There are a variety of Effects in PIXERA that can give users creative freedom for how their content is rendered.

However some Effects can be heavy on Performance due to their complex and multiplicative sampling which may lead to Output Dropped Frames.

To avoid this, there are two main tips you can use if running into GPU Usage going over 80% due to an Effect using more usage than desired. In this Article, we will be using the GaussianBlur Blur Effect as an example due to its processing being one of the most demanding for all Effects, and the below changes being easily comparable for their benefits.

Baking in the Effect

If you are using GaussianBlur and you set its properties to a value that is not expected to change for that Layer, then it is best to re-render your content with the Blur baked in as it will allow the Effect to not be needed on the Layer at all.

This can be performed by using the Timeline Export Feature which will render out a video of what a specific Screen or Timeline is currently rendering.

Pros

• There is no additional processing being performed for the Layer as the Effect can be removed after the new content is added. This would then be the most performant option available.
   
• Each video can have its own amount of the Effect applied and baked in, to then live on the same Layer, without the need of keeping in mind saved Keyframes for each Clip of content.

Cons

• Time must be taken to perform this setup, rendering, adding of the new content, and re-setup of the Layer.
  • More time is taken for each Resource that needs a new video made, increasing if a video needs multiple Effect amounts.
     
• Inflexibility to then easily change the Effect amount if needed.
   
• An increase of the amount of content on the drive and in the Resources tab if needing multiple types of the content to be used (Original, Effect with one set of settings, Effect with another set of settings, etc.)

Layer Reference Resource

You may be using a GaussianBlur but need to have the values change in real time.

Layers with normal content in their Clips naturally perform more active processing than a Layer with a Layer Reference Resource Clip. This is due to the Layer Reference Resource just sampling the final texture from the referenced Layer, instead of needing to render the video from the beginning while also then applying the Effect.

Any Effects that sample the Layer heavily, such as all Blur Effects, will then use more perform on the more active normal Layers.

So to improve any heavy Effect usage, it is recommended to use a Layer Reference Resource with the Effects applied vs placing the Effects on the referenced Layer.

Layer Reference Resources also have their own resolution. So you can lower the Resource's resolution to then save on even more performance, at the cost of quality, however some Effects you do not care as much about quality (Blurs).

Pros

• Performance is increased heavily due to the natural efficiency of a Layer Reference Resource.
   
• The original content is left unaffected, allowing other Layer Reference Resources to also use the texture in their own ways.
   
• Flexibility in changing the Effect as needed.

Cons

• Not recommended due to the inherent issues that real time use of heavy Effects, like Blurs, cause and why baking the Blur is safer.
   
• Additional Layers are needed for placing the Layer Reference Resource

PIXERA 26.1 R 1 | 08 June 2026 | CL