Resources

Tutorials and videos, studio walkthroughs, and customization options.


Virtual Set Tutorial : file formats

This tutorial takes you through the various file formats that you can choose to download our virtual studio sets in.

It describes the Photoshop and PNG image layers, the vMix virtual sets, and the TriCaster version for Vizrt (formerly NewTek) Virtual Set Editor (VSE).

We’ve recently updated all of our virtual studio sets to include at least one single ‘flat’ background that you can drop straight into your timeline as a single image. This will hopefully help users of OBS, Camtasia, Wirecast and similar products to get up and running super fast!

Our vMix and Tricaster versions all now come with the artwork at 4K resolution as standard. This will be automaticaly scaled to match your current session and will allow you to zoom in – for example, if your final output is full HD (1080) you will be able to zoom in by 200% with no loss of quality on the backgrounds.

For more information, you can watch the video above, and we’ve added a video transcript below.

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How do I get a vMix virtual set into vMix?

This tutorial shows you how to get a vMix format virtual set to appear in vMix itself. You can get all our main studio sets in vMix format here in the store : Virtual Studio Sets STORE.

A vMix virtual set is basically a folder of images, along with a configuration file that tells vMix where to position each layer, and in what order. You need to copy that folder into the directory where vMix stores all its virtual sets.read more  


Changing colours in a vMix virtual set using the Photoshop version

This tutorial shows you how to change the colours in a vMix virtual set, using the Photoshop version.

Let’s say you want to change the colour scheme for Studio 9C.
We will use the ‘wide’ angle here, as an example.

First a little bit of background information, so you can get an idea of what we’re trying to achieve here.

vMix virtual sets are essentially a set of image layers with a special configuration file (config.xml) which tells vMix where to position each layer, and in what order. vMix has a limit of 10 layers for its virtual sets, and those 10 layers include any inputs for talent, screen content and so on. In order to keep within this 10 layer limit, some of our vMix virtual sets might have some of the original layers combined (merged) into a single image, which can sometimes make it a little more challenging if you want to change the various coloured areas individually. For example, the vMix versions of Studio 9C will have the main set, and the lightboxes, and the little neon strips, all merged into a single ‘midground’ layer. read more  


Studio 17 : walkthrough

Here’s a quick walkthrough of Studio 17 – our latest virtual set. It’s incredibly versatile and infinitely customizable.

This video describes all of the main features of Studio 17, including the customizable backdrop.

You can watch the video above, and read the transcript below :

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Studio 16 : walkthrough

Here’s a quick walkthrough of Studio 16 – available to download NOW from the Virtual Studio Sets STORE.

This video describes the Photoshop and PNG image layers, the vMix virtual sets, and the TriCaster version (for NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor).

You can watch the video above, and read the transcript below :

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Church virtual set: Removing the lecturn in vMix

Studio 12 : virtual church backgrounds from virtualstudiosets.com

I’ve been asked to explain how to remove the lecturn in the vMix versions of Studio 12. You might want to do this if you’re using a real lecturn or pulpit, and just want to see the church background, but not the ‘virtual’ lecturn.

The lecturn is a separate layer of course, and it’s very easy to access any of the layers if you’re using vMix. You can remove any layer with just three clicks…read more  


Studio 11 : walkthrough

Here is a quick walkthrough of Studio 11 – available to download now from the Virtual Studio Sets Store.

Studio 11 is a more informal looking studio space, with a bold coloured wall element that’s easy to change to match your own colour scheme. There are three optional screens that can be turned on or off, and a number of different camera angles – three wide shots, three mid, and several close-ups. Ideal for schools, business or corporate presentations in a more casual environment but still with a professional touch. Available as layered Photoshop versions plus individual PNG layers for post-production, ready-to-run vMix virtual sets, and special ‘TriCaster’ versions (these are Photoshop files that you can load directly into NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor).

You can watch the video, and read the transcript below.

Video transcript

Hi there,

Here’s a quick look at Studio 11 from virtualstudiosets.com

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Studio 10: walkthrough

Here is a quick preview of Studio 10 – now available exclusively here at the Virtual Studio Sets Store.

Studio 10 has 8 different camera angles, a removeable desk and 3 video screens plus desk screen, and many more customisable set elements. You can also get great control over the feature colours. Available as layered Photoshop versions plus individual PNG layers for post-production, ready-to-run vMix virtual sets, and special ‘TriCaster’ versions (these are Photoshop files that you can load directly into NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor).

Watch the video, and read the transcript below.

read more  


Studio 9 : walkthrough

Here is a quick preview of Studio 9 – now available exclusively here at the Virtual Studio Sets Store.

Studio 9 has 7 different camera angles, removeable desk and video screens, and many customisable set elements. You also get great control over the feature colours. Available as layered Photoshop versions plus individual PNG layers for post-production, ready-to-run vMix virtual sets, and special ‘TriCaster’ versions (these are Photoshop files that you can load directly into NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor).

(Video transcript follows:) read more  


Customization options for Studio 9 (vMix versions)

We’ve had a couple of enquiries asking if it was possible to change the skyline image in the vMix versions of Studio 9 and Studio 9B.

The answer is yes! It’s easy.

We’ve set up the vMix versions to have dynamic layers for the screens and also the skyline outside the window. This means you can easily select your own source input from within vMix itself.

Once you’ve loaded the virtual set into vMix you click the ‘Setup’ button and you’ll see a dropdown menu for all the layers in the virtual set. Take a look at the image above which shows the ‘wide’ angle. It has 10 layers in all – the skyline is layer 1. Select that layer in the dropdown menu and then choose whichever Input source you want from the ‘Input’ dropdown below it. If at any point you want to revert to the original example skyline, just select ‘none’ from the Input menu and it will show the (supplied) skyline image again.read more  



Virtual Sets for OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)

Virtual Sets for OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) - from virtualstudiosets.com

Visit the Virtual Studio Sets STORE for OBS virtual sets

Our virtual sets are available in a variety of formats – vMix, Photoshop (plus every layer saved as separate lossless PNG images) and special TriCaster® VSE-compatible Photoshop versions.

If you want to use our sets with OBS, choose the version that includes PNG images (it will be labelled ‘Photoshop / PNG format’). The sets are supplied as separate image layers that include transparency, so you can add them one by one to OBS to create your studio set.

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Studio 8 : walkthrough

Here is a quick video showing all the various features of Studio 8 – available exclusively from the Virtual Studio Sets Store.

Studio 8 has 12 different camera angles, removeable video screens, depth of field on the close-up shots, and many customisable set elements. You also get great control over the feature colours. TriCaster-ready Photoshop versions, standard Photoshop versions plus individual PNG layers for post-production, and ready-to-run vMix sets all available to download..!

Video transcript follows: read more  


Studio 6 : walkthrough

Here is a quick guide to the Studio 6 multi-angle pack. Originally designed as a virtual weather studio set for The Weather Network UK, and now available to download exclusively at virtualstudiosets.com.

Visit the virtual studio sets STORE to see this, and all our other virtual studio sets – compatible with TriCaster VSE, vMix, Final Cut, Premiere Pro, After Effects and more.

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Virtual Studio Sets comparison charts

Use the comparison charts below to see which individual camera angles are included in the ‘Starter Pack’ and ‘Complete Multi-angle Pack’ bundles for each virtual studio set.

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Studio 4 walkthrough

Studio 4 : Virtual Talk Show Set

Here is a quick video explaining some of the great features you’ll find in our virtual talk show set Studio 4.

Studio 4 is a fully customisable virtual talk show set for chat shows, talk shows or any kind of discussion format. It comes with plenty of different camera angles including close-ups for presenter and three guest positions. A virtual desk is included, but you can also use this studio with green screen and a real desk.

The studio lighting is completely adjustable and you can change the colours to suit your own branding and colour schemes. There are live input layers for each of the screens on the walls, the cyclorama on the far right, and also for the view outside the windows.

NOTE: Since this video was made we’ve added vMix versions to all of our studio set products. The vMix versions (only) will have all the lighting merged into the main studio overlay and so the colours cannot be adjusted individually within vMix as described in this video.


Studio 1 : walkthrough

We have recently updated Studio 1 with a whole bunch of new layers and customization options.

This video walks you through all the features. You can watch the video, and read a transcript below.read more  


Adding extra TriCaster inputs to Studio 1 files

We’ve recently added some extra TriCaster input layers that you can add to your Studio 1 Photoshop documents which will give you some additional customisable areas on the front of the desk, and on each of the back walls on the wide angles where you can place your own logos, or live video.

To use these new layers in NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor, you will need to add them to your existing Photoshop document. If you know your way around Photoshop this should be pretty easy, but I thought it would be useful to do a little video that shows in more detail exactly what you need to do

Note: this is only of use to TriCaster users with Virtual Set Editor, and also requires Photoshop itself. These new layers are only visible in the ‘Wide’, ‘Wide Left’ and ‘Wide Right’ camera angles.

There’s also a set of extra TriCaster input layers for Studio 1B and the process of adding them to the Studio 1B .psd is exactly the same.read more  


Virtual Studio Sets : quick start guide

1 : Adding a background image, and changing the skyline.

In this first video I show you how to use the ready-made backgrounds that come included with our ‘Photoshop / PNG format’ virtual sets.
(more about file formats here : Virtual Set Tutorial : file formats).

All our virtual sets are available as a multi-layered Photoshop document, and you also get separate PNG images for each layer, plus at least one ready-made background where all the layers are already merged into a ‘quick start’ single image.

This example uses the ‘Left’ camera angle from Studio 5. Every one of our main studios will have a ‘Photoshop/PNG’ bundle which comes with at least one ‘quick start’ background, as well as all of the individual layers.

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Virtual Newsroom : quick start guide

Here is a quick guide to setting up your virtual newsroom (Studio 2) using the individual PNG layers.

This tutorial shows you how to get started. I’ve used the ‘mid’ angle from Studio 2 here – and you’ll see it up and running in under 3 minutes.

The layers I’m using are in PNG format – which means they are all original (lossless) quality, and compatible with pretty much every graphics and editing package out there (I’m using After Effects here as an example).

Every studio is also available as a special Photoshop version that TriCaster users can import directly into NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor). vMix users can get ready-made vMix versions that are even easier to get started – you just copy them into your vMix ‘Virtual Sets’ location and they’re ready to go!

You can buy the animating Newsroom movie files separately here


Studio 5 camera positions

Here is a top view layout showing the camera positions for Studio 5. This should help you position your (real) cameras to match the virtual backgrounds.

Click the image to view.


Studio 4 camera positions

Here is a little diagram showing the camera positions for Studio 4.

Heights are relative to the main (raised) floor section. The close-up cameras (‘mid’ and ‘guest’) are ‘cheated’ a bit to allow them to get closer to the talent. In reality, their positions would be limited by the steps.


Datavideo virtual sets (for TVS-1000, TVS-1200)

UPDATE: We have added some ready-made background layers that are perfect for getting started quickly with Datavideo’s Virtual Set Maker.

virtual sets for datavideo tvs-1000 and tvs-1200

One of our virtual sets in Datavideo’s Virtual Set maker

The special ‘quick-start’ layers are all found in the ‘PNG Layers’ folder, and are included in all of the ‘Photoshop + PNG’ packs. There will be at least one full-frame background, and also versions with transparent ‘holes’ for screens and skylines. They make the set-up process much quicker for products like Virtual Set Make from Datavideo. You just drop in a single layer, set up your talent and screen inputs, and if you need additional layers you can find them all in the ‘Layers’ folder. Plus you get the Photoshop version included as well, just in case you want to make your own custom changes or modifications.

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Using Virtual Studio Sets in Adobe After Effects

As well as building your virtual set using the included PNG layers, you could also import the Photoshop version directly into After Effects. When you import the .psd as a composition into After Effects you will find that all of the various camera angles appear as nested compositions, each with every layer in the correct order, and with further nested comps in place for all the relevant groups.

This tutorial shows you how to get started using the multi-angle version of Studio 4.

NOTE: Since this video was made we’ve introduced a ‘regular’ Photoshop version which doesn’t contain any of the TriCaster Input UV gradients mentioned in the video. TriCaster users can still get their own ‘special’ Photoshop versions which will load directly into NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor.


How large should I make my talent..?

It is pretty crucial to get your talent framed correctly in ANY virtual studio – the viewer is smart enough to notice when something doesn’t look quite right, and getting your talent even slightly the wrong size can break the illusion very quickly.

framing talent in virtual studio 1

Studio 1

I thought it might be useful to attach here a couple of images showing the wide angle view of Studio 1 and Studio 2 with some guide silhouettes sitting around the desk.read more  


Changing colours in virtual sets

The trick to customizing Studio 1 and Studio 2 is that the ‘feature’ colour will either appear on its own separate layer, or on a layer that is otherwise completely neutral. So it really is very simple to adjust all the coloured bits at once.

Have a look at the image below. It shows the ‘midground’ layer from Studio 2.

virtual set colour change
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Studio 2 layout

I thought it might be useful to add here a quick diagram showing Studio 2 to give an idea of where the virtual cameras are located, and which sections of the cyclorama (and screens) are visible in each shot.

The seven ‘drop-zones’ (cyclorama sections 1,2,3 & 4, and screens 1, 2 & 3) are numbered in the diagram 1-7.read more  


Studio 1 & Studio 2 desk dimensions

Here’s a little diagram showing the height and diameter of the circular desk in virtual Studio 1 and 2. This may be useful if you are building your own green-screen desktop to allow your talent to more realistically lean on, or interact with the virtual desk.

Also possibly worth pointing out that the virtual desk in Studios 1 and 2 sit on top of a riser, that raises it a further 15cm above floor level (zero). The virtual cameras are all positioned at heights between 118cm and 129cm above floor level.


Using PNG layers

Every virtual studio from virtualstudiosets.com includes a set of lossless PNG-24 layers that you can use in the graphics or editing package of your choice. This tutorial is a quick start guide to using the virtual studio set PNG layers.read more  


TriCaster Photoshop files

Every virtual studio from virtualstudiosets.com includes a Photoshop file ready for use with TriCaster VSE (Virtual Set Editor). This tutorial is very brief guide to the Photoshop document and the layers you’ll find within it.read more  


Making multi-angle sets

Every single-angle virtual studio from virtualstudiosets.com has a Photoshop file available for use with TriCaster VSE. If you decide to purchase a number of single-angle studios, it is very easy to combine them into a new Photoshop document, giving you all the camera angles you need in a single file.read more  


TriCaster live inputs

(Updated : April 2019)

Some virtual studios from virtualstudiosets.com have the potential for more than 2 live sources. Some TriCasters will have only 2 live Inputs available, while others (e.g. TriCaster 8000) give you four live inputs into Tricaster virtual sets. This is a quick tutorial explaining how our virtual sets appear once you’ve imported the Photoshop file into NewTek’s Virtual Set Editor (VSE). read more