> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/set-up-your-production/how-it-fits-your-production.md).

# Choose how Captivate fits your production

Before you configure any output, decide how Captivate connects to the rest of your system. That decision drives your project’s **Alpha Key** setting, your project format, and which **Program Out** you use. This page helps you place Captivate; the scenario pages it links to explain each setup in detail.

## The core question: where is the final image composited?

Almost every setup is one of three roles, and the role decides your Alpha Key setting:

* **Graphics overlay source** — another device or application composites your graphics over video. Captivate sends keyed graphics; turn **Alpha Key** on.
* **Downstream keyer** — a switcher has already produced its program, and graphics are added on top of it, either by SDI hardware or by bringing the program into Captivate. The Alpha Key setting depends on which way you do it.
* **Final renderer** — Captivate produces the finished frame, ready to stream, record, or display. Turn **Alpha Key** off.

You set Alpha Key itself in [Set the project format](/set-up-your-production/set-up-your-project.md).

## Choose your production setup

If Captivate feeds another production system, pick the page for your system in [Production setup scenarios](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7.md):

* **Software switchers** — [vMix](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7/use-with-vmix.md), plus TriCaster and OBS (see [Output graphics to a TriCaster](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index/output-graphics-to-tricaster.md) and [Output graphics to OBS Studio](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index/output-graphics-to-obs.md)).
* **Hardware switchers** — [an HDMI switcher](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7/use-with-an-hdmi-switcher.md), [ATEM](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7/use-with-atem.md), or [an SDI broadcast switcher](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7/use-with-an-sdi-broadcast-switcher.md).
* **Network transport** — [NDI](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index/output-graphics-with-ndi.md) or [OMT](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index/output-graphics-with-omt.md).

If Captivate produces the finished show, you’re sending or capturing a result — a stream, a video call, a virtual webcam, or files. See [Streaming & delivery](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6.md).

## Primary output and additional sends

Keep two ideas separate:

* The **primary output** is how Captivate joins the production system — Display, SDI, NDI, OMT, TriCaster, or the OBS plugin. This is where project format and Alpha Key matter.
* **Additional sends** distribute, stream, record, or republish the result, and can run alongside the primary output — streaming, a virtual webcam, recording, an Image Sequence, or a Watch Folder.

A graphics contributor usually has just a primary output; a full production often adds several sends at once.

## At a glance

| Your setup                   | Captivate’s role             | Primary output                            | Alpha Key |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------- |
| Software switcher (vMix)     | Graphics overlay source      | NDI or OMT                                | On        |
| HDMI switcher (ATEM, Roland) | Graphics overlay source      | Display, key-color background             | On        |
| SDI broadcast switcher       | Graphics overlay source      | SDI key + fill                            | On        |
| Downstream keyer             | Adds graphics over a program | SDI, or program in and finished frame out | Varies    |
| Full production in Captivate | Final renderer               | A stream or a display                     | Off       |
| Video call (Zoom, Teams)     | Final renderer               | Direct send, or Virtual Webcam            | Off       |
| File or CG system            | Varies                       | Image Sequence or Watch Folder            | As needed |

Any of these can add streaming, recording, a virtual webcam, or file output alongside its primary output — see [Streaming & delivery](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6.md).

## After you choose

1. Set the project’s format and Alpha Key for your role — [Set the project format](/set-up-your-production/set-up-your-project.md).
2. Configure the primary output — [Set up graphics output](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index.md).
3. Add any additional sends — [Streaming & delivery](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6.md).
4. Follow the scenario page for your setup — [Production setup scenarios](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7.md).

## Related

* [Production setup scenarios](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-7.md) — choose the page for your production system.
* [Set the project format](/set-up-your-production/set-up-your-project.md) — the Alpha and format settings this choice drives.
* [Set up graphics output](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index.md) — Display, SDI, NDI, OMT, TriCaster, and OBS.
* [Switcher integrations](/solution-recipes/chapter-index.md) — end-to-end recipes for specific switchers.


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