Working with Layouts

Layouts define the position and size of viewer tiles on screen. Think of them as templates for your monitoring arrangement.

Built-In Layouts

Laika includes 11 preset layouts optimized for common production scenarios:

• 1x1: Single fullscreen viewer
• 1x2: Side-by-side dual viewer (free layout)
• 2x2: Four-up grid (2 rows × 2 columns)
• 3x3: Nine-up grid (3 rows × 3 columns)
• 4x4: Sixteen-up grid (4 rows × 4 columns)
• 8x4: Massive 32-viewer grid (8 rows × 4 columns)
• Large-over-3: One large viewer on top, three smaller viewers below
• 3-by-Large: Three viewers on left, one large on right
• 6LR+Large: Six viewers on left and right, large center viewer
• 2Large+4x2: Two large viewers on top, 4x2 grid below
• 2-over-1: Two viewers on top, one wide viewer below

Each layout is pre-configured with sensible viewer sizing and spacing for immediate use.

Switching Layouts

Menu → Layout → Select Layout Name

When you switch layouts, Laika preserves source assignments based on viewer numbers. For example:

• Viewer 1 in 2x2 layout → becomes Viewer 1 in 3x3 layout (with same source)
• If the new layout has fewer viewers than the old layout, excess assignments are temporarily hidden (but not lost)
• If the new layout has more viewers than the old layout, new viewers start empty

This lets you switch between layouts without losing your source configuration.

Custom Layouts

Beyond the presets, you can create unlimited custom layouts using Layout Designer.

When to create custom layouts:

• You need specific viewer sizes or positions for your workflow
• You want clock widgets for time display
• You’re building a dedicated monitoring wall with fixed source positions
• Standard layouts don’t match your facility’s requirements

Creating custom layouts:

Menu → File → Layout Designer

This opens the layout design tool in a separate window. See Layout Designer for complete details.

Using custom layouts:

Once saved, custom layouts appear in:

• Menu → Layout (alongside built-in layouts)
• Pads (available when saving/loading pads)

Managing Custom Layouts

Menu → Layout → Manage Custom Layouts

This opens the layout management dialog where you can:

• View all saved custom layouts
• Create new blank layouts (opens Layout Designer)
• Load existing layouts for editing
• Export layouts as JSON files (for backup or sharing with colleagues)
• Import layouts from JSON files
• Delete layouts you no longer need

Built-in layouts cannot be modified or deleted — they’re protected by design.

Layout Best Practices

For Live Production:

• Keep Program and Preview in the largest viewers
• Group similar sources by row (cameras together, graphics together)
• Put critical sources in upper-left positions (most visible)

For Control Rooms:

• Standardize layouts across all operator stations
• Name custom layouts clearly (“Control Room A Standard”, “OB Truck Primary”)
• Save layouts with pad configurations for instant operator onboarding

For Multi-Show Facilities:

• Create custom layouts per show type
• Use pads to switch between shows with layout + sources in one action
• Export layouts as JSON for archival and deployment to other machines

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