A source assigned to a layer becomes that layer's texture, so one source can feed many layers independently

VPT separates the output surface (a layer) from the media input (a source). A layer is an independently positionable quad with its own transform, transparency, mask and blend mode; a source is a media input such as a video file, still, HAP clip, live camera, Syphon/Spout stream, solid colour, or mix. When a source is assigned to a layer it becomes that layer’s texture — a per-layer copy that can be zoomed, tiled, flipped or colour-adjusted without touching the original source or any other layer. Because of this, the same source can feed several layers, each showing a different treatment of it. VPT 8 has no fixed number of layers; you add them as needed, and each new layer stacks on top of the previous ones.

Examples

Assign one 16:9 clip to two layers covering the left and right halves of the output; tile each layer to a different half so a single source becomes a split image across two surfaces.

Assessment

Explain the difference between a VPT layer and a VPT source, and what ‘texture’ means. If two layers use the same source and you flip one, does the other change? Why?