiers
Modifiers are stackable path effects in Animation Studio, Text to Laser, and Video to Laser. Their order matters, and controls with an audio binding can follow the selected audio source.
| Modifier | Visible result |
|---|---|
| Trace Reveal | Reveals the real path with a moving leading point; optionally keeps the completed trace |
| Color Flow | Moves color along the path |
| Ink Settle | Builds the finished outline with an ink-like reveal |
| Glitch | Breaks and offsets repeatable pieces of the path |
| Sparkle | Adds sparse moving accents along the path |
| Soft Pulse | Breathes the path brightness down and back |
| Beam Runners | Sends bright runners around the path |
| Sweep | Moves a reveal front across the frame |
| Contact FX | Triggers an effect where the moving front meets the path |
| Spotlights | Adds one or more synchronized bright spots |
| Laser Cannon | Adds bright circular beam hits with a projected-video ripple option |
| Trace Bars | Reveals bar-shaped portions of the real path |
| Grid | Applies a grid-based path treatment |
Motion Path Presets
| Preset | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Linear | Straight line from A to B at constant speed |
| Arc | Natural parabolic curve between two points |
| Circle | Continuous circular orbit around a center point |
| Figure-8 | Lemniscate (infinity symbol) crossing at center |
| Wave | Sinusoidal oscillation — rhythmic up-and-down motion |
| Bounce | Parabolic bounce with simulated gravity and elastic collision |
Laser & ILDA Glossary
Definitions for laser graphics, ILDA format, and scanner terminology used throughout the BeamTracer documentation.
Live Laser Show from Any Video Source
Four ways to use LIVE mode in Video to Laser — the classic "laser writes the logo" reveal, a laser that follows your VJ rig, beat-driven effects, and a live camera silhouette.