Novus ships every visualizer engine in a 2D canvas version and a 3D WebGL version. Understanding the difference helps you pick the right one for your content.
What Makes a 2D Engine
2D engines render on an HTML5 Canvas element. They're the lightest option — they run smoothly on any modern device and produce crisp, flat artwork with strong contrast. Classic spectrum bars, waveforms, and pixel art-style effects all live here.
2D engines also preview and export faster, which matters if you're iterating quickly.
Tips
- →For lyric videos and caption-heavy content, 2D engines keep the background clean so text is always readable.
What Makes a 3D Engine
3D engines use Three.js and WebGL to render geometry, lighting, and depth. They support camera movement, shadows, reflections, and volumetric effects that simply aren't possible on a flat canvas.
3D tunnels, terrain landscapes, 3D particle systems, and constellation maps with depth parallax are all 3D engines. They need a GPU to run smoothly — any modern laptop or desktop handles them fine.
When to Use Each
Use 2D if: you want maximum performance, you're stacking multiple layers, the visualizer is a background element behind text/lyrics, or the aesthetic calls for a flat graphic look.
Use 3D if: the visualizer is the main subject of the video, you want cinematic depth, or you're showcasing electronic/ambient music where immersive visuals complement the vibe.
Tips
- →You can freely switch between 2D and 3D on the template detail page — both versions share the same name and most settings.