ARCHLine.XP LIVE allows you to add and edit lights within the project, making your scenes unique and realistic. Four different types of light sources are available from the library, which can be further customised with IES profiles.
IES light
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has defined a file format which describes a light's distribution from a light source using real world measured data. Files with the .IES extension (IES profiles) are the lighting industry's standard method for representing luminance and light fall-off.
You can download free IES light sources from the following sites:
- ies library
- LeoMoon Stuios
- RenderMan
Line light
A linear line determines the shape of the light source, the width and length of which can be freely adjusted. It gives a similar appearance to LED strips, making it easy to create, for example, hidden lighting.
On/Off: button to switch the light source on and off. When switched off, the bulb does not emit any light at all.
Intensity (lumens): lumen (a unit of luminous flux) shows how bright the light source is. In LIVE, you can set this value between 0 and 15000 using the slider, or you can enter a custom value using numeric input. The table below shows the Lumen-Watt conversion.
Temperature (K): the color temperature of a light source is determined by the color sensation it produces. In LIVE, this value can be set between 1700K and 12000K, where the former indicates a warm hue (reddish) and the latter a cool hue (bluish).
Color: adjust the color of the light by selecting from the pre-saved colors or add your own colors according to the RGB or HLS color scale.
Type: you can choose between two different options, each with a different function and operation.
- Helper light: with this setting, objects in the space illuminated by the light do not cast shadows, so it can be used to adjust the basic illumination of the space.
- Real light (shadow caster): this setting allows you to add realistic lighting to a space where light casts shadows on objects.
Light source type: here you can view whether the selected light source is a line light, an area light, a sphere light or a spotlight.
Browse IES file: click here to browse to the desired IES file on your computer, which will automatically adjust the brightness and falloff of the light source.
Show lightbulb mesh: placed lights have an object with a shape that matches the type of light, which is displayed in the model as a default setting. You can use this switch to show or hide this body, so when it is off, only the emitted light is shown, not the associated object.
Reflection: you can set whether or not the reflection of the light source body appears on surfaces.
Length: the length of the light source body can be quickly and easily adjusted to the desired size.
Radius: it sets the radius of the circle in which the light source's body defined by its width and depth fits.
Materials: you can drop any material from the material library onto the light source body, changing its color and texture. The modification of the material does not change the color of the light emitted, but the reflections of material's shade will affect the surfaces.
Area light
An area defines the shape of the light source, the width and length of which can be freely adjusted. It gives a similar appearance to LED panels, making it easy to create ceiling lighting or special solutions.
On/Off: button to switch the light source on and off. When switched off, the bulb does not emit any light at all.
Intensity (lumens): lumen (a unit of luminous flux) shows how bright the light source is. In LIVE, you can set this value between 0 and 15000 using the slider, or you can enter a custom value using numeric input. The table below shows the Lumen-Watt conversion.
Temperature (K): the color temperature of a light source is determined by the color sensation it produces. In LIVE, this value can be set between 1700K and 12000K, where the former indicates a warm hue (reddish) and the latter a cool hue (bluish).
Color: adjust the color of the light by selecting from the pre-saved colors or add your own colors according to the RGB or HLS color scale.
Type: you can choose between two different options, each with a different function and operation.
- Helper light: with this setting, objects in the space illuminated by the light do not cast shadows, so it can be used to adjust the basic illumination of the space.
- Real light (shadow caster): this setting allows you to add realistic lighting to a space where light casts shadows on objects.
Light source type: here you can view whether the selected light source is a line light, an area light, a sphere light or a spotlight.
Browse IES file: click here to browse to the desired IES file on your computer, which will automatically adjust the brightness and falloff of the light source.
Show lightbulb mesh: placed lights have an object with a shape that matches the type of light, which is displayed in the model as a default setting. You can use this switch to show or hide this body, so when it is off, only the emitted light is shown, not the associated object.
Reflection: you can set whether or not the reflection of the light source body appears on surfaces.
Width: you can easily and quickly adjust the width of the light source body size here.
Height: in the direction perpendicular to the width the light source body size can be modified here.
Angle: the direction of the light emitted can be adjusted between 0° and 90°. In practice, this is like placing an invisible lampshade around the light source that controls the direction of the light that is illuminated.
Length: it can be used to set the length of the aforementioned invisible lampshade, which controls the height at which light reaches surrounding surfaces.
Materials: you can drop any material from the material library onto the light source body, changing its color and texture. The modification of the material does not change the color of the light emitted, but the reflections of material's shade will affect the surfaces.
Sphere light
The space is illuminated by this light at a 360° angle in all directions. It can be used as a helper light, when you want to give a room a basic illumination, or as a real light, when a particular lamp or luminaire casts light and shadows on its surroundings.
Available light sources: the list of all light sources placed within an object is available here. You can change the properties of the light sources assigned to an object by switching between the items in the list.
On/Off: button to switch the light source on and off. When switched off, the bulb does not emit any light at all.
Intensity (lumens): lumen (a unit of luminous flux) shows how bright the light source is. In LIVE, you can set this value between 0 and 15000 using the slider, or you can enter a custom value using numeric input. The table below shows the Lumen-Watt conversion.
Temperature (K): the color temperature of a light source is determined by the color sensation it produces. In LIVE, this value can be set between 1700K and 12000K, where the former indicates a warm hue (reddish) and the latter a cool hue (bluish).
Color: adjust the color of the light by selecting from the pre-saved colors or add your own colors according to the RGB or HLS color scale.
Type: you can choose between two different options, each with a different function and operation.
- Helper light: with this setting, objects in the space illuminated by the light do not cast shadows, so it can be used to adjust the basic illumination of the space.
- Real light (shadow caster): this setting allows you to add realistic lighting to a space where light casts shadows on objects.
Light source type: here you can view whether the selected light source is a line light, an area light, a sphere light or a spotlight.
Browse IES file: click here to browse to the desired IES file on your computer, which will automatically adjust the brightness and falloff of the light source.
Show lightbulb mesh: placed lights have an object with a shape that matches the type of light, which is displayed in the model as a default setting. You can use this switch to show or hide this body, so when it is off, only the emitted light is shown, not the associated object.
Reflection: you can set whether or not the reflection of the light source body appears on surfaces.
Spotlight
A directional light emitting element that can be set to illuminate its surroundings at an adjustable angle, and the direction of illumination can also be set using the rotate function. It can be used for individual lighting of accent elements and details.
Available light sources: the list of all light sources placed within an object is available here. You can change the properties of the light sources assigned to an object by switching between the items in the list.
On/Off: button to switch the light source on and off. When switched off, the bulb does not emit any light at all.
Intensity (lumens): lumen (a unit of luminous flux) shows how bright the light source is. In LIVE, you can set this value between 0 and 15000 using the slider, or you can enter a custom value using numeric input. The table below shows the Lumen-Watt conversion.
Temperature (K): the color temperature of a light source is determined by the color sensation it produces. In LIVE, this value can be set between 1700K and 12000K, where the former indicates a warm hue (reddish) and the latter a cool hue (bluish).
Color: adjust the color of the light by selecting from the pre-saved colors or add your own colors according to the RGB or HLS color scale.
Type: you can choose between two different options, each with a different function and operation.
- Helper light: with this setting, objects in the space illuminated by the light do not cast shadows, so it can be used to adjust the basic illumination of the space.
- Real light (shadow caster): this setting allows you to add realistic lighting to a space where light casts shadows on objects.
Light source type: here you can view whether the selected light source is a line light, an area light, a sphere light or a spotlight.
Browse IES file: click here to browse to the desired IES file on your computer, which will automatically adjust the brightness and falloff of the light source.
Show lightbulb mesh: placed lights have an object with a shape that matches the type of light, which is displayed in the model as a default setting. You can use this switch to show or hide this body, so when it is off, only the emitted light is shown, not the associated object.
Reflection: you can set whether or not the reflection of the light source body appears on surfaces.
Angle 01: adjusts the size of the area directly illuminated by the light source.
Angle 02: adjusts the amount of blur outside the directly illuminated area.
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