FAQ · Virtual.ink docs

1 — License

#	Question	Answer
1.1	What's the difference between the license tiers?	Mainly resolution (720p/1080p/4K), recording duration, and access to render/branding, naming, backup, and network-wide device access. See the License types category for the full breakdown.
1.2	Where do I check which license I'm running?	Open Settings, your current license tier is shown there.
1.3	Does Starter expire?	Starter is a free one-year entry tier.
1.4	Can I use a second display or another browser station on Basic?	Second-display monitor mode is available on Basic, but browser access to Virtual.ink from another device on the network requires Pro or Pulse.

2 — Capture & output

#	Question	Answer
2.1	What's the difference between the recording quality presets?	Efficient, Standard, High, and Maximum trade file size for quality, Efficient uses a higher CRF for smaller files, Maximum is near-lossless.
2.2	Why would I use ProRes instead of H.264?	ProRes 422 HQ (Pro/Pulse only) is better suited for professional post-production editing in Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. Files are significantly larger.
2.3	What's the difference between continuous and decay painting modes?	Continuous keeps the trail on screen until reset. Decay lets the trail fade out over time on its own.
2.4	Can I brand my output automatically?	Yes, from Basic and up. Save a watermark, intro/outro, and soundtrack as a render recipe and reuse it on every capture.
2.5	Where do backups get written?	Configure a backup destination from the Backup settings (Pro/Pulse). Captures are copied there automatically.
2.6	My camera isn't on the supported camera list. Can it still work?	It needs to output clean HDMI (no overlays). Check your camera's manual, most cameras released after 2021 can do this. See the Gear category for the full hardware checklist.
2.7	How can I save my videos?	For short clips under 30 seconds, use the record hotkey ("b" by default) and instant replay, or set a predefined recording time from Dashboard / Actions. For longer recordings, save externally with an HDMI recorder like an Atomos Ninja V, or a second computer running OBS. See Resolution, duration & recording quality for the full walkthrough.
2.8	How can I save individual picture frames?	Use the save hotkey ("e" by default) or the Save button at the bottom of the live view. Frames saved while recording land in the current session folder, otherwise a new folder is created each time.
2.9	Where can I find my saved images and videos?	From the dashboard, click the folder icon in Quickview (or ctrl-shift-e). From Live, click the folder icon on the replay video. On disk: `c:\users\%userprofile%\xangle\virtualink\datasets`.
2.10	What type of wireless remote control can I use?	A gamepad with a dedicated dongle plus a USB extension, or a Kokuyo Ela-fp1 finger trigger for hands-free use. See the Gear category for links.
2.11	Do I need internet to run Virtual.ink?	Only for three things: running on the Starter tier, validating your license at launch, and sharing videos from the sharing screen. The sharing station still works offline, reconnect later to clear the queue.
2.12	Why do my light painting trails sometimes have gaps?	Your camera's rolling shutter has a short blanking interval between frames where nothing is exposed. Light movement during that interval is never captured, faster movement means wider gaps. It's a sensor limitation, not a software bug. See Live effects and visual modes for details.