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 hanging 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 hanging position. The auto-positioning option provides the necessary control over the automatic association of instruments to hanging 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
Auto positioning	Specifies the parameters for Associating Load Objects with a Hanging Position
Pick radius	Specifies the radius for automatic association when creating and moving load objects
Enable Auto Positioning when moved	Toggles the option to automatically associate load objects with nearby hanging positions. ●    When enabled, a load that is moved automatically associates with the closest hanging position within the Pick radius. ●    When deselected, the load is assigned to a hanging position at insertion, but if moved later, the load’s associated position remains unchanged and a witness line is drawn. If loads are still being added to a complex light plot, enable auto positioning, but decrease the radius value so that existing loads can be moved without losing their association. When loads are only being repositioned, disable the auto-positioning option.
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). ►    Click here for a video tip about this topic (internet access required).
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 degrees extends the line from the front of the instrument, and 0 degrees 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.”
Classes
Label Root Class	Specifies the default root class naming standard for label legends; use the suggested default class, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. All label legend class names will begin with this nomenclature, for ease of organizing the class list
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
Edit Visualizer Data Mapping	Opens the Visualizer Data Mapping dialog box, to configure the mapping when exporting to a lighting console or visualizer; see Mapping Visualizer Data
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.

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Specifying Lighting Device Parameter Display

Mapping Visualizer Data

Workflow: Visualizer Data Exchange

Universe Assignment in Vectorworks Spotlight

Automated Import and Export to Lightwright

Lighting Device Properties

Concept: Record Formats, Reports, and Schedules

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