What are the Best Lighting Design Softwares?

We are going to list some of the best lighting design software available in the market. The software mentioned ranges from professional tools used by lighting designers to simple plugins for 3D modeling software. The article is suitable for architects, designers, electrical engineers, and anyone involved in the relevant industries.

Table of Contents

Top lighting design softwares

DIALux

DIALux is a powerful lighting design software that is used for creating and visualizing lighting designs for a variety of venues and environments. It offers a wide range of features and tools for designing, simulating and visualizing lighting scenarios. Some key features of DIALux include –

3D Design Environment – DIALux offers a user-friendly 3D design environment that makes it easy to create, edit and visualize lighting designs.
Advanced Lighting Simulation – The software includes advanced lighting simulation tools that allow users to accurately simulate the lighting in a given space, taking into account factors such as the location of lights, the materials used in the room, and the time of day.
Wide Range of Lighting Products – DIALux supports a wide range of lighting products, including LED lights, conventional lights, and specialized lighting fixtures. This makes it easy to design lighting solutions that meet the specific needs of a project.
Photometric Data Import – DIALux allows users to import photometric data from a variety of sources, including manufacturers’ product catalogs, which makes it easier to select the right lights for a given project.
Advanced Rendering Tools – DIALux includes advanced rendering tools that allow users to create high-quality images and animations of their lighting designs, which can be used to communicate their ideas to clients, stakeholders and project partners.

DIALux is suitable for a wide range of users, including lighting designers, architects, engineers, and electrical contractors. The software is especially useful for professionals who need to create lighting designs for a variety of venues, including residential, commercial, industrial and public spaces.

It is particularly well-suited for designing lighting for large venues and public spaces, such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, and sports arenas. It is also an excellent choice for designers who need to create lighting designs for outdoor spaces, such as parks, public squares, and pedestrian areas.

The selling points of DIALux include its user-friendly interface, accuracy of light calculations, and real-time visualization capabilities. This makes it a suitable tool for professionals involved in lighting design, as well as for architects, engineers, and facility managers.

In terms of sports lighting, DIALux allows designers to create simulations that take into account the specific requirements of sports lighting, such as uniformity, brightness, and glare. This enables them to design a lighting system that provides optimal conditions for players, spectators, and broadcast cameras.

In industrial lighting, DIALux can be used to create simulations for various types of industrial spaces, such as factories, warehouses, and distribution centers. It allows designers to optimize lighting for productivity and safety, as well as to simulate different lighting scenarios to find the most effective solution.

In commercial lighting, DIALux is a useful tool for creating realistic simulations of lighting in retail spaces, office buildings, and other commercial environments. It enables designers to explore different lighting scenarios, such as ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting, to create a visually appealing and functional space.

AGi32

AGi32 is a comprehensive lighting design software that is used to create photometric analysis and lighting design simulations. It is an essential tool for professionals in the lighting design industry, including lighting designers, electrical engineers, architects, and others involved in the design of lighting systems. The software offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that enables users to create accurate and detailed lighting designs, no matter the level of technical knowledge or experience.

AGI32 has a wide range of features and tools that make it one of the most comprehensive lighting design software on the market. It allows users to create detailed models of the spaces they are lighting and generate photometric analysis and simulations, giving them the ability to accurately visualize the lighting effects in the space. The software provides users with a full range of visualization options, including 3D views, ray tracing, and HDR rendering. This enables them to get a clear understanding of how the lighting will look in the space, making it easier to make changes and fine-tune the design until it meets their requirements.

One of the key benefits of AGI32 is that it allows lighting designers to create lighting designs that are energy-efficient and cost-effective. The software includes a range of tools and features that enable users to optimize the design to reduce energy consumption and costs. For example, users can adjust the brightness of light fixtures, change the type of light sources used, and adjust the lighting layout to reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, AGI32 includes a library of products from leading manufacturers, allowing users to quickly select and place products in their design and optimize their lighting systems for energy efficiency.

AGI32 is suitable for designing various types of venues, including indoor and outdoor spaces, commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. It is particularly useful for designing large and complex spaces where accurate lighting simulations are required, such as concert venues, sports arenas, and shopping centers. The software’s ability to accurately simulate the lighting effects in these spaces makes it easier for lighting designers to ensure that the lighting systems they design meet the needs and requirements of the venue.

In addition to its comprehensive features and tools, AGI32 offers excellent support and resources to users. The software includes a comprehensive help manual and a range of tutorials that make it easy for users to get started and become proficient with the software. The AGI32 community is also a great resource for users, providing a platform for users to connect with other professionals and share their experiences and best practices. Besides, AGI32 offers expert technical support, providing users with the help they need when they need it.

RELUX

RELUX is a professional lighting design software designed to cater to the needs of lighting designers and architects. This software provides a comprehensive platform that enables users to create photorealistic lighting simulations and design plans for various types of venues, including commercial, industrial, hospitality, and residential buildings.

One of the key features of RELUX is its 3D visualization capability. This feature allows users to create virtual models of their lighting designs and to view them from different angles, giving them an accurate representation of the final product. This helps users to identify potential issues with their designs, such as areas that may not be adequately lit, before construction begins, thereby saving time and resources.

Another crucial feature of RELUX is its advanced lighting calculation engine. This engine allows users to perform complex lighting calculations with ease, providing them with accurate results for each individual component of their design. This information is vital for determining the quantity and type of lighting fixtures needed to achieve the desired level of illumination.

RELUX also provides a comprehensive database of luminaires and products from leading manufacturers, which users can access and use in their designs. This database ensures that users have access to the latest and most accurate information about available products, making the design process more efficient and accurate.

Another great feature of RELUX is its integration with building information modeling (BIM). This integration allows users to work in a unified environment, where they can access information about the building’s structure, electrical systems, and HVAC systems, in addition to lighting data. This integration helps to ensure that the lighting design is integrated seamlessly with the overall building design, thereby avoiding potential conflicts and saving time and resources.

RELUX is suitable for professional lighting designers and architects who are involved in designing lighting systems for various types of venues. Whether you are working on a small residential project or a large commercial building, RELUX provides the tools and features you need to create high-quality lighting designs. The software is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for designers to get started, regardless of their experience level.

DIAL (DIALux evo)

DIAL (DIALux evo) is a professional lighting design software that is widely used by architects, engineers, lighting designers, and other professionals involved in designing and planning lighting systems. The software provides a comprehensive solution for lighting design and simulation, enabling users to create realistic 3D models of their lighting design and view it from different angles.

One of the key features of DIAL is its 3D visualization capabilities, which allow users to see how light will be distributed in a space and make adjustments as needed. Another key feature is its photometrics, which uses accurate photometric data to simulate light distribution in a space. This is particularly useful for lighting professionals who need to make informed decisions about the placement and intensity of lights in a space.

Another feature of DIAL is its extensive product library, which includes lighting fixtures from various manufacturers. This library allows users to choose from a wide range of fixtures when designing their lighting systems, which is particularly useful for those who need to demonstrate the performance of a particular lighting product.

The software also includes lighting calculations, such as illuminance and luminance, which can be used to determine the optimal placement and intensity of lights in a space. This can help users to design lighting systems that are both energy-efficient and effective, as well as meet relevant standards and regulations.

In terms of energy simulation, DIAL provides a useful tool for calculating energy consumption, allowing users to design energy-efficient lighting systems. This can help to reduce costs and reduce the carbon footprint of a lighting design, making it a crucial consideration for those designing lighting systems in the current climate.

DIAL is suitable for a wide range of venues, including residential spaces such as homes and apartments, commercial spaces such as offices, museums, and retail shops, and outdoor spaces such as parks and public squares. This versatility makes it an ideal choice for professionals involved in designing lighting systems for a variety of different types of spaces.

AutoCAD Architecture

AutoCAD Architecture is a specialized version of the AutoCAD software developed by Autodesk. It offers a number of advanced tools and features that make architectural design and documentation more efficient and effective. For example, the software includes a comprehensive set of wall and door tools that allow architects to quickly and easily create walls, doors, and windows, with customizable attributes such as size, height, and material. The floor and roof tools enable architects to design floor plans and roof structures, including the creation of complex shapes and custom roof types.

Moreover, AutoCAD Architecture provides advanced dimensioning and annotation tools, allowing architects to accurately dimension their drawings and add annotations, such as callouts and notes. The software also includes a library of pre-defined building components, including furniture, fixtures, and equipment, which can be easily added to designs and customized as needed.

One of the key benefits of AutoCAD Architecture is its ability to generate 3D models of architectural designs, which can be used for visualization and presentation purposes. The software offers a range of 3D modeling and visualization tools, including walk-through animations, section cuts, and camera views, that can help architects effectively communicate their designs to clients and stakeholders.

Another essential feature of AutoCAD Architecture is its collaboration and project management capabilities. The software allows multiple users to work together on a project, regardless of location, and provides tools for tracking project changes and managing version control. This enables architects and other design professionals to work more efficiently and effectively as a team, improving the overall quality of the design process.

LightTools

LightTools is a computer-aided design (CAD) software for lighting design and simulation. It is used by lighting designers, engineers, and architects to simulate and visualize lighting scenes in various environments, such as theaters, auditoriums, museums, and architectural spaces.

Key features of LightTools include –

3D scene creation and visualization
Advanced lighting simulation, including photorealistic rendering
Physical and optical parameter modeling for lights and surfaces
Tools for creating and editing light sources, fixtures, and optics
Customizable libraries for lamps, fixtures, and optical systems

One of the key features of LightTools is its ability to create 3D scenes. This allows lighting professionals to create accurate, detailed models of the environments they are working on, which they can then use to visualize and simulate lighting scenes. This 3D scene creation and visualization capability is a critical component of lighting design, as it enables lighting professionals to better understand the relationships between light sources, surfaces, and objects, and to experiment with different lighting scenarios before they are physically implemented.

Another key feature of LightTools is its advanced lighting simulation capabilities. It includes a powerful simulation engine that can accurately predict the behavior of light in different environments, taking into account factors such as the reflectance properties of surfaces, the spectral characteristics of light sources, and the geometry of the environment. This enables lighting designers to create and experiment with different lighting scenarios and to accurately evaluate the quality and performance of their designs. Moreover, LightTools includes tools for creating and editing light sources, fixtures, and optics, as well as customizable libraries for lamps, fixtures, and optical systems, which make it easy for lighting professionals to create and reuse lighting components.

LightTools is also designed to be user-friendly, making it suitable for lighting professionals of all levels. It offers a range of intuitive tools and features that allow users to quickly and easily create and visualize lighting scenes. This makes it an ideal solution for lighting design and visualization, especially for those who may not have extensive experience or technical expertise in lighting design.

The software is suitable for designing a variety of venues, including theaters and performance spaces, museums and exhibitions, auditoriums and conference rooms, religious spaces, retail spaces and shopping centers, and residential and commercial buildings. This wide range of applications makes it a versatile tool for lighting professionals, and its ability to accurately simulate lighting scenes and produce photorealistic visualizations makes it an indispensable tool for lighting design and visualization.

It is suitable for those who are involved in lighting design, as it offers a range of tools to help them create and visualize lighting scenes. It is also suitable for lighting professionals who need to perform lighting calculations, simulations, and photorealistic renderings.

This lighting design software offers a range of tools and features to help lighting designers and professionals create high-quality lighting designs, from simple to complex. It provides a powerful simulation engine that can accurately predict the behavior of light in different environments, allowing lighting designers to experiment with different lighting scenarios and create photorealistic visualizations of their designs. Moreover, its library of customizable fixtures and optical systems makes it easy to create and reuse lighting components, saving time and improving consistency in design work.

LITESTAR 4D

LITESTAR 4D is a comprehensive lighting design software that allows lighting professionals to create detailed, accurate and dynamic lighting designs. It provides a 3D visualization environment where users can design and manipulate the placement of lights, rigging, and other elements to create the desired lighting effect. The fixture library contains a large selection of lighting fixtures, including their photometric data, so users can accurately simulate the brightness and beam spread of each fixture.

A significant aspect of LITESTAR 4D is the photometrics feature, enabling users to assess the light output and coverage of fixtures in real-time. The software also comprises a cable calculation tool to determine the necessary cable, power, and data lengths for the design.

Aside from these technical capabilities, LITESTAR 4D provides a range of useful tools for lighting design. The fixture placement tool streamlines the process of positioning fixtures, while the aiming tool enables users to tweak the angle and direction of light beams. The output calculation tool allows users to calculate the electrical load and power demands of their designs.

LITESTAR 4D is suitable for lighting designers and professionals in the entertainment industry who need to design lighting systems for venues such as theaters, concert halls, events, and other types of venues. With its powerful features and intuitive interface, LITESTAR 4D is a popular choice for lighting designers who want to create high-quality, professional lighting designs.

3ds Max

3ds Max is a comprehensive 3D modeling and animation software developed by Autodesk. It is used in industries such as architecture, engineering, and entertainment, among others.

Key Features –

One of the key features of 3ds Max is its advanced modeling tools, which allow users to create and manipulate a wide range of 3D objects with ease. These tools include spline and polygon modeling, as well as sculpting and shaping tools that make it easy to refine the details of a model. Besides, 3ds Max also includes a range of parametric modeling tools that allow users to create objects using parameters, making it easier to adjust and refine the design of a model.

Another vital aspect of 3ds Max is its robust animation tools. It provides a full suite of animation tools, including keyframe animation, motion graphics, and physics simulation. This allows users to bring their models to life, adding movement and interaction to their designs. The software includes a range of character rigging tools that make it easy to create and control the movement of 3D characters.

In terms of rendering, 3ds Max features an advanced render engine that produces high-quality images and animations. It provides a wide range of settings and preferences that can be adjusted to produce the desired results, from high-quality photo-realistic images to stylized animations. Also, the software supports a large number of plug-ins, allowing users to extend its functionality and integrate it with other tools.

Characteristics –

User-friendly interface – 3ds Max has a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible to beginners and professionals alike.
Customizable – The software is highly customizable, with a wide range of settings and preferences that can be adjusted to meet specific needs.
Versatile – 3ds Max is suitable for a wide range of projects, including architecture, product design, gaming, and film and television.

Useful Tools –

Parametric modeling – create and manipulate 3D objects using parameters.
Character rigging – create and control the movement of 3D characters.
Particle systems – create and control complex particle systems, such as fire and smoke.

Who is it suitable for –

3ds Max is suitable for a wide range of users, including architects, product designers, game developers, and visual effects artists. It is also suitable for students and hobbyists who are interested in 3D modeling and animation.

Suitable for designing lighting –

3ds Max is highly suitable for designing lighting in a wide range of venues, including architectural spaces, film and television sets, and game environments. With its advanced lighting tools and render engine, users can create highly realistic and effective lighting designs that can be adjusted and optimized to meet specific needs.

LIGHTCONVERSE

LIGHTCONVERSE is a comprehensive software solution designed specifically for lighting control and design. It is aimed at professionals in the entertainment industry, including lighting designers, technicians, and other specialists. The software offers a wide range of features and tools to help users bring their creative vision to life.

One of the key features of LIGHTCONVERSE is its 3D visualization capabilities. This allows users to see exactly how their designs will look in real-life scenarios, helping them to refine their concepts and make informed decisions.

LIGHTCONVERSE also includes a fixture library that includes a wide range of lighting fixtures and their parameters. This library makes it easier for users to choose the right fixtures for their designs, and ensures that they have the information they need to get the best results.

Another special feature of LIGHTCONVERSE is its fixture grouping capability, which allows users to group fixtures together and control them as a single entity. This can be incredibly useful for designing complex lighting systems, and can help to simplify the design process.

LIGHTCONVERSE also includes DMX output capabilities, allowing users to control their lighting systems directly from the software. This can be incredibly helpful for testing and refining designs, and makes it easier for users to bring their vision to life.

LED Solution

LED Solution is a software designed specifically for lighting designers and engineers to create and visualize lighting designs in real-time. It offers a comprehensive solution for designing, simulating, and managing LED-based lighting systems. Some key features and characteristics of LED Solution include –

3D modeling and visualization – The software provides an intuitive and interactive environment for designing lighting systems in 3D, allowing users to visualize their designs in real-time and make adjustments as needed.
Photometric calculation – LED Solution has built-in photometric calculation tools, allowing users to accurately simulate the lighting performance of their designs, including brightness, color, and shadow analysis.
Color rendering and management – The software includes a color rendering engine that provides users with accurate color representation and management tools for creating custom color palettes and choosing the best lighting solutions for their projects.
Control system integration – LED Solution integrates with a variety of control systems, allowing users to easily program and manage their lighting systems, including dimming, color control, and other advanced functions.
Dynamic effects and animations – The software allows users to create dynamic lighting effects and animations, providing a more engaging and immersive lighting experience for their audience.

LED Solution is suitable for lighting designers, engineers, and professionals working in the lighting industry. It is also useful for architects, interior designers, and project managers who require a powerful tool for designing and managing lighting systems.

The software is suitable for designing a wide range of venues, including large commercial spaces, theaters, concert halls, museums, and other public spaces. With its advanced 3D modeling and visualization tools, LED Solution allows users to create and manage lighting systems for any type of venue, from small rooms to large, complex spaces.

It is a comprehensive and versatile software solution for lighting design and management. With its powerful features and capabilities, it provides lighting professionals with the tools they need to create and manage high-quality lighting systems that deliver optimal performance and outstanding visual impact. Whether you are working on a small or large-scale project, LED Solution is an essential tool that can help you achieve your lighting design goals and bring your vision to life.

ElumTools

ElumTools is a comprehensive software application for lighting design, electrical load calculations and photometric analysis. It provides lighting designers and engineers with a range of tools to create precise and accurate lighting designs for a variety of venues.

Key features of ElumTools include –

Photometric analysis – A library of over 90,000 IES photometric files that can be used to calculate the light output of a fixture, making it easier to determine the right type of fixture for a given space.
Electrical load calculation – The ability to perform electrical load calculations and verify that a lighting design meets NEC requirements.
Lighting design – A comprehensive set of tools for creating detailed lighting designs, including the ability to place fixtures, calculate point-by-point illuminance and visualize the design in 3D.
Energy analysis – A tool for analyzing the energy efficiency of a lighting design, including the ability to calculate energy savings and determine the return on investment (ROI) for a project.
Reporting – A variety of reports, including photometric reports, electrical load reports and energy analysis reports, that can be customized and exported to other software applications.

Who is ElumTools suitable for?

ElumTools is ideal for lighting designers, electrical engineers, and contractors who are involved in lighting design and analysis. It is also suitable for building owners and facility managers who need to perform energy analyses and ensure that their lighting systems meet local energy codes and regulations.

It is suitable for designing lighting for a variety of venues, including commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and other types of facilities. It is especially well-suited for use in large facilities where lighting design and electrical load calculations are complex and require precise calculations.

Radiance

Radiance is a software that is used for analyzing, modeling and simulating lighting in architecture and building design. Radiance can be used to evaluate the light performance of a building design, to visualize the effects of different lighting strategies, and to optimize the lighting design to meet specific goals. The software is designed for use by lighting designers, architects, engineers, researchers, and students in the fields of architecture, building science, and lighting design.

Key Features –

Simulation accuracy – Radiance uses physically-based models to simulate the behavior of light in a space, making it possible to accurately predict the distribution of light, color, and glare under different lighting conditions.
Flexibility – Radiance is highly flexible, allowing designers to model a wide range of lighting situations and to make changes to the design quickly and easily.
Integration with other tools – Radiance can be used in combination with other design and analysis tools, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and building energy simulation programs.
Visualization – Radiance includes a range of visualization tools that allow designers to create high-quality images, animations, and interactive visualizations of their designs.
User-friendly interface – Radiance has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for designers to create, edit, and analyze their designs, even if they have limited experience with lighting design software.

Radiance is suitable for designing the lighting for a wide range of building types, including residential, commercial, institutional, and outdoor spaces. The software is particularly well-suited for designing the lighting for high-performance buildings, such as those designed to meet the criteria of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Some useful tools included in Radiance include –

Daylighting analysis – Radiance includes tools for analyzing the distribution of daylight in a space, making it possible to evaluate the impact of different glazing systems, shading devices, and other elements on the daylight levels in a space.
Electric lighting analysis – Radiance includes tools for analyzing the distribution of electric light in a space, making it possible to evaluate the impact of different light fixtures, control systems, and other elements on the electric light levels in a space.
Glare analysis – Radiance includes tools for analyzing the impact of glare on the visual comfort of building occupants, making it possible to evaluate the impact of different lighting systems, shading devices, and other elements on the visual comfort of building occupants.
Color analysis – Radiance includes tools for analyzing the distribution of color in a space, making it possible to evaluate the impact of different light sources and other elements on the color appearance of objects in a space.

SketchUp Pro with the Lumion plugin

Lumion is a visualization tool for SketchUp Pro that enables users to quickly and easily create stunning, photo-realistic renderings and animations from their 3D models. It is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for architects, engineers, and designers to bring their designs to life with vivid, realistic visuals.

One of the features of Lumion is its extensive library of materials and objects, including landscapes, people, trees, and other objects that can be used to create a complete and lifelike environment. It also provides a range of tools for adding lighting, shadows, and reflections, which can be adjusted in real-time to see the impact of changes on the final result.

Lumion’s real-time rendering engine allows users to view their designs as they would appear in the real world, complete with accurate lighting, shadows, and reflections. This makes it possible to make quick and informed design decisions without having to wait for long render times. The 360-degree panoramic views provided by Lumion also allow users to experience their designs from all angles, giving a full and immersive view of the project.

In addition to its real-time visualization capabilities, Lumion also provides a range of export options, making it easy to share designs with clients, stakeholders, and other collaborators. From high-quality images and videos to 360-degree panoramas and VR experiences, Lumion makes it easy to communicate designs and get feedback.

TracePro

TracePro is a comprehensive software tool that enables users to simulate and analyze optical systems. It is widely used in the lighting industry and provides users with powerful tools to design and optimize lighting systems.

One of its features is Monte Carlo ray tracing simulation. This allows users to model the behavior of light in an optical system, taking into account various factors such as the angle of incidence, surface roughness, and material properties. This enables users to accurately predict the performance of a lighting system and identify areas for improvement.

TracePro also provides advanced lens design tools, allowing users to optimize the design of lenses for specific applications. The software’s non-sequential ray tracing capability enables users to model complex optical systems, including systems with multiple sources and detectors.

Aside from modeling the behavior of light in an optical system, TracePro also provides tools for analyzing light transmission, reflection, and absorption. This helps users to understand the behavior of light in their design and make informed decisions about material selection and surface treatments.

LightStanza

LightStanza is a software for designing and planning lighting systems for a wide range of venues. It is used by lighting designers, architects, engineers, and electricians to create detailed and accurate lighting plans. The software provides a variety of tools and features to assist with the design process, making it easier for users to create high-quality lighting systems.

Key features of LightStanza include a user-friendly interface, a library of lighting fixtures and equipment, and a powerful simulation engine. The software allows users to easily create and customize their own lighting fixtures, or to choose from the pre-existing library of fixtures. This enables users to experiment with different lighting setups, and to visualize the impact of various design choices in real-time.

LightStanza also includes a powerful simulation engine, which allows users to see how their lighting plans will look in a real-world setting. This is particularly useful for testing and adjusting the lighting design before installation. The simulation engine is capable of accurately reproducing the behavior of light sources, and can even simulate the effects of various weather conditions and lighting scenarios.

Another useful tool in LightStanza is the ability to create detailed reports and presentations. This is a valuable feature for professionals who need to communicate their lighting plans with others, or to document their design decisions. The software can generate reports and presentations in a variety of formats, making it easy for users to share their designs with others.

LightStanza is suitable for a wide range of venues, including theaters, concert halls, museums, public spaces, and commercial buildings. The software is particularly well-suited for large-scale lighting projects, where a high degree of precision and detail is required. The software is also suitable for use by both beginners and experienced lighting designers, as it provides a range of tools and features that can be adjusted to suit different levels of expertise.

Conclusion

The article lists and evaluates the best lighting design software available on the market. The software listed includes DIALux, RELUX, AGi32 and etc. Each of these software has unique features and strengths and are suitable for different types of lighting design projects.

If you’re interested in learning more about the various lighting design software options and the best practices for using them, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our team is available and eager to provide you with any additional information or guidance you may need. Whether you’re just starting your research on the topic or you’re looking for more in-depth knowledge, we’re here to help. Simply get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to assist you.