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For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. This page is also available as Markdown.

⚙️How the HLD content pipeline works

This page walks through the complete journey of holographic content — from creation to playback — and explains the role of each tool along the way.

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:

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

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.

👉 See: Content guidelines for HLD

Step 2: Preview and validate with HLD Author

Once you have content, you preview it using HLD Author.

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 supports both content preparation and lightweight content creation. You can adjust and convert existing videos, create animated or depth-treated output from still images, render imported 3D media, preview the result, and export an MP4 for your playback target. Use the dedicated content pipelines in Step 1 when you need more advanced source authoring.

👉 Learn more: Using HLD Author

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

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

Advanced workflows

For more advanced installations, HLDs can be integrated with:

  • Professional digital signage computers, like BrightSign

  • Existing content management software

  • 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:

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

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