Global canvas
Define the complete presentation surface in one coordinate system instead of treating every playback computer as a separate show.
DISTRIBUTED CANVAS
One canvas. Multiple engines. One show.
Extend a production beyond the output capacity of a single workstation while continuing to build and operate it as one coordinated visual environment. Ascension distributes the work while the operator works with the complete canvas.
ONE GLOBAL COORDINATE SYSTEM
Build the surface once.
A Distributed Canvas is defined as one continuous pixel space regardless of how many Ascension systems, graphics outputs or physical display processors are required to create it.
Node viewports
Assign each Ascension node the exact region of the global canvas that its physical outputs are responsible for rendering.
Continuous geometry
Layer position, scale, crop, rotation and animation remain relative to the full canvas rather than restarting at node boundaries.
Cross-node movement
Content can move through the global visual space and cross between playback nodes without being programmed as separate effects.
Scalable output
Add processing and graphics-output capacity as the physical surface grows without rebuilding the production as independent systems.
One operator environment
The Primary Ascension system remains the production workspace while Extended nodes perform their assigned playback and rendering roles.
PRIMARY + EXTENDED
More engines should not mean more shows.
Ascension's distributed architecture separates operator control from playback workload. The Primary system coordinates the production while Extended engines render the portions of the canvas assigned to them.
Central production control
Build the CueBoard, timeline, layer states and Distributed Canvas from the Primary Ascension environment.
Dedicated playback nodes
Extended systems operate as additional rendering engines instead of requiring another operator to maintain another copy of the show.
Coordinated visual behavior
Transport, layer configuration, animated properties and distributed-canvas geometry are coordinated across participating engines.
Tightly aligned playback
Ascension's distributed clock and engine communication are designed to keep participating playback nodes tightly aligned during synchronized content and movement.
CANVAS-AWARE MEDIA
Do not make every engine decode the entire wall.
Very wide media can exceed the practical decoding workload that should be placed on every individual playback node. Ascension can prepare oversized Distributed Canvas media as node-specific derivatives based on the current canvas layout.
Keep the original intact.
The full-resolution source remains the production master. Distributed Canvas preparation creates derivatives rather than destructively replacing the original asset.
Prepare only what each node needs.
Ascension creates node-specific media regions from the global canvas layout, including controlled overlap where required at canvas boundaries.
Put the media where it belongs.
Prepared derivatives are transferred to the appropriate Extended nodes so each playback engine works with the portion of the canvas assigned to it.
Return to the Full Master.
When segmented playback is no longer required, the asset can be returned to normal Full Master operation without losing the original source.
PROJECTION + LED REGISTRATION
Align the same canvas you are going to play.
Ascension includes an engine-generated registration grid that understands global Distributed Canvas coordinates. The pattern continues through node boundaries instead of restarting at every machine or output.
Global spacing
Generate horizontal and vertical grid lines from the complete canvas coordinate system with configurable spacing and major intervals.
Center references
Add horizontal and vertical center lines, center targets and diagonal geometry for visual alignment across the complete surface.
Shape references
Display center and corner circles for evaluating geometry, scaling and aspect behavior across large presentation surfaces.
Node boundaries
Reveal viewport boundaries when identifying where one Ascension node's assigned canvas region meets another.
Adjustable appearance
Control grid colors, line widths, background treatment and other visual parameters for the physical display environment.
Purpose-built patterns
Start with Grid, Geometry, Circles, Alignment or Minimal presets and then customize the registration pattern for the installation.
CENTRALIZED NODE MANAGEMENT
Run the playback cluster from the Primary.
Distributed playback should increase output capacity without multiplying routine system-management work. Ascension returns essential node information and configuration to the Primary operator environment.
- Discover and configure participating Ascension nodes
- Assign Distributed Canvas viewport geometry
- Monitor Extended-node CPU, memory and GPU utilization
- See online, offline and stale node conditions
- Manage supported licensing operations from the Primary
- Identify affected output regions when a node is unavailable
BUILT FOR LARGE SURFACES
Scale the hardware without fragmenting the production.
Distributed Canvas is designed for presentation environments where the visual surface is larger than one conventional output system should be expected to carry alone.
Ultrawide LED walls
Divide extremely wide LED canvases across multiple GPU outputs and playback systems while retaining one global production space.
Large projection surfaces
Coordinate canvas regions across multiple projection outputs while maintaining common registration and layer geometry.
Scenic media environments
Build irregular and architectural presentation surfaces without forcing the creative workflow to mirror the physical machine layout.
Grow as required
Add Extended processing nodes when the surface or playback workload grows beyond the resources of the current system.
ASCENSION DISTRIBUTED CANVAS
The audience sees one surface. The operator should too.
Build the production in one coordinated canvas and let Ascension distribute the rendering workload across the systems behind it.