Lighting device properties

XYZ/IJK Location/Rotation

Changes the lighting device’s location and rotation; the labels rotate with the lighting device unless Right-Reading is selected in the Label Legend Manager (see Formatting the label legend layout). In a 3D view, if a lighting device is focused, the lighting device rotates automatically to point at the focus.

A lighting device and its accessories move and rotate together. For this reason, the position and orientation of an accessory relative to its associated lighting device cannot be changed from the lighting device Object Info palette. To adjust the accessory position in 2D and 3D views, use Accessory edit mode instead.

Edit

Opens the Lighting Device dialog box, to edit the parameters of one or more lighting devices; see Changing device properties

Edit Accessories

Opens the accessory edit mode, to edit accessories in 2D and 3D views; see Accessory edit mode

Device Type

Displays the type of object that is selected. Normally, lighting device are Light device types (Moving Light, Device, Practical, SFX, Power, and Other are also considered Light types). Accessories such as color frames, barn doors, and top hats are Static Accessory types. Accessories that require a control channel, such as color scrollers, are Accessory types.

Instrument Type

Displays the specific type of lighting device

Edit Cell

(multi-cell lighting devices only)

Select which cell displays its parameters, or select <All> to display the parameters of all cells in the device. <Multiple values> displays for parameters that are not identical for all cells.

The cells are listed by their index number - color - channel.

Edit Accessory

(accessories required)

Choose whether the Object Info palette displays the lighting device or accessory parameters, and select which accessories display their parameters. The Device Type indicates whether lighting device or accessory parameters are being edited.

For multi-cell lighting devices, the options depend on the Edit Cell selection. If all cells are selected, all or none of the device’s accessories can be edited. If a single cell is selected, the accessories specific to that cell can be edited.

<None>: Displays the parameters of the lighting device, not its accessories.

<All>: Displays the parameters of all the attached accessories. <Multiple values> displays for parameters that are not identical for all accessories.

Accessory: Displays the parameters of the specified accessory. The accessories are listed by their index number - accessory symbol name.

Fixture Mode

Specifies the Vision fixture mode of the lighting device, for export to the Vision program. The DMX Footprint is set automatically by the selected mode and cannot be edited; however, if a GDTF Fixture Mode is specified too, this mode will set the DMX Footprint instead.

For custom or generic lighting devices, select Other, and select a suitable mode from the Vision Fixture Mode dialog box. See Selecting a fixture mode.

GDTF Fixture

Specifies the GDTF fixture mode of the lighting device, for export to a lighting console or visualizer. The DMX Footprint is set automatically by the selected mode and cannot be edited.

For custom or generic lighting devices, select Other, and select a suitable mode from the GDTF Fixture Mode dialog box. See Selecting a fixture mode.

After you select a GDTF fixture mode, this parameter displays the GDTF fixture name.

See Workflow: Visualizer data exchange for information about .gdtf files.

GDTF Fixture Mode

Displays the selected GDTF fixture mode

Wattage

Indicates the power consumed by the lighting device

Purpose

Specifies the purpose of the lighting device

Position

Displays the name of the associated rigging object, if the lighting device is attached. Optionally, attach this object to a rigging object, or change the rigging object association, by entering the Position Name of the rigging object. Delete the name to break the association.

For other methods to attach loads, see Making the attachment.

Unit Number

Identifies the lighting device location on the hanging position or rigging object

Color

Specifies the gel color number according to manufacturer code, RGB values, color name from the file, or web (hex) codes; when the light associated with the lighting device is turned on, Color specifies the actual light color. Use + between color numbers to indicate combinations of two or more colors. See Lighting device color.

The color setting can affect the display of the lighting device color, depending on the Spotlight preferences; see Spotlight preferences: Lighting Devices: Classes and Color pane.

Dimmer

Specifies the dimmer number of the lighting device

Absolute Address

Specifies the address of the lighting device without a universe indicator; for example, universe 2/address 1 is absolute address 513.

To unpatch the lighting device, set this value to 0 (zero) to remove the universe, address, and DMX address information, or unpatch the lighting device from the Patch dialog box; see DMX patching.

In files created prior to version 2020, this field may also display as User Address to ensure compatibility.

Channel

Specifies the channel number, or channel “name,” of the lighting device.

This name identifies the device when power patching; see Power patching the electrical system. 

Universe/Address

Specifies the universe and address, separated by a front slash separator; the separator can be changed as described in Spotlight preferences: Lighting Devices: Parameters pane

Universe

Specifies the universe assigned to the lighting device; see Spotlight preferences: Universes pane

DMX Address

Specifies the DMX address assigned to the lighting device; see Spotlight preferences: Universes pane.

To unpatch the lighting device, set this value to 0 (zero) to remove the universe, address, and DMX address information, or unpatch the lighting device from the Patch dialog box; see DMX patching.

In files created prior to version 2020, this field may also display as User U Address to ensure compatibility.

DMX Footprint

Displays the number of control channels used by the lighting device. If the lighting device has a specified Fixture Mode or GDTF Fixture Mode, the number of channels is automatically assigned.

If fixture modes are specified for both Vision and GDTF, the GDTF mode sets the number of channels.

Circuit Number

Indicates the circuit number where the lighting device is plugged in

Circuit Name

Specifies the name of bundled circuit group

System

Specifies the letter describing the control system (Lightwright-compatible parameter)

User Field 1–6

Provides user-defined fields; use these extra fields to keep track of any desired data (see Spotlight preferences: Lighting Devices: Parameters pane)

Voltage

Specifies the voltage of the lighting device

Breaker ID

Provides the power distribution identifier of the lighting device

Time

Approximates the time required to work with the device, useful in reports

Cost

Specifies the rental cost of the device, useful in reports

Frame Size

Indicates the dimensions of the color cut

Field Angle

Sets the vertical field angle of the lighting device’s light beam

Field Angle 2

Sets the horizontal field angle of the lighting device’s light beam

Beam Angle

Sets the vertical beam angle of the lighting device’s light beam

Beam Angle 2

Sets the horizontal beam angle of the lighting device’s light beam

Weight

Specifies the lighting device weight.

For lighting devices with accessories, use the Edit Accessory field to select each accessory and then specify its weight. The weight of the lighting device and all accessories is combined to calculate the Total Weight of the lighting device.

Gobo 1

Indicates the gobo texture number for the first gobo.

Specifying the gobo texture by clicking Edit in the Object Info palette provides a graphical method of selecting gobo textures.

Gobo 1 Rotation

Sets the rotation angle of gobo texture 1

Gobo 2

Indicates the gobo texture number for the second gobo

Gobo 2 Rotation

Sets the rotation angle of gobo texture 2

Mark

Provides a user-defined label (Lightwright-compatible parameter)

Draw beam

Draws an accurate wireframe representation of the light beam; the light beam is drawn based on the lighting device parameters, and can be used to check whether the stage and focus areas have been adequately lit (see Drawing light beam representations). Spotlight preferences setup can globally specify the appearance and display of the elements in the light beam (angles and centerline).

Draw beam as 3D solid

Generates a light beam that appears solid when rendered

Use vertical beam

By default, draws the wireframe beam in a vertical orientation when possible, when either Draw beam or Draw beam as 3D solid is selected. When deselected, the beam is usually drawn in a horizontal orientation.

Show Beam at

In a 2D view, select whether to draw the beam as it crosses the focus, at the falloff distance as projected through the focus, or in both areas

Replace Lighting Device/Replace Accessory

Opens the Resource Selector; double-click a resource to select it.

Replace Accessory displays when the selected lighting devices include one or more accessories.

Select the accessory or accessories to replace from the Edit Accessory list.

If <All> accessories are selected for editing, all the accessories on the selected device(s) are replaced by the chosen resource.

If a specific accessory is selected for editing, only that accessory is replaced.

If one of the selected lighting devices is a multi-cell, you can only replace the accessories on the cell(s) specified in the Edit Cell field.

Refresh Labels

Refreshes lighting device label contents if parameter changes have been made, or 3D label positions if the view has changed

Falloff Distance

Specifies how far the wireframe light beam is drawn beyond the focus

Lamp Rotation Angle

Indicates the rotation angle of the virtual elliptical light source, from 0 to 90°

Shutter parameters

Controls the angle and depth of top, left, right, and bottom shutter cuts. Each shutter is located at 90º intervals around the lighting device, and can be adjusted +/- 45º. The shutter depth ranges from 0 to 100%, with 100% cutting through the center of the light source.

Symbol Name

Displays the name of the symbol used to create the lighting device or accessory

Use GDTF Geometry

When a valid GDTF mode is selected, replaces Vectorworks symbol geometry with the geometry specified in the GDTF resource.

This mode is enabled by default when you import a .mvr file that creates a new lighting device from a GDTF resource.

Use Legend

Select the label legend to apply from the list of label legends in the file (see Label Legend Manager)

3D Legend View

When the label legend includes 3D labels, select the view for the labels when displaying the drawing in a 3D view.

Select Screen Aligned to always view the labels aligned with the screen plane (in a viewport, screen aligned labels match the view)

After changing the view, click Refresh Labels to obtain the selected legend view, or select the Refresh Lighting Devices command.

Easily copy the label legend positions to selected lighting devices by Changing the label legend properties of a selection.

Flip top and bottom 3D legend

Mirrors the 3D label along the X axis of the lighting device (for example, a label legend that displays at the top of the device displays on the bottom instead)

Flip left and right 3D legend

Mirrors the 3D label along the Y axis of the lighting device (for example, a label legend that displays to the right of the lighting device displays on the left instead)

Rotate 3D legend with Z rotation

Matches the 3D label legend views with the lighting device’s rotation

Flip front and back 2D legend

Mirrors the label legend along the X axis of the lighting device (a label legend that displays in front of the lighting device displays behind it instead)

Flip left and right 2D legend

Mirrors the label legend along the Y axis of the lighting device (a label legend that displays to the right of the lighting device displays on the left instead)

Focus

Names the focus point object assigned to the lighting device. The focus point must be defined first (see Creating a focus point object).

If the Pan and Tilt values are adjusted later, the lighting device loses its association with the focus point.

Pan

Controls the lateral rotation angle of the lighting device. If a focus point is assigned, this value automatically updates.

Tilt

Controls the vertical rotation angle of the lighting device. If a focus point is assigned, this value automatically updates.

Throw Distance

Controls the distance from the lighting device to its focus location. If a focus point is assigned, this value automatically updates.

Custom plan rotation

Select this option to specify a rotation angle for Top/Plan view that is independent from the device’s Rotation parameter. When this option is selected, specify the Plan Rotation angle.

Vertical Focus Angle

Displays the focus angle up from vertical

Horizontal Focus Angle

Displays the focus angle down from horizontal

Angle To Face

Displays the angle at which the light hits the face plane of the lit subject at the focus

Off Axis Angle

Displays the angle from the centerline of the focus to the lighting device. The bottom of the focus is the centerline; if a focus point is used, move the focus point to change the centerline location.

Load Information

A lighting device is considered a point load in Braceworks calculations; if the insertion point is on a structural element, it is considered to be a load on that structure. Load information is used for Braceworks calculations and reports (Braceworks required).

Include in calculations

(Braceworks required)

Includes the lighting device in Braceworks calculations; deselect to exclude the device from participating in structural calculations

Load Group Name

The load category is always Light for lighting devices

Load ID

Enter a unique ID for the load for informational use in reports

Load Name

Identifies the object in load calculations; normally the object name is used

Total Weight

Enter the total weight of the object.

For lighting devices with accessories, this parameter displays the total weight of the device and its accessories and it cannot be edited.