Layer Types
This page is a reference for every layer type Chromatics 4 provides. Layers live on the Mappings tab, and each one can be attached to a base, dynamic, or effect role depending on what it does.
If you haven't yet, read Mappings first for the big picture of how layers fit together.
Base Layers
The base layer sits under everything else. Only one is active per device at a time. Pick whichever background behaviour fits the mood you want.
Static
Displays a single solid colour across the entire device. Great as a clean foundation for dynamic layers to sit on top of.
Reactive Weather
Shows a colour (and optionally an animation) that matches the current weather in your zone. Pairs well with the Reactive Weather effect toggle on the Effects tab.
Battle Stance
Changes colour depending on whether your character is in combat.
Job Classes
Changes colour depending on your character's current job or class.
Screen Capture (Beta)
Samples the colours of the Final Fantasy XIV game window and spreads them across your devices - an ambient-lighting style effect that matches what's on screen.
Audio Visualizer (Beta)
Turns your keyboard (or any other grid-capable device) into a spectrum analyser. Reacts to your Windows audio output, so game music and sound effects drive the animation. See below for details.
Dynamic Layers
Dynamic layers sit between the base layer and the effect layer. You can add as many as you like, each covering whichever keys or LEDs you choose.
Highlight
Lights the layer's selected keys with a highlight colour. Useful for marking a zone of your keyboard - your WASD cluster, for example.
Keybinds
Lights each selected key based on whether the ability bound to it is available, on cooldown, or unassigned. Keyboard devices only.
Enmity Tracker
Shows your current aggro / enmity level on your target. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Target HP
Shows your current target's HP as a bar across the selected keys. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Target Castbar
Shows your target's cast progress in real time. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
HP Tracker
Shows your character's HP across the selected keys. Switches to the critical colour below a configurable threshold (default 20%). Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
MP Tracker
Shows your character's MP, CP, or GP depending on your job. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Job Gauge A
Your primary job gauge (for example, a tank's aggro stance gauge or a healer's lily gauge). Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Job Gauge B
A secondary job gauge if the job has one. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Job Gauge C
A tertiary job gauge for the jobs that have three. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Experience Tracker
Shows your current experience progress towards the next level. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Battle Stance
Colours the selected keys based on whether you're in combat.
Castbar
Shows your own cast progress in real time. Modes: Interpolate, Fade.
Job Classes Highlight
Colours the selected keys based on your current job or class.
Reactive Weather Highlight
Colours the selected keys based on the current weather in your zone.
Effect Layer
The effect layer is the top layer of every device. It's used by flash-style effects that need to override everything else for a moment - the Duty Finder Bell, Damage Flash, and so on.
You don't assign a function to the effect layer directly; instead you turn the corresponding effects on or off on the Effects tab.
Audio Visualizer
The Audio Visualizer is a base layer, not an effect. To turn it on, open the Mappings tab, set your device's base layer type to Audio Visualizer (Beta), and you're done.
It works by listening to whatever is currently playing through your Windows default audio output - so if FFXIV audio goes through that device, the music and sound effects drive the animation. Background music in a dungeon will light up your keyboard rhythmically; a loud boss ability will pulse the display.
Colours for the visualizer live in the Audio Visualizer category in the Palette tab:
Base - the dim background colour.
Low - bass frequencies.
Mid - mid frequencies.
High - treble frequencies.
Because the visualizer uses the Windows default output, any audio playing on your PC affects it - not just FFXIV. A YouTube video or Discord call will also move the bars.
Screen Capture (Beta)
Screen Capture is another base layer. When active, Chromatics samples colours from the FFXIV game window and paints a matching ambient gradient across your devices - a soft, always-on-theme backdrop that responds to what's on screen.
Screen Capture only samples the FFXIV window, so other applications won't affect it.
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