Creating a Lighting Instrument Symbol Creating a Lighting Instrument Symbol Vectorworks Spotlight provides hundreds of lighting symbols; however, it is not necessary to use only these pre-defined symbols. Create a Spotlight instrument out of a currently selected symbol—once the symbol is converted to an instrument, the instrument functionality is present and the label legend is attached.
See Lighting Instrument Specifications for more information and restrictions on using custom symbols for lighting instruments, and information on attaching the Light Info Record.
To create a lighting instrument:
1. Convert the object to a symbol by selecting Modify > Create Symbol.
Symbols can have a separate 2D and 3D representation.The lighting instrument object automatically uses the appropriate portion of the symbol. At a minimum, the symbol must have at least a 2D component; it also requires a 3D component to display correctly in 3D views. For information on symbols, see Creating New Symbols.
2. Select the symbol or symbols.
3. Select Spotlight > Object Conversion > Convert to Instrument.
The selected symbol is converted into a lighting instrument that remains inserted in the drawing. The active label legend, if any, is applied to the instrument(s); see Using the Label Legend Manager for more information. The instrument properties can be changed through the Object Info palette; some of the instrument parameters may need to be entered.
If creating multi-circuit instruments, first create each instrument’s symbol (see Multi-circuit Instrument Specifications). Then insert the multi-circuit instruments as described in Instrument and Accessory Specifications.
Select the instrument from the Resource Browser as an active symbol definition and use the Lighting Instrument tool to insert again if required (see Inserting Instruments).
Any instrument that has been inserted from a library or converted from a symbol can be saved as a red symbol. Its appropriate default values are retained, and when inserted from the Resource Browser, the instrument picks up the lighting position and active label legend. For more information on red symbols, see Symbol Types.
To create a lighting instrument resource with pre-defined parameters:
1. Select a current instrument and ensure that all its parameters have been specified as desired.
In the Object Info palette, set the Use Legend parameter to None and delete the lighting position (Position parameter). Set the Z height of the instrument to 0.
Set a label legend name to use a specific label legend, rather than the current one, upon insertion. If the label legend is not in the file at the time of symbol insertion, it is automatically imported.
2. With the instrument selected, select Modify > Create Symbol.
The Create Symbol dialog box opens. Provide a name for the new symbol. For information on symbols, see Creating New Symbols.
3. Select Convert to Plug-in Object, and then click OK.
4. Click OK to create the symbol.
If the Move dialog box opens, specify the location of the resource.
5. The lighting symbol is saved in the Resource Browser as a red symbol. When the symbol is inserted, it functions as a plug-in object and the saved parameters are retained.
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