Orientation
The home screen at a glance
Phosphorge is arranged around the rendered image. The center of the window shows the viewer, the left edge holds the layer stack, the lower portion holds playback and the effects tray, and the right side holds the detailed controls for the selected part of the instrument.
Center
Main viewer
Shows the current render. Double-click the image when you want to send the visual output fullscreen.
Left edge
Layers
Stacks video, effects, image, text, and OpenGL layers. Use it to choose what you are editing and to reorder or add layers.
Below the viewer
Playback controls
Handles transport, source navigation, the timeline, and the layer-panel toggle.
Bottom of the main area
Effects tray
Shows the active video effect chain or audio plugin chain. This is where loaded effects sit in order.
Right side
Control panel
Holds the detailed controls for General properties, effects, modulators, randomization, routing, and related tools.
Workflow
Loading media
Loading media is the first practical step in most Phosphorge sessions. A source can be a local video, a folder of videos, a downloaded URL import, a still image, or a live webcam. Once the source is loaded, the main viewer shows what the rest of the visual instrument will process.
The playback controls below the viewer handle video transport: play or pause, timeline position, and moving to the previous or next source when a folder or webcam list is available. If the current input is a webcam, Phosphorge treats it as a live source rather than a timeline-based clip.
File > Load Video...
Load one video file
Choose a single movie file when you want to work with one source. Phosphorge loads it into the video input, shows it in the main viewer, and uses the playback controls below the viewer for play, pause, timeline position, and source navigation.
Command-O
File > Load Folder...
Load a folder of videos
Choose a folder when you want a set of clips available as a performance pool. Phosphorge scans the folder for videos, then the previous and next controls move through that loaded set.
Shift-Command-O
File > Import Video from URL...
Import video from a URL
Paste a supported site URL into the import window, choose an import resolution, then download. When the download completes, click Load Video to use the downloaded file as the current source.
Command-U
File > Load Image...
Load a still image
Choose an image when you want a static source for effects, modulation, or layered composition. Images do not use video transport in the same way as movie files, so use General properties such as Scale, Pan, color, and texture controls to shape the frame.
Shift-Command-I
Right Control Panel > Settings > Input Source > Webcam
Use a webcam input
Switch Input Source from Video File to Webcam when you want a live camera feed. If more than one camera is available, use the Camera picker that appears below the input source control, or refresh the camera list before selecting the device.
Source setup checklist
- Start with the source visible in the main viewer before adding effects.
- Use Video File for loaded clips and Webcam for live camera capture.
- If a URL import fails, check that yt-dlp is installed and try a lower import resolution.
- After loading media, move to General properties for source-level cleanup before building the effect chain.
Location
Layer stack
The Layers panel lives on the left edge of the main viewer area. It is collapsible, and the playback controls include a button for showing or hiding it. Layers display from top to bottom in visual stacking order, so the upper rows in the panel are the layers that sit above lower rows in the render.
Add layers
Use the plus menu at the bottom of the layer panel to add Video, Effects, Image, Text, or OpenGL layers.
Reorder layers
Drag layer rows to change their order. Select a layer when you want the right-side controls to apply to that layer.
Location
General properties
General properties live in the right-side control panel. They are the source-level controls you reach for before a specific effect: playback speed, video position, volume, brightness, exposure, contrast, color balance, mirroring, scale, pan, fidelity, entropy, colorspace, and Skew.
Use General properties when the whole source needs adjustment. If the question is “how should this image behave before effects touch it,” this is the right place.
Open the General properties guideOpenRead the detailed reference for each source-level control, including locks, reset, dice, and General modulation.
Location
Effects
Effects appear in two related places. The effects tray at the bottom of the main area shows the active chain in order. The right-side control panel shows the detailed parameters for effects and related performance controls.
Add effects after the source is readable. Set Mix early, listen to what the effect is doing visually, and build the chain one module at a time so the result stays controllable.
Open the Effects guideOpenLearn how effect chains work, then jump into the individual pages for CRT, VHS, Bloom, Delay, Kaleidoscope, and more.
Workflow
A first session
Step 1
Load or choose a source
Start with one video, camera feed, still image, or generated layer. The viewer should show something clear before you begin shaping the look.
Step 2
Select the layer you want to work on
Use the Layers panel when the project has more than one visual layer. The selected layer decides which source or layer-level controls you are adjusting.
Step 3
Tune the source in General properties
Use General properties for broad setup: speed, position, volume, brightness, contrast, color, scale, pan, image texture, and Skew.
Read moreStep 4
Add effects one at a time
Use the effects area when the source is readable. Add one effect, set Mix, then adjust its most important parameters before adding the next effect.
Read moreStep 5
Add movement when the look is stable
Use modulators and automation after the still look works. Start by moving one visible parameter, then widen the patch only when the result is easy to control.
Step 6
Save the result
When the look is useful, save the preset or session before experimenting further. That gives you a reliable return point.
Next
Where to go next
Use these links when you want to move from orientation into a specific task. Some destinations are full articles now; others point back to the relevant section of this Quick start while the support library grows.
Reference for source-level controls such as Skew, Speed, Position, Brightness, Scale, Pan, Fidelity, Entropy, and Colorspace.
EffectsOpenOverview of effects as playable modules, plus links to each effect page.
Layer stackOpenOverview of layers as ordered sources and processors, plus links to each layer type page.
Source and playbackJumpUse the Source and playback section on this page for now. A dedicated media-loading guide will come later.