1. A method operational on a transmitter device for projecting a composite code mask, comprising: obtaining a composite code mask on a tangible medium, the composite code mask including a code layer combined with a carrier layer, wherein the code layer including uniquely identifiable spatially-coded codewords defined by a plurality of symbols, the carrier layer independently ascertainable and distinct from the code layer and including a plurality of reference objects that are robust to distortion upon projection, and at least one of the code layer and carrier layer are pre-shaped by a synthetic point spread function prior to projection; and projecting, from the transmitter device, at least a portion of the composite code mask onto a target object to help a receiver ascertain depth information for the target object with a single projection of the composite code mask.