Vectorworks Spotlight
Vectorworks Spotlight is the gold standard for CAD software in entertainment design. Whether you design lighting, scenery, sets, corporate events, theatrical productions, or exhibits, you can put yourself in the spotlight when you create a spectacular show. With superior 2D and 3D capabilities, you'll enjoy an ease-of-use not found in competing software, creating powerful presentations and boosting your productivity. With Vectorworks Spotlight's flexibility, there are no limits to what you can do.
Benefits
It's the gold standard in entertainment. Spotlight is tailor-made to meet the needs of designers in the event planning, exhibition, film, theatre and entertainment industries. It contains everything you need to transform your ideas into powerful, successful productions. Whether you design lighting, scenery, sets, live concerts, corporate events, theatrical productions or design exhibits, you can put yourself in the spotlight when you create a spectacular show with Vectorworks Spotlight.
Comprehensive for All Your Needs
Vectorworks Spotlight marries precision 2D drafting and flexible 3D modeling with advanced lighting, visualisation, and production tools. Vectorworks Spotlight does it all.
No Learning Curve Required
Out of the box, and out of the gate. Vectorworks Spotlight was designed to think like you do, so you are up and running right away doing what you like best — designing.
Flexible To Fit Your Workflow
With Vectorworks Spotlight you're not limited to a certain workflow, so you have the freedom to work on any size project in 2D or 3D. Design whatever you can dream up.
Plays Well with Others
Vectorworks Spotlight can work fluidly with your colleagues' or your other programs, so there's nothing lost in the translation.
Customer-Focused for Your Success
Your relationship with us doesn't end when you download the software. We provide many channels for you to get the information, training, tech support and networking you need.
Cost-Effective for Your Budget
You won't find another professional design program that packs so much into such a small price. In one package, you get state-of-the-art tools and technology and the ability to work from conception to completion.
Proven Worldwide
We listen to our customers and use their feedback to create a product that continually exceeds expectations, delivering superior design flexibility and world-class graphics. Join the more than 400,000 professional designers worldwide who use Vectorworks.
New In 2012
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Automatic Working PlaneSignificantly improve your modeling efficiency by using modes in modeling tools to automatically infer working planes as you move your cursor around the model. Simply select a tool and click to create objects on any 3D surface.
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Instant Push/Pull ModeWe added this user-friendly feature to our planar tool set so you can instantly push or pull profile geometry without additional steps. It's a great time saver.
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Optimized 3D DimensionsIt's easy to dimension 3D features by sensing the 3D working planes with the mouse. Simply click on 3D features with your constrained, angular, or radial dimension tools and dimension away.
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HeliodonWith this easy-to-use tool, you no longer need to know coordinates or a time zone to place a Heliodon object with a directional light when it contains attached data like the region and city. You can create QuickTime solar animations and create "view from sun" animations too.
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Unified Reshape ToolThe 2D and 3D reshape tools have been consolidated into a single powerful tool that reshapes both 2D and 3D objects.
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Reshaping Multiple Vertices of NURBS CurvesWith one drag, you can reshape NURBS curves with great precision and control by moving individual or multiple vertices.
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Increased DXF/DWG SupportDiscover the advantages of efficient collaboration. You'll have better support for image fill export and import, transparencies, and gradient types, plus a new ability to save user defined settings for DXF/DWG export. You can pick and choose the objects you want to export to DXF/DWG- even hatches. You can interface seamlessly with AutoCAD 2012 files and even import clipped AutoCAD blocks as cropped Design layer viewports or as symbols without cropping. We've also made it simpler to save your defined mappings of DXF/ DWG colors to Vectorworks line weights.
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Export to Five Previous Versions of VectorworksNow it's easier to collaborate with users of previous versions of Vectorworks software with the ability to export all the way back to Vectorworks 12.
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Add New Parasolid Version Number in Export Parasolid X_TUse this new option to specify a version number on the Parasolid X_T file format export.
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Faster Access to Frequently Used SettingsGet ready for a super time saver. Now you can access frequently used tool settings directly in the tool bar without having to open a settings dialog.
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Modify by Record ValueYou've received a very powerful set of options for making modifications to selected objects or an entire drawing based on record values. With this command you can automatically modify the attributes of objects, resize objects, and even create extrudes for objects sharing a specific record value.
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2D X-Ray ModeNo more hide and seek! Just press the "B" key while you're using the selection tool and you can easily see and select objects that are hidden behind filled objects.
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Hidden Line Intersection EdgesA new option in Hidden Line rendering modes gives you the flexibility to have Vectorworks calculate and draw the lines between intersecting geometry.
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Faster Viewport Visibility NavigationAnother huge time saver- we've significantly improved the speed of navigation between sheets and from sheet layers to design layers for larger files.
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New Hatch from Customized HatchSave your newly customized tiles and hatches as standard tiles and hatches so you can easily reuse them.
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Lighting Device Color NamesTo save you time, gel colors assigned to a lighting device are now automatically added as a named Vectorworks color in the document. Use any of the unlimited color choices in the named color palettes.
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Soft Goods ObjectThe new Soft Goods Object enables you to easily create curtain, border, and pipe-and-drape models in both straight and curved configurations.
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Multi-Circuit Lighting Device FocusMulti-circuit lighting devices now automatically orient to focus points. Simply move your focus point and watch your instrument update to follow the focus.
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Modernized Video Screen ObjectsThe powerful Video Screen Objects now provide even greater flexibility for placement and display of Video Screens. You can place lenses based on distance, make your screens glow, and calculate lens sizes based on the projector and screen location.
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LED Video ScreenA new LED Video Screen Object, originally from Landru Design, gives you the added ability to model and represent low-resolution LED screens in a series of configurations and formats. Specify the height and width of module shape, format for the array, and the base structure for creating the object.
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Focus Instruments at Next ClickFocusing instruments is now even more intuitive. Simply right click on an instrument or selected instruments and choose the new command to focus them with your very next click.
New In 2011
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New Options for Seating LayoutNow you can note the seating section name, seating count, and seat numbering along with the starting seat number and seating number incremental value on your drawing. View image |
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Better Focus Point Support for Lighting InstrumentsNow you can focus light exactly where you need it most. Lighting instruments and everything associated with them-their light source, accessories, associated 3D geometry, and beam-now always point toward your desired focus point, both when there are actual focus point objects or virtual representations that are displayed in design layer viewports. View movie View image |
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Improved Focus Point Object GraphicsChoose from new options to control the visibility of text and select from a library of default content graphics for the Focus Point object. View image |
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Lightwright Data Exchange ImprovementThe automatic data exchange with Lightwright can now: - Place new lights created in Lightwright between existing lights on a lighting position - Allow Lightwright to set the selection state of lighting devices when updating. View movie |
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Perfect Preview Text EditingWe're taking the guesswork out of your work. With perfect text preview, text appears the same when editing as it does on the drawing, saving you time and effort. Rotated text can be edited in place, or un-rotated if needed. View movie View image |
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Text StylesUse text styles to quickly and easily apply and maintain a consistent look to all text throughout a file, including text in sheet borders, dimensions, and callouts. Text styles are resources that can be shared among files to facilitate compliance with office standards. View movie View image |
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Improved TextCheck out these additional options: - Use a tight fill for optimal text background fill effects - Check spelling from the context menu during text editing - Rotate text with the Selection tool - Left and right justify your text at the same time - Make units look more accurate with sub- and superscript options. View movie View image |
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New Scalable SymbolsNow you can adjust the scale of a symbol right from the Object Info palette, without having to create a new symbol for each size that you need. That's not all-symbols can now be page-based or world-based when created, so if you have an annotation symbol, it will always display at the size you want. View image |
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New Tile Fills for 2D ObjectsThis creative new fill type will amaze you! Enjoy creating beautiful tiled patterns on planar objects. View movie View image |
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New Select Connected Objects CommandHere's a handy command that will save you a bunch of time. Select one or more objects and all other objects that are connected end-to-end are also automatically selected. I This is especially useful for imported DWG survey drawings. View movie View image |
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Improved 3D EnvironmentThe 3D environment is much more intuitive in the Vectorworks 2011 software. Working in 3D is similar to the ease of 2D, for a truly unified and simplified experience. You can draft any shape, on any plane, in any view, using the tools you already know how to use. View movie View image |
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Extract Planar ObjectsNow the Extract tool can create instant planar objects from a 3D surface in the Extract Surface mode, so you can simulate the appearance of a hatched 3D object. View movie View image |
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Push/Pull & Face SelectionThe tool's name tells you how it works-just push and pull. The Push/Pull tool can edit solids faces and planar objects just like it would in the real world, so you get dynamically interactive feedback and instant results as you work. View movie View image |
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Multi-File Batch PrintSave time by printing from sets of multiple saved views and sheet layers from Vectorworks files, whether open or closed. Do the same for PDF exports. View image |
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New Even Divide CommandThis convenient command divides lines, arcs, circles, and rectangles into even subdivisions. View movie View image |
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New Triangle ToolAdd the new Triangle tool to your tool set to quickly create triangles by a variety of methods. View movie View image |
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Resource Browser Library AccessIt's much easier to find the amazing libraries of resources that ship with Vectorworks 2011 software. Use shortcuts to the Vectorworks, workgroup, or user folders to find what you need in no time. View image |
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New 3D Wall ComponentsEnjoy better wall modeling with more realistic section views and textured wall components. Wall components can be offset from the wall itself, and of varying heights for detailed wall views. View movie View image |
Features
Create dynamic 2D and 3D designs, glide through your projects with a tightly streamlined interface, and access extensive features and resource libraries. Vectorworks Spotlight offers the features you want in a comprehensive, intuitive software that will multi-task just like you do.
2D and 3D architectural objects provide intelligent ways to create sets and scenic elements.
- Custom tables and chairs
- Podium and Stage
- Columns
- Walls, doors, windows
- Stairs and ramps
- Tv’s and Projectors
- Desks
- Shelving
Create stunning presentations right out of the box.
- Unlimited colour choices
- Gradients
- Image fills
- Hatches
- Color palettes from Pantone®, Resene®, Rosco®, and more
Intelligent 2D and 3D lighting instruments provide flexibility.
- Create shutter cuts
- Attach light accessories
- Use Multi-circuit instruments
- Layout focus points
- Draw 2D and 3D light beams
- Similar object creation
- Automatic universe assignment
Parametric straight and curved truss objects allow you to design any style of trussing with custom attributes.
- Chord style
- Configuration
- Length
- Rotation
Sharing your drawings is simple with comprehensive import/export options
- DXF/DWG
- .skp (Sketchup)
- .kml (Google Earth)
- .3DS
- JPG, TIF, PSD, EPSF and more
- QuickTime/Quicktime VR
- . Parasolid X_T
- .ESP Vision
- ASCII
- EPSF
- Lightwright
Paperwork is automatically generated from your designs.
- Inventory reports
- Magic sheets
- Color cut lists
- Instrument schedules
- Channel hookups
- Dimmer hookups
- Circuit hookups
- Color schedules
Creating spectacular sets or scenes is easy with custom tools and symbol libraries.
- Curtain objects
- Seating layout tool
- Entourage library
- Human figure tool
- Scene and set library
- Create plot and model view
- Video Screen Tools
A suite of powerful free-form modeling tools make it easy to design custom objects and shapes.
- Boolean operations
- NURBS curves
- Loft surfaces
- Extrusions
- Extractions
- Protrusions
- Shells
- Solids
- Unfolding surfaces
A custom gobo tool allows you to create your own gobos in addition to gobo catalogs from these manufacturers:
- Goboland
- Lee
- Rosco
- Gam
- Apollo
- High End
- Entourage Vehicles
- Entourage Figures
Visualizing scenes is a breeze using a series of commands and rendering options available with the add on, RenderWorks.
- Manage scenes
- Animate scenes
- Create atmospheric effects
- Volumetric lighting
- Make presentation boards using non-photo-realistic rendering
- Render physical light with .ies light distribution files
Intelligent commands to increase productivity and make tasks simpler.
- Live sectioning tools
- Label legend manager
- Photometer
- Event Room Layout
Extensive instrument symbol libraries from all the major manufacturers
- Altman
- USITT
- Lycian
- Scenic Elements
- ARRI
- Varilite
- Martin
- Selecon
- Chroma Q
- Wybron
- Mole-Richardson
- Steel Shapes
- City Theatrical
- Xenotech
- Morpheus
- Strand
- Clay Paky
- High End
- NSI Colortran
- ETC
- Coemar
- Lighting Positions
- Powerline
- Hardware
- ESP Vision 3D
- LSD-Icon
- Robert Juliat
- Molding profiles
- Cabinet pulls
- Color Kinetics
- James Thomas
- Atlas Sound
- EAW Audio
- d&B Audiotechnik
- Meyer Sound
- Banquet Furniture
Australian Features
OzCAD produces a special version of Vectorworks Spotlight called Spotlight Australia, which contains Australian libraries, additional tools and commands, along with high quality 2D and 3D entourage libraries for people, vehicles, trees, furniture, hatches, colour palettes, image fills and gradients. For more information, read the detailed descriptions below.
Entourage and Resource Libraries
- Additional hatch libraries
- Additional paving brick, vegetation, stonework and other materials image fills and textures
- Additional colour palette libraries
- Additional gradient fills
- Extensive and new 2D and 3D libraries for people, trees, cars, furniture, etc.
- New 3D tree and people image prop objects for rendering
AnimationWorks
AnimationWorks allows you to create complex camera or object animations entirely within Vectorworks, then save them as QuickTime movies which can be viewed by anyone who has QuickTime installed. Click here to read more and to see sample movies.
Title Block Tool & Issue Command
The VAA Title Block tool and VAA Revise Issue Print commands provide a complete and flexible system for adding title blocks to drawings, entering issue or revision notes, batch printing and creating or updating a comprehensive transmittal. These tools are designed to speed-up drawing management whilst maintaining more accurate and detailed revision and issue history for the full duration of a project.
In Vectorworks 2008, there are new options which include north points, drawing stamps and custom names for title block symbols.
Australian Colour Libraries
This command provides access to libraries of professional Colour Systems commonly used by Specifiers in Australia. Standard libraries include Dulux®, Taubmans, Porters, Murabond, Colorbond®, Laminex®, Concrete Colour Systems and Cabots®.
3D Tape Measure Tool
Quickly determine distances between points or objects in a 3D model using this new tool. Like its 2D counterpart, it provides a running total length as well as the length of the last segment drawn.
Custom Dashed Line Tool
Useful for boundary lines, piping runs or electrical wiring, this tool is designed to draw straight sided polygons with edges comprising of dashed lines with a cross line or piece of text in the dash space. Once drawn, the polygon can be reshaped with the 2D Reshape tool.
Edit Class Names Utility
Quickly search for and edit multiple class names in one hit with this useful utility.
Handrails Tool
This tool allows a much greater variety of handrail objects to be drawn as a single piece or as multiple mitred lengths at any angle. It includes a library of predefined types that include glass, wire, timber and aluminium.
Equal Dimension Tool
Replaces the numeric dimension value on a picked dimension with the text ‘EQ’.