Laser (MadLaser)
MadLaser is a powerful official extension for MadMapper that allows you to control and map laser projectors using the exact same user-friendly workflow you already use for video and LED lighting.
Instead of needing separate, complicated bridge software to run a laser show, MadLaser acts as a real-time engine that translates your shapes, generative visuals, and even standard video directly into raw laser point data (ILDA) that your laser projector can draw.
Here is a breakdown of what MadLaser does and its core capabilities:
1. Real-Time Video Vectorization You don't need pre-made laser files to use MadLaser. Its GPU-accelerated engine can analyze standard video clips, webcam feeds, or images in real-time, tracing their contours and converting them into laser-safe vector lines.
2. Native Laser Surfaces & 3D Rendering Just like drawing video quads or triangles, MadLaser introduces specific surfaces optimized for light beams:
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Laser Bezier Lines: Draw ultra-precise, curved vector graphics that the laser will trace.
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Laser Text: Render text natively using single-line "Stick Fonts" that lasers can draw incredibly fast.
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3D Objects: Import a 3D
.OBJfile, and MadLaser will instruct the projector to draw the 3D wireframe mesh in mid-air or on a surface.
3. Generative Laser Materials MadLaser includes a library of generative, shader-based materials specifically designed to output fast, single-line vector graphics. Because they use GLSL language, you can open the live code editor in MadMapper and hack or live-code new generative laser patterns on the fly.
4. Advanced Routing and Dispatching If you have a complex scene with thousands of points, a single laser might start to flicker or struggle to draw it fast enough. MadLaser's Laser Dispatch feature can intelligently spread complex content across multiple laser projectors to maintain high-definition graphics and smooth frame rates.
5. Architecture Mapping & Safety Masks
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Laser Mesh Warping: You can warp your laser output using bezier grids to precisely fit the beams onto real-world curved surfaces or building facades.
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Safety Zones: Lasers are dangerous, so MadLaser includes highly precise Bezier Masking. You can draw masks over areas where the crowd or camera lenses are located. The software will instantly cut the beam or drop its opacity to safe levels whenever the laser crosses into those masked zones.
6. Hardware & Pre-Viz Compatibility MadLaser streams directly over the network to modern network-ready lasers. It natively supports Etherdream, ShowNET, Helios USB, IDN, AVB/Dante, and FB3/FB4 (if running Pangolin Beyond). It is also highly optimized for the LaserCube, allowing for instant plug-and-play network streaming without needing external Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs). Additionally, you can route MadLaser's output directly into pre-visualization software like Depence, Capture, or WYSIWYG to program your laser show in 3D before arriving at the venue.
Exploring MadLaser Content Types This tutorial demonstrates the different types of media you can use with MadLaser, including how the real-time vectorization engine translates standard video into laser projections.