Spotlight Setup

Lighting Device Setup

The options on the Lighting Device tab enable automatic positioning behavior, assign classes, and specify attributes of the lighting devices in the file. The parameters selected can have a powerful global effect on all the devices, both existing and new.

Lighting instruments can be automatically associated with a lighting position, both at insertion and when an existing instrument is moved on the light plot. At various times during the design work, particularly in the later stages, instruments may need to be moved slightly, but they should not be accidentally associated with a different nearby lighting position. The auto-positioning option provides the necessary control over the automatic association of instruments to lighting positions.

Class and color assignments for lighting instruments allow the designer to:

●    Assign the lighting instruments to a specific class, or to one or more classes determined by an instrument parameter

●    Control the color of lighting instruments, or parts of instruments, by gel color or from the Attributes palette

●    Control the wireframe light beams, angles, and centerline of lighting instruments by class

●    Control the label legend container appearance by class

●    Control the appearance and visibility of lighting instruments in viewports, when using viewport overrides

The Object Info palette display of lighting device parameters can also be set from this tab.

To specify lighting device preferences:

1. Select File > Document Settings > Spotlight Preferences.

The Spotlight Preferences dialog box opens. Click the Lighting Device tab.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Enable lighting instrument auto positioning	Toggles the option to automatically associate lighting instruments with nearby lighting positions. When enabled, the instrument automatically associates with the closest lighting position within the Pick radius. When disabled, the instrument is assigned to a lighting position at insertion, but if moved later, the instrument’s associated position remains unchanged. If instruments are still being added to a complex light plot, enable auto positioning, but decrease the radius value so that existing instruments can be moved without losing their pipe association. When instruments are only being repositioned, disable the auto-positioning option.
Pick radius	When auto positioning is enabled, specifies the radius for automatic association
Modify lighting instrument color	Sets color options for the lighting instrument; select the option to enable automatic color options, or deselect the option to turn off automatic color control (the symbol specifies the instrument color)
Lighting instrument color set by: Lighting instrument	The Attributes palette controls the color of the lighting instrument geometry. Attributes can be set directly from the palette for selected lighting instrument or controlled by class (see Setting Class Attributes).
Lighting instrument color set by: Color field	The color specified in the lighting instrument’s Color parameter also controls the appearance of the lighting instrument geometry
Use color field for the fill color	Applies the Color parameter value to the fill color of the lighting instrument
Use color field for the pen color	Applies the Color parameter value to the pen color of the lighting instrument
Modify only geometry in the class	Modifies the color of lighting instruments components within the selected class; select <All> to modify all the geometry, select the class from the current list of classes, or select New to create a new class
Label legend container	Controls the appearance of the label legend container ●    Use symbol attributes: uses the container symbol definition to specify the attributes ●    Use label attributes: matches the attributes of the container to the attributes of the label legend text within the container ●    Use lighting instrument attributes: matches the attributes of the container to the attributes of the instrument
Automatically Flip Front & Back Legend Text	Mirrors the label legend along the X axis of all lighting instruments
Automatically Flip Left & Right Legend Text	Mirrors the label legend along the Y axis of all lighting instruments
Automatically Rotate 2D to Focus Point	Orients the 2D geometry of every lighting device towards its focus point when the instrument has been focused
Use Active Class for Lighting Device Insertion	At insertion, places the lighting device into the active class rather than into the default class defined by the symbol definition. Select this option when you prefer not to use the symbol’s default class.
Default Focus Tilt Angle	Specifies the default angle of lighting devices in 3D views when they are not focused; the standard is to hang unfocused lights pointing down at 0 (zero) degrees
Default Insertion Angle	Specifies the default angle of the extension line when lighting devices are inserted. This is a global setting for this machine and user, not a document setting. A setting of 90° extends the line from the front of the instrument, and 0° extends it from the right side of the instrument.
Automatically assign the classes of all lighting instruments	Sets class options for lighting devices; select the option to enable automatic classing options or deselect the option to turn off automatic class assignment. When this option is selected, Use Active Class for Lighting Device Insertion does not apply since classes are automatically assigned.
Use existing document class	Places all instruments in the selected class; select the class from the current list of classes or select New to create a new class
Use value of the field	Places all lighting instruments into a class that is determined by the value of an instrument parameter; select one of the instrument parameters from the list. For example, the value of the field User Field 2 could determine the class of each lighting instrument; instruments whose User Field 2 value is set to “FOH” will automatically be placed into a class together for automated appearance and visibility control. If the value of a particular field is not set (blank) for a lighting instrument, the instrument remains in the current class.
Class name	Specifies class naming options when the lighting instrument classes are determined by field value name; select a Prefix or Suffix and then enter the prefix or suffix name. Using a dash will nest the classes. For example, using a prefix of Fixtures- means that when a lighting instrument contains a value of Rental for User Field 2, the instrument is placed in a class named “Fixtures-Rental.”
Show beam angle	Draws the beam angle for all lighting instruments with Draw Beam selected
Beam angle class	Controls the class of the wireframe representation of the beam angle. To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Lighting instrument Class> to place the beam angle attributes in the same class as the instrument.
Show field angle	Draws the field angle for all lighting instruments with Draw Beam selected
Field angle class	Controls the class of the wireframe representation of the field angle. To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Lighting instrument Class> to place the field angle attributes in the same class as the instrument.
Show centerline	Draws the centerline for all lighting instruments with Draw Beam selected
Centerline class	Controls the class of the wireframe representation of the centerline. To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Lighting instrument Class> to place the centerline attributes in the same class as the instrument.
Additional Default Records	Opens the Additional Default Records dialog box, to select additional records with default data for lighting devices. Only applicable records display for selection. Select one or more record formats from those present in the file; a check mark in the Use column indicates that the default data in the record will be included. At insertion or replacement, the lighting device processes the additional record. If a match is found for a record field name, the default data from the record attached to the symbol applies to that field and displays in the Object Info palette.
Lighting Device Parameters	Opens the Lighting Device Parameters dialog box, to set lighting device parameter display options; see Specifying Lighting Device Parameter Display
Save as default	Saves the current Spotlight preferences as the default; the default settings saved include those on the Universe and Lightwright tab

2. Specify the auto-positioning and appearance settings for the file’s lighting devices.

Click Save as default to use the lighting device and other Spotlight settings for other files created with the Vectorworks Spotlight product.

3. Click OK.

Class setting changes require confirmation before regenerating the lighting devices.

Specifying Lighting Device Parameter Display

The lighting device parameters that display on the Shape tab of the Object Info palette can be customized. The customized parameters apply to all lighting devices in the file, and parameter sets can be saved.

To specify lighting device parameters:

1. Select File > Document Settings > Spotlight Preferences.

2. The Spotlight Preferences dialog box opens. Click the Lighting Device tab.

3. Click Lighting Device Parameters.

The Lighting Device Parameters dialog box opens. From this dialog box, Object Info palette parameters for lighting devices can be added, renamed, deleted, removed from display, and ordered. Parameter sets can be saved and managed.

Default lighting device parameters cannot be deleted.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Settings list	Select a saved set of parameters to apply or edit. Once a saved set has been edited, <customized> displays in the list; click Save to save the custom set. Select <Default> to apply the standard set for the Vectorworks Spotlight program.
Save	Opens the Save Settings dialog box; enter the name for the new saved set. Enter the same name as a previously saved set to overwrite the set.
Manage	Opens the Saved Settings dialog box; select the set of saved parameters to rename or delete. Click OK to return to the Lighting Device Parameters dialog box.
Parameter list	Lists the parameters, in order, that will display on the Shape Tab of the Object Info palette. Only items with a check mark in the Show in Shape Pane column will display on the Object Info palette. To change the order of a parameter, click and drag within the # column.
New	Opens the Edit Field dialog box, to add a custom parameter to the list. Enter the name of the new parameter, and select its type and default value, if any (see Creating Record Formats). Click OK to return to the Lighting Device Parameters dialog box. To create a pop-up list of pre-defined parameter options, select the Type Pop-up and click Choices to open the Edit Choices dialog box. List the options and click OK.
Edit	Opens the Edit Field dialog box, to edit the currently selected parameter name, type, and default value.
Remove	Deletes the currently selected parameter from the set

4. If settings have been changed, save the current settings as a set by clicking Save; <customized> is not considered as a saved set, though it applies to the current file.

5. Click OK to return to the Spotlight Preferences dialog box. The specified parameter display set applies to the current file.

Regardless of whether Save as default is clicked in the Spotlight Preferences dialog box, the last selected saved set of parameters is in effect, even when creating a new file. New files created in Vectorworks Spotlight always default to the last saved parameter set.

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Universe Assignment in Vectorworks Spotlight

Automated Import and Export to Lightwright

Lighting Device Properties

Record Formats

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