# How the HLD content pipeline works

## Step 1: Create your content

Video content for HLDs is created **outside of Looking Glass software**, using tools you already know.

Common creation tools include:

* [Video tools](/content-pipelines/creating-with-video-editors.md) (After Effects, Premiere, Resolve)
* [3D tools](/content-pipelines/creating-videos-with-3d-tools.md) (Blender, Cinema 4D, Unity)
* [AI and generative tools](/content-pipelines/creating-videos-with-genai.md)

At this stage, the most important thing to understand is:

{% hint style="info" %}
Holographic content must be authored with **depth, camera position, lighting, and framing** in mind. What looks good on a flat screen may not look correct in an HLD.
{% endhint %}

👉 See: [Content guidelines for HLD](/creative-guidelines/products.md)

## Step 2: Preview and validate with HLD Author

Once you have content, you preview it using [**HLD Author**](/apps-and-tools/hld-author.md).

HLD Author allows you to:

* Preview how content will actually appear on an HLD 
* Check depth, cropping, and composition
* Catch issues before deployment

**Important:**\
HLD Author is **not** a content creation tool. It is used for **validation and preparation** of existing content.

👉 Learn more: [Using HLD Author](/apps-and-tools/hld-author.md)

## Step 3: Export for playback

From HLD Author, you export a version of your content that is optimized for HLD playback.

This ensures:

* Correct resolution and encoding
* Reliable performance
* Consistent results across different HLD sizes

👉 Learn more: [Media specs and encoding](/resources/media-specs-and-encoding.md)

## Step 4: Play content on the HLD

Final playback is handled by the **HLD Demo Media Player**.

This is where you:

* Load content onto the system
* Control playback
* Loop or sequence holograms for exhibitions, retail, or events

👉 Learn more: [HLD Demo Media Player](/managing-content/using-the-demo-media-player.md)

<figure><img src="/files/c9iOfQCNhVrT1i8EbZYP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Advanced workflows&#x20;

For more advanced installations, HLDs can be integrated with:

* Professional digital signage computers, like BrightSign
* Existing content management software&#x20;
* Real-time applications run from a Windows, Mac, or other computer
  * These are non-video interactive applications made with Unity or Unreal. Examples can include applications that have a touch screen / interactive component (i.e. product selector)

👉 Learn more:

* [BrightSign digital signage player](/managing-content/brightsign-digital-signage-player.md)
* [Creating real-time apps](/content-pipelines/creating-real-time-apps.md)

<figure><img src="/files/c9iOfQCNhVrT1i8EbZYP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## How this differs from Light Field workflows

HLDs are optimized to show content and make it feel like it's right there, floating in a holographic volume.

If you’re looking to render a full holographic light field or visualize complex 3D data structures that require depth perception, you’re likely looking for **Light Field Display documentation** instead.

👉 Go to[ Light Field Docs](https://docs.lookingglassfactory.com)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://hlddocs.lookingglassfactory.com/content-pipelines/how-the-hld-content-pipeline-works.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.