Lighting Design software advice

[daniel.anderson]

Hi all,

 

I have been doing my research and have come up with a few options.

 

Preferably I would like it to be Mac based, however I can be flexible as I run boot camp.

 

I have narrowed my searching down to a few choices.

 

1. MacLux Pro

2. VectorWorks with Spotlight

3. WYSIWYG

4. Stardraw

5. LX Free

 

Can I please get your opinion on each program and why you would choose it.

 

I also live in Australia, so the exchange rate will be quite different.

 

Currently I am leaning towards MacLux Pro and LX Free, purely because they are much cheaper than WYSIWYG, or free.

 

Any comments and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Daniel.

[Bryson]

Well, the price range between those options is pretty far from insignificant. I think you really need to make a decision about what you can afford.

 

1. MacLux Pro $350

2. VectorWorks with Spotlight $1600

3. WYSIWYG $2500-$5000

4. Stardraw $Cant tell. It's some kind of big secret, apparently. That's enough to put me off for a start.

5. LX Free $free

 

 

It really, really depends what you're going to use it for. The one I see most often is Vectorworks - I'm tempted by Vectorworks myself, actually. But $1600 is a pretty major investment in software for an individual.

 

So, what do you do? Are you a full-time designer? On what scale?

[daniel.anderson]

Currently I am a full time Student studying Technical Production, so no, I am not a full time designer, however it is my ambition to become a touring designer. Can someone please tell me the difference between MacLux Pro and LX Free, because on LXF you can generate reports, however on MacLux Pro (Demo) you can't generate reports etc.

 

Thanks for the comments so far.

 

Daniel.

[Bryson]

Well, as a student, I'd suggest that you take advantage of the educational pricing on the software, while you still can!

 

Having said that, unless it's going to "pay you back" within the lifetime of the software, then the cheaper options are probably a better bet. Right now I'm using TurboCad 2D ($80) which works just fine for the amount of usage I put it to. (I'm more of a TD and Production Manager, so my design work is reasonably far apart...) I didn't even know about LXfree, so I might give that a whirl.

[Dmx512]

Is it a visualiser programme your after to enable programming away from the show? if so have a look at Daslights easy "view 3D software" this software allows you to construct your show on screen and programme your console with real time simulation.......Dave

[weatherhead]

I'd not come accross LX Free before, but when I put my email in to download it, I don't seem to get an email. Anyone else had this problem?

[Al Cain]

Personal vote for WYSIWYG, Like Bryson said, I bought it with the Student prices, 75 GBP from Stage Electrics (not incl VAT) and worth it, am about to upgrade to a full legal copy.....

 

HTH

AC

[Ken Coker]

I'm with Al and Bryson.

I run the student version of WYSIWYG and it does the job admirably. There are speed issues using a "virtual" PC I believe - or there were- But I imagine Boot Camp doesn't quite work like that. (Please don't tell me how it does!). Might be worth taking advice on that aspect.

 

KC

[daemon]

Another Brisbane native ... excellent. Are you doing TechProd at QUT ? What are they using there as a drawing package these days ?

 

I use MacluxPro and ProgeCAD (which is an IntelliCAD varient - basically a cheap version of AutoCAD with full file compatibility and the same command line) for all my drawing. Very much depends on what you need to do. I'd strongly suggest against buying MacLux as I very much doubt any further development will take place - Claude Heintz has moved to his new LXFree. Maclux still has many more features though but its pretty much a translated old classic Mac app whereas LXFree is a Cocoa app.

 

Basically you need to choose if you want a full CAD package or one much more tailered to LX Plans. Maclux/LXFree are both great for drawing little symbols on a piece of paper with a few numbers next to each symbol, very fast a quick. But I would never use them for drawing ground plans or theatre layouts or anything like that. For that job you can't go past AutoCAD.

 

At the technician level I'd recommend looking at Lightwright for paperwork.

 

PM me if you want to know more.

 

Ben

[Ken Coker]

At the technician level I'd recommend looking at Lightwright for paperwork.

 

Indeed; and there is a limited but useful download here.

 

KC

[weatherhead]

can I throw in a recommendation for LPS, for doing paperwork?

You can have a look here,

http://www.rosco.com/uk/software/lps12newfeatures.asp

 

 

quite reasonable for the student version, there's also a pocketPC version (god damn it why not for Palm OS???) and it runs on windows, mac and linux. It's also pretty comprehensive, and I especially like the colour/gobo chooser thingy, for those of us who don't always have swatchbooks to hand and don't do enough lighting to memorise Lee filter numbers.

[Tomo]

There are basically three purposes for lighting design software:

 

1) Pre-Visualisation (Static)

This is where you build your rig in 'virtual space' and then simulate how it is likely to look in reality by producing still renderings.

 

2) Pre-Visualisation (Dynamic/Live)

This is where you build your rig in 'virtual space' and then simulate how it is likely to look in reality, including showing effects, movement and transitions.

Also used for training on a lighting console - you'll see lots of these at tradeshows being used to demonstrate various lighting consoles.

 

3) Producing rig plans

Drawings showing where everything should be rigged, what filter(s), gobo(s) etc should be fitted to each lantern, which way they should point, possibly including focus plots.

 

4) Producing summary paperwork

Gel cutsheets, fixture requirements (how many, what type etc)

 

As far as I am aware, there is no single application of software suite that does all three of these extremely well.

This means that you need to decide what you want the software to do, and then choose accordingly.

[Fotografics]

... Pre-Visualisation (Dynamic/Live)

This is where you build your rig in 'virtual space' and then simulate how it is likely to look in reality, including showing effects, movement and transitions.

Also used for training on a lighting console - you'll see lots of these at tradeshows being used to demonstrate various lighting consoles.

 

This is something which would interest me very much.

 

Having bought a lighting consol, it's a pain practicing on it since this involves getting out dimmers and lights, setting them up and then trying to learn the intricacies and foibles of the desk with a shrill voice asking "are you going to have this junk here for long?" repeated at regular intervals.

A computer-based system whereby you could plug your consol into a laptop and play away to your heart's content would be ideal for me. Do you know of such a thing?

 

(Sorry if this is a slight hi-jack of the OP)

Moderation: Not a slight highjack - a totally new topic, that as been covered lots of times. Use the search box to look for wysiwyg or visualisation - it brings up many useful topics - however, you need to be aware it is expensive, complex, and unless you have a decent kit inventory - not really that useful. It is useful (hence comments in this topic) but the time it takes to draw the venue, add the detail then tweak is sometimes rather annoying. Gets better second time around, of course. If you want some beginners advice on this kind of thing - start a new topic)

[Dmx512]

I have a visualiser marketed by www.Daslight.com and it will do what your after.... you drag and drop the fixtures on to a virtual rig...address them and then programme away with your desk I connect my laptop to a data projector and hey your at the gig! (Anorak required!!) :D ............Dave

 

www.q-lights.co.uk

[Fotografics]

Thanks Dave, that looks like the jobbie.

 

Funnily enough my search of this forum bought up plenty of software for creating set-ups but nothing cheap, hence my question to Tomo. His phrase "Also used for training on a lighting console " was what hit my spot.

 

Unfortunately, forty years as a film lighting cameraman hasn't equipped me for the world of stage lighting nor the finer points of internet forum ettiquete, hence my apology, which obviously wasn't enough for the mod.

 

Thanks again Dave. I won't bother you guys again.