Slide Properties - Using layers effectively for Backgrounds

Applicable SongShow Plus Versions: 
This article applies to SongShow Plus 8.x and Later

 * Ensure that you are using the most current build of SongShow Plus from the Download page for the best experience. *   

Slide Properties are an integral part of SongShow Plus and can be used to change the look and feel of any (or all) of your content.  To a further degree, the Background Property Group and its use of layers is an important part of SongShow Plus that is very powerful.  Remember what Uncle Ben said - "With great power, comes great responsibility."
The ability to use multiple layers for the background can provide for a custom and dramatic result, but beware, overuse of the layers can cause undesired and unexpected behavior. While multiple layers are allowed, for practical purposes, only a few should be set at a time. Also, this only works effectively if there is some associated transparency or other effect set as well.  If not, you only see the last one on the projected output but SSP has to generate them all.  This can be problematic if there are too many, high resource items added or old items remain where associated components are no longer present (missing media files).

Please use caution when applying Multiple Fill Layers.  In most cases people only use one at a time.

To use multiple Fill Layers:

1. Launch SongShow Plus
2. From the main toolbar select Slide Properties.
3. From here select the Output Window and Media type you want to set the background for.  In many cases this will be Presentation > All Media
4. Locate and select the Background Property Group.
5. Once the Background Group populates, select the Background Layers tab.
6. Note that by default, Use Single Fill Layer is selected.  In most cases a single background media is selected.  For multiple fill layers, select Use Multiple Fill Layers.
7. This will allow more than one layer to be added.  Caution - too many layers can cause issue and result in undesired behavior.
8. When adding more than one layer, usually a transparency effect will be added so that both layers are visible.
9. When additional layers are added, they will appear in the Layers dialog.  NOTE: The layer at the bottom of the list is the top layer when rendered for projection.
10. Save and test the multi-layer background to ensure the desired result.

Training Videos - A video walk-through of this process may be available.  Depending on your current subscription level, you can go to the GoFishMedia website training page and log in with the same Customer ID and password that you use to log in to the SongShow Plus site or activate SongShow Plus. Review this article for more details.

If you have any questions regarding the use of or issues with Slide Properties Background Layers in SongShow Plus, please contact the Support Team.

(SSP150)