prism docs · Hands-on lessons · Map a real box

Map a real box

Turn a box into three different illuminated faces. The example teaches the controls; the final fit must be made on your own physical object.

Download the example project (.pmproj). Import it from the studio home page. It is a practice starting point; align it to your own space before projecting.

1 · Place a box in the light

Use a matte light-coloured box with its front, side and top visible to the projector. Measure width, height and depth if possible. In Design, choose Add → 3D object → Box, or select the box supplied in the example. Set its size in the object card. Move, resize and rotate it until the projected shape is roughly in place.

2 · Pin the real corners

  1. Choose Align to the real object.
  2. Drag projected corner handles onto their matching physical corners. Pin at least four, and aim for six or seven across at least two faces.
  3. Look for short error lines and a low alignment error. Check a suspicious long line before adding more pins.
  4. When the fit is good, choose Lock alignment. Fine-tune only the remaining small edge differences.
Select the example box, switch to Align and inspect its corner handles. This recording demonstrates the UI, not a measured physical calibration. Recorded in the desktop simulator with synthetic example content; no private room or provider output is shown.

3 · Give each face its own look

Select an individual face in the Surfaces list and apply a look. Keep Map content → Each face for separate textures, or try Wrap around for one continuous picture across the sides. An object cannot receive light on a face the projector cannot reach. The example uses different built-in patterns on its faces.

4 · Check and save

Inspect edges on the actual box, run the pre-show check and export. Moving the projector or box changes the fit; realign after moving either. For lens estimation, pin offsets and several outputs, see 3D objects.

Reviewed for prism 2026.09.29.1 · 29 September 2026. Release notes.