Scenes

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Scenes let you create multiple layouts within a single Ripple. Each scene can have its own background image or video, and elements can be assigned to appear in specific scenes. Think of scenes as slides in a presentation or rooms within a space.

How Scenes Work

Every Ripple has at least one scene. One scene is always marked as the Start scene — this is what participants see when they first join. During a live session, the host (or actions) can switch between scenes, instantly changing the layout and background.

Key points:

  • Each scene has its own background (image or video)
  • Elements can belong to one scene, multiple scenes, or all scenes (global)
  • Only one scene is active at a time
  • Drops (participant seats) persist across scene switches — participants stay seated

Creating Scenes

In the Structure panel (right side), open the Scenes tab:

  1. Click Add Scene
  2. Give it a name (e.g., "Welcome", "Workshop", "Break Room")
  3. Upload a background image or video

Scene Backgrounds

Each scene can have:

  • Background image — JPEG, PNG, WebP, or GIF
  • Background video — plays on loop, muted by default
  • Background colour — a solid colour fallback
  • No background — transparent, showing only elements

For video backgrounds, you can configure whether the video is muted and whether it loops.

Assigning Elements to Scenes

When you create or select an element, you can choose which scenes it appears in:

  • Global (no scene assignment) — the element is visible in every scene
  • Specific scenes — the element only appears when one of its assigned scenes is active

Global elements are useful for persistent navigation buttons, logos, or Drops that should always be visible.

Reordering and Deleting Scenes

  • Reorder scenes by dragging them in the Scenes list
  • Delete a scene to remove it and any scene-specific elements
  • The Start scene cannot be deleted — it is the entry point for participants

You can change which scene is the Start scene at any time.

Switching Scenes

There are several ways to switch scenes during a live session:

  • Host controls — the facilitator can switch scenes from the runtime controls
  • Actions — attach a "change scene" action to any clickable element (e.g., a "Next" button)
  • Scene activation actions — trigger actions automatically when a scene becomes active

Scene-Level Actions

Scenes can have their own actions, triggered by:

  • Click — when a participant clicks the scene background
  • Activation — when the scene becomes active (useful for playing sounds, resetting variables, or showing welcome messages)

Scene Limits

The number of scenes you can create depends on your plan. Each scene adds to the overall complexity of your Ripple, so keep your scene count manageable for the best experience.

Tips

  • Use scenes for distinct moments: a welcome screen, the main activity, a wrap-up
  • Put navigation buttons (next/previous) as global elements so they appear on every scene
  • Use scene activation actions to play background music or reset state when entering a scene
  • Video backgrounds create an immersive atmosphere but use more bandwidth — use them sparingly