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Filmmaking Camera, lighting, sound, editing and the crew roles behind every shot.

nDisplay: Meaning & Definition in Film

nDisplay is a feature in Unreal Engine that allows a real-time 3D scene to be rendered across a synchronized network of multiple computers.

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Powering Massively Scaled Real-Time Graphics

nDisplay is a core technology within Epic Games’ Unreal Engine that is designed to solve the problem of rendering a single, cohesive image at an enormous scale and resolution. A single computer, no matter how powerful, cannot render a photorealistic 3D environment across a massive LED Volume (which can be comprised of tens of millions of pixels) in real-time. nDisplay is the system that makes this possible.

A Cluster of Render Nodes

The nDisplay system works by creating a cluster of networked computers, often called render nodes. The rendering workload is then distributed among these nodes:

  • Master Node: One computer acts as the master, running the main instance of the Unreal Engine project and coordinating the entire system.
  • Render Nodes: Each of the other computers in the cluster is assigned a specific portion of the overall image to render. For example, in an LED Volume, each node might be responsible for rendering the image for a specific section of the wall.
  • Synchronization: nDisplay ensures that every single node in the cluster is perfectly synchronized. They share camera tracking data, game-state information, and are genlocked together, so that they all render their portion of the scene for the exact same frame at the exact same time.

The final result is a single, massive, and seamless image displayed across the entire LED wall or projection surface, with all the component parts from the different computers stitched together perfectly. It is the fundamental technology that enables Unreal Engine to be used for large-scale In-Camera VFX.

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More Filmmaking Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as nDisplay, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 913 terms

  • Load-Up

    A 'load-up' on a film set refers to the act of loading a new roll of film into a camera magazine or, in the digital era, inserting a fresh memory card.

  • China-ball

    A China-ball, or paper lantern, is a simple and inexpensive lighting tool used by filmmakers to create an exceptionally soft, omnidirectional, and natural-looking light source.

  • High-Speed Photography

    Capturing thousands of frames per second reveals motions too rapid for human perception, transforming violence and wonder alike.

  • Shooting Notes

    Detailed annotations recording directorial, technical, and logistical instructions for each film shoot.

  • Split Reel

    A split reel is a metal or plastic film reel made of two separate flanges that can be unscrewed to mount a roll of film.

  • Re-Recording Mix

    The re-recording mix is the final stage of audio post-production where all sound elements of a film are balanced, equalized, and blended together to create the final soundtrack.