garageCube

If I create a layer that I want to function as an alpha over all layers, it's easy with the old blend mode selection.

If I want an alpha to only effect certain layers, it would make sense to drop that as the top layer in a group. However, that alpha effects all layers below (regardless of within a group or not). Would be great for that alpha to only effect that group!

Further, Stencil and Silhouette Luma work great, But where's Stencil Alpha? Obviously I can invert, but that's one extra step

we're doing live graphics with opengl, not offline image like photoshop.
Due to how works opengl, each layer will affect everything that's underneath.

Doing what you want would require pre-compositing, like rendering to an "invisible" target then use that for compositing.
Definetly not feasible in our live scenario.

Having said that, you could pre-compose yourself by rendering to a virtal projector with syphon/spout output enabled, that way you can get your comp back as a single texture.

Hope this helps

Franz good call. How bad is that workaround on the old overhead?

Would be great to have some sort of "pre-comp" tool that does this workaround for you.

you can already pre-comp in 2 clicks.

- 1: create a projector (but don't assign it any physical display output)
optional: rename it to something meaningful, such as "Pre-comp"
- 2: enable Syphon/Spout output.

Now everything that happens within that projector's boundary will be accessible for other surfaces as a texture,
namely under the "Syphon/spout" media category, (should be named "madmapper pre-comp")

Assign that texture to any of your surface.

Note that with this technique you can achieve feedback looping as well.
It is not bad for performances unless you're pre-comping 4k on a laptop... I actually use this technique all the time for LED content.

Incredibly useful, Franz. Thanks