Ok, so you want to start projection mapping…? The good news is that there are a lot of programs out there that will allow you to do so, but before you put the time in to learning any of them, take a quick peek at my thoughts below or just play around in our and see for yourself. These tools are just the start and if you learn one, then the next step is to start making content for your mappings. Budget: Mac vs PC vs Linux. While this question may seem basic to answer, your choice here could make the difference in the long run. For Mac OSX there are a number of easy to use applications, but the drawback in learning them is hardware costs and lack of user upgradability. That being said, I personally still use a Mac for projection mapping, but that may change soon. Next up, Linux, if you are running this type of setup, at this current point in time the only piece of projection mapping software that I am aware of is, , but that being said, LPMT is based off of tool for creative coding. Since OpenFrameworks is code based, if want to program your own software, write your own scripting, then the sky is the limit and there are more options out there than I am willing to get into. Lastly coding is a small word for such large possibilities, , , etc. If you can program you can choose any of the above operating systems, get the performance you are looking for and even reduce costs, but the trade here is time. Either way the choice is yours. Note: While there is and Android development along with and other specializes environments I am not going to focus on them in this article. Additionally, while they are not in the list below check out , , , , and. As for Projection Mapping software, here are my rankings with reasons below: Note: these are my person opinions and not those of PMC. MAC 1: is simple and powerful, it is a stand alone Projection Mapping software that is constantly being updated based on user feedback, it also hosts a load of other features. And due to its focus as a stand alone mapping software it currently sits at 1 in the Mac category for performance, simplicity, and price. Arkaos GrandVJ XT 5: , rated 5th but still on the list because it is actually perfect for almost anyone looking to start, why? While the others will provide you with a demo, VPT 7 is ready to be learned. PC 1: , and if it was available natively for the mac than it would be 1 there too; however, there is definitely going to be a learning curve, a few months for most new comers and while it is node based you are going to want to learn some code with it as well. While it is not as easy to master as Madmapper, VPT, or Resolume, it has quickly become the backend for most of the professional companies out there. Get good enough with Touch Designer and you may even find a career in doing so. It packs all the features that you need to get started and it is FREE. The GUI is not as intuitive as some others, but there are enough tutorials floating around to easily get you started. There are many companies out there and we are constantly updating our tools section, so click to stay updated. I hope you found this article helpful in making your decision, as the software changes, so will this list, keep checking out our to stay up to date on the latest.