First Launch

When you launch ORAPHIM for the first time, the software performs several initialization tasks to ensure your hardware is recognized and your workspace is set up correctly.

The Welcome Screen

Upon opening ORAPHIM, you will be greeted by the Project Manager window. Before you dive into creating a project, ORAPHIM may present a quick setup wizard.

1. Hardware Check

ORAPHIM quickly scans your system to detect available GPUs, CPU cores, and RAM. If your GPU drivers are significantly out of date, a warning may appear advising you to update them for optimal stability.

2. Initial Database Setup

Unlike file-based applications (like Premiere Pro), ORAPHIM uses a robust database system to track your projects. This prevents data loss and allows for massive scalability and multi-user collaboration.

On first launch, ORAPHIM automatically creates a Local Database.

  • By default on Windows, this is stored in C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\ORAPHIM\Project Database\.
  • On macOS, it resides in ~/Library/Application Support/ORAPHIM/Project Database/.

You don't need to manage this folder directly. The Project Manager window serves as your interface to all projects within this database.

3. Application Preferences

Before starting your first project, it is highly recommended to configure a few basic preferences. Click ORAPHIM > Preferences (macOS) or Edit > Preferences (Windows).

  • Memory and GPU: Under the System tab, verify that ORAPHIM has recognized your GPU and that the processing mode (Vulkan, Metal, or CUDA) is correctly selected. Allocate at least 75% of your system RAM to ORAPHIM for optimal node graph performance.
  • Media Storage: Under the Media Storage tab, add the root directory of your fastest hard drive (preferably an NVMe SSD). This tells ORAPHIM where it should save temporary render cache and gallery stills. The first drive in this list becomes the default cache location.

Navigating the Project Manager

The Project Manager is the gateway to your work.

  • You can create folders to organize your projects.
  • You can connect to remote Network Databases for team collaboration.
  • You can back up and restore project archives.

To proceed, you'll need to create a project. Head over to the Ui Overview to learn the layout, or jump straight into Create Project.