Combiner Node

The Combiner is the reverse counterpart of the Splitter: it takes two independent streams (left + right input) and produces a single image containing both views, laid out according to the chosen format.

Crucial for delivery: most stereo broadcast distribution formats use SBS or TB, which are supported by 3D TVs, cinema projectors and streaming platforms.

• Effects Library: Tools > Stereo > Combiner
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > Stereo > Combiner

Splitter

Splits a combined stereo stream into two independent Left / Right streams. The first step of the workflow.

Combiner

Assembles two independent streams into a unified stereo format. The last step of the workflow.

Typical workflow: MediaIn (SBS) → Splitter → [process L and R independently] → Combiner → MediaOut (SBS).

Side-by-Side (SBS)

Left view in the left half, right view in the right half. Half horizontal resolution per eye. The most common 3D broadcast format.

Top-Bottom (TB / Over-Under)

Left view on top, right view at the bottom. Half vertical resolution per eye. Preferred for streaming and some HMDs.

Stacked / Full

Full resolution preserved per eye, the resulting image is double size. For maximum-quality archive delivery.

Interlaced

Even lines from the left, odd lines from the right (or vice versa). The format of passive 3D TVs with a line-by-line polarizing filter.

• Left (orange) - the left view stream.
• Right (green) - the right view stream.

Standard SBS stereo workflow:
MediaIn (SBS) → Splitter ─┬── Left (color, vfx, etc.)
                          │      ↓
                          └── Right (color, vfx, etc.)
                                ↓
                          Combiner (Format = Side-by-Side)
                                ↓
                            MediaOut

Creating native stereo from 2 files:
LoaderL ─┐
         ├── Combiner (Format = Top-Bottom)
LoaderR ─┘    → MediaOut

Multi-format delivery:
                ┌── Combiner (SBS) → Saver SBS
Comp Left ──────┤
                ├── Combiner (TB) → Saver TB
Comp Right ─────┤
                └── Combiner (Stacked) → Saver Stacked

Interlaced test:
Comp L ─┬── Combiner (Format = Interlaced) → Viewer
Comp R ─┘

Format (default: Side-by-Side)

The combining format. Side-by-Side, Top-Bottom, Stacked, Interlaced.

Aspect Compensate (default: On)

Adjusts the aspect ratio to compensate for the horizontal (SBS) or vertical (TB) squeeze. Turn it off to deliver the raw format without correction.

Swap Eyes (default: Off)

Swaps the L/R order in the output. Useful if the target delivery convention is different.

Resize Filter (default: Linear)

The resize filter used when the format squeezes the image. Linear = standard, Cubic / Catmull-Rom for higher quality.

• 3D broadcast delivery (SBS) - the standard format for consumer 3D TVs and 3D cinema projectors.
• Streaming delivery (TB) - some VR / 360 platforms prefer Top-Bottom.
• Archive masters (Stacked) - maximum-quality delivery, full resolution per eye for archives or future reformats.
• End-of-chain compositing - after all the separate L/R work, the Combiner merges everything into a single output for the Saver.
• Multi-format delivery - several Combiners in parallel, each feeding a Saver, to produce SBS + TB + Stacked in a single render.
• Testing on a 3D screen - Combiner in Interlaced mode to test on a passive 3D TV, Combiner in SBS to test on an SBS-capable screen.

• Half-resolution SBS = standard - for broadcast / web. Full resolution is only kept in Stacked mode.
• Aspect Compensate depending on the deliverable - on if you want a visually correct aspect ratio, off if the downstream chain handles the correction itself.
• Check the target L/R convention - some formats store left first, others right first. Confirm with the delivery spec, otherwise use Swap Eyes to fix it.
• A compatible Saver - the downstream Saver must accept the output format (e.g. MP4 H.264 SBS for broadcast).
• Cache the L and R chains - processing L and R independently doubles the computation. Cache the heavy nodes (TNR, Optical Flow) on each branch to speed things up.
• L/R color consistency - make sure the color corrections are exactly identical on both views, otherwise you get retinal rivalry / eye strain. Use a shared Color Corrector instance if possible.
• For VR 360, specific formats (Equirectangular SBS, Cubemap) - the Combiner handles some of them, otherwise use the dedicated VR nodes.