Studio Lighting Design Tool

Getting started

What the tool is

A tool for designing a TV‑studio lighting rig in 3D.
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Coordinates use the lighting convention Z‑up: X = length, Y = width, Z = height.
All load and weight figures are indicative estimates. They do not replace proper structural documentation.

Your first plot in five steps

Set the room size under Studio size and click Update room.
Add trusses from Add element and click to drop them.
Add Fixtures and drop them near a truss — they snap underneath.
Patch them (DMX, hots) under Patch & power.
Open Export & PDF… and make the PDF report. Save the project.

Set up the room

Enter Length, Width and Height in metres and click Update room.
The floor grid shows 1 m squares. Floor grid → Brightness makes the lines lighter or darker.
You can resize the room any time. Elements, points, measurements and the origin move with it, so the grid, ruler and drawing stay aligned.
Height can be changed on its own.
Fit to drawing sizes Length and Width to cover the imported drawing and all elements, plus a 0.5 m pad. Height is unchanged.
Move all selects everything (also locked and click‑through images/OBJ) so you can drag the whole drawing in plan view. Press Esc or turn Select off to stop.

The sidebar

Order follows the workflow: Project · Studio size · Add element · Layers · Elements in scene · Inspector · Patch & power · Rigging points · Export / import.
Studio size, Layers, Patch & power and Rigging points fold to one line. Click the heading (▸) to open or close.
The app remembers which sections you left open (in this browser).

Zero point (origin)

By default 0,0 is the back‑left room corner.
Click Set origin and click a spot in plan view, or type Origin X / Y under Studio size.
The cursor readout (bottom left) shows positions from this zero point. See Views & navigation → Cursor position.
The Origin dropdown puts 0,0 at the Centre or a corner: Back‑left (default), Back‑right, Front‑left, Front‑right. Back = Wall N / −Z, Front = Wall S / +Z.
Flip X / Flip Y reverse which direction is plus.
Origin and flips only change how coordinates are shown and typed. Nothing moves. Height and angles are unchanged.
They apply to editors, the element list, ruler, status text, patch list/CSV, labels and the JSON/PDF report.
MVR ignores Flip (origin only), so grandMA3 positions don’t depend on it.
A small marker (red = +X, green = +Y) shows 0,0 in 3D when it isn’t the default.
Reset origin to room corner restores the default. All of this is saved with the project.

Views & navigation

Mouse

Orbit: left‑drag on empty space.
Pan: right‑drag or Shift+drag.
Zoom: scroll wheel.

View buttons

Top is the top‑down plan. Click it again to return to 3D.
Front, Back, Left, Right are side elevations — use them to judge real heights.
In an elevation, dragging an element moves it in the plane you see (e.g. Front = length + height).
3D returns to the orbit view.
Measuring and Set origin always use the Top view.
Small live TOP / SIDE inset views sit in the bottom‑right corner.

Plan view

The Plan view button shows a top‑down plan with a metre ruler.
Your plan zoom and position are kept when you switch to 3D and back.
Names (info label on) and truss measurements show as plain text with no background.
Drag a name label to move it (a thin line links it back). Double‑click to reset it.
Labels: on/off toggles labels in 3D and plan view.

Cursor position (X/Y)

Bottom left shows the cursor position in metres: X/Y in Top and 3D, X/Z in Front/Back, Y/Z in Left/Right. With Snap on it shows the snapped value.
While dragging it shows the element name, its position and how far it has moved (dX / dY).
Values follow your zero point and Flip X / Y, so they match the Inspector and the ruler.
XY in the toolbar (or ⋯) also shows the position next to the cursor. Remembered in this browser. On a phone it only appears while dragging.

Saved 3D views

Line up an angle and click ★ Save view. Give it a name.
Pick it from Saved 3D views… to jump back. ✕ deletes the selected one.
Saved views are stored with the project.

Toolbar

Top‑left: Top · Front · Back · Left · Right · 3D · Saved views · Measure · Select · Clear meas. · Labels · Info ▾ · Truss meas · Set origin · Locked click‑through · Snap · End‑snap · XY · ↶ Undo / ↷ Redo.
When the window is narrow, less‑used tools move into the ⋯ menu. Nothing is hidden off‑screen.
XY and Info ▾ are the first to move into ⋯. In ⋯, Info ▾ works the same; its ▾ panel opens without closing the menu.

Phone & tablet

3D view: one finger on empty space orbits. Plan view: one finger pans.
Two fingers pinch‑zoom and pan.
Touch an element and drag to move it, just like the mouse.
Plan view is easiest for touch editing.
Height‑drag isn’t on touch: type the Z · height in the Inspector.
On a phone (≤ 600 px) the side panel is a bottom sheet. Tap or drag its handle for peek, half or full.
The phone toolbar is compact: view dropdown, Measure, Select, ⋯, ↶, ↷. Everything else is in ⋯.

Adding elements

Add an element

Pick a type under Add element and click Add to scene. Click once to drop it.
The Type field is searchable: type e.g. fres or truss h. ↑/↓ and Enter pick, Esc cancels.
Hold A and click the canvas to add the selected type at that point.
Snap (top‑left) is off by default. Set 0.1 / 0.5 / 1 m to round positions.

Available groups

Rigging: trusses, pipes, MX1, drop arm, Manfrotto stand, hoists, PDU, Power‑Hot cable, half coupler.
Fixtures: all come from the Custom library (see Fixtures).
Set: box, wall, square podium, round podium, standing person (1.75 m), seated person, chair.
Video: video screen and studio camera.
Markings: a line or circle on the floor for set marks. No weight or DMX.
Import: images and 3D models (.obj).

Weight defaults

Set pieces and people weigh 0 kg by default, so they don’t count in rigging loads.
Weight is editable on every element. Type a weight (e.g. for hanging scenery) and it counts.

Truss & pipe

Truss types: horizontal, vertical/tower, circle, corner 90°, T 3‑way, 3‑way corner‑down, 4‑way cross.
Pipe types: straight, circle, corner (0.5 × 0.5 m), T‑piece (0.5 × 0.5 m) and corner‑down (0.5 m leg). Pipes weigh about 3 kg/m.
The truss is the Litec QX30SA: 29 × 29 cm, Ø50 mm tubes, about 5.5 kg/m.
Corner 90° (QX30SAL2090) ≈ 5.9 kg. T 3‑way (QX30SAT3) ≈ 7.3 kg. Corner‑down (QX30SAL3, 50 × 50 × 50 cm) 8.2 kg. 4‑way cross (QX30SAX4, 50 × 50 × 29 cm) 8.2 kg.
A straight truss has editable width, height and diagonal spacing.
★ Save as truss type adds a shaped truss under My truss types. It stays in your browser.
A circle rig has an editable diameter and arc (5–360°, with ¼ / ½ / ¾ / full buttons).
Horizontal truss, pipe and circle rigs can be tilted (Tilt Z °). Mounted Fixtures follow.
Trusses are built from 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.5 and 0.25 m sections. Pipes also use 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05 m.
Rings in 3D mark where sections meet.
End‑snap: rig ends within ~40 cm jump together. Toggle it with the End‑snap button.
Snapped modules form a group and move together. Hold M while dragging to pull one out.

Pipes on trusses

Set a pipe’s Hangs on to a truss. It snaps under it and its load rolls up into that truss.
A pipe dropped within 10 cm of a truss’s top or bottom snaps there; at mid‑height it sits on the front.
A pipe across two or more trusses shares its load by moment balance.
A pipe that hangs free (not on a truss) is its own LX, just like a truss. See Power & hots → Which LX?

MX1 ladder

MX1 Ladder is a floor upright with holes. It has a half coupler on top and can hang from a truss.
Hole spacing is 10 or 20 cm on one 10 cm grid (first hole 10 cm from each end).
Longer uprights are split into sections up to 2 m. A collar marks each join.
The MX1 crossbar snaps its near end to the closest hole of an upright.
A Half coupler (0.634 kg) is also available on its own.

Drop arm & stand

Drop arm (Avenger C820) hangs a Fixture below a truss or pipe.
Drop a Fixture within ~0.6 m of its bottom and it binds to the arm.
Drop length is 0.8–4 m (default 1.2 m). The Fixture moves with it.
Manfrotto stand is a floor stand with a 16 mm spigot. It doesn’t snap to truss.
Sizes: Small 1052BAC (1.01–2.37 m, 1.23 kg, payload 5 kg), Medium 1004BAC (1.24–3.66 m, 2.4 kg, 9 kg), Large 111BSU (1.46–3.80 m, 9 kg, 25 kg).
A Fixture on a stand is its own LX for auto‑hot. Its weight sits on the floor.

Fixtures

Library

There are no built‑in Fixture types. Every Fixture comes from the Custom library.
Factory fresnels: small ≈ 650 W, medium ≈ 1 kW, large ≈ 2 kW.
Also: Nanlite Forza 60/300/720, moving washes and profiles, Martin Aura XIP, MAC Viper XIP, MAC Encore.
And: LED panel, LED PAR, tapered and adjustable softbox, strobe, round lantern, Astera Titan Tube, Astera QuikPunch.
Pick a model under Custom in the Add element list.

Look & hanging

Fixtures tilt about 35° down by default. The QuikPunch stands on the floor and points up.
Size (%) scales the model.
Every Fixture (not softboxes) has a hook clamp that grips the rig’s bottom pipe.
The Titan Tube has a Tube length (e.g. 1 m Titan, 0.5 m Helios) and a hidden clamp.
Tilt (°) plus Flat / Vertical 90° / Vertical −90° tilt the body, e.g. to stand a tube upright.
Direction shows a blue arrow in plan view (off by default).
On a circle truss a Fixture turns to face the centre when it snaps on.

Softboxes

Drop a softbox near a Fixture and it snaps in front of the lens.
It follows the Fixture when moved, rotated, panned or tilted — also after Undo/Redo and reopening.
Width/Height/Depth are editable.
The adjustable softbox keeps one white face as a marker.

Custom types

Click + Define custom type: name, weight, colour, 3D symbol, DMX channels and Watts.
A live 3D preview shows the model. Drag to rotate.
✎ Edit changes a type for every placed Fixture of that type. ✕ deletes it.
Changing the channel count updates all Fixtures of that type and repacks their addresses.
Custom types stay in your browser and are saved inside each project.
⚙ GDTF data fixes a bad import: real size (rescales the model) and DMX modes.
Jump there from any Fixture with ⚙ Type in the Inspector quick row.

Fixture library

Add fixture from library… (custom‑type panel) has two tabs.
Bundled: real fixtures (Martin, Robe, ARRI, ETC, Chauvet, Ayrton, GLP, Clay Paky, Astera …). Works offline.
Online · GDTF Share: search all of GDTF Share and import a .gdtf (weight, watts, DMX modes, size). See MVR, GDTF & CSV.
Import .gdtf file… reads a file from your computer. Offline, no login.

Selecting & the Inspector

Select

Click an element in 3D, plan or the element list. Its settings appear in the Inspector.
With Auto‑open Edit ticked, the Inspector follows the selection. Untick it to open the editor with Edit.
The Inspector sits under the element list, in its own column on screens ≥ 1600 px, or in the phone sheet.
With several selected it shows how many of each type.
Edits apply at once and can be undone with Ctrl/⌘+Z.

Quick row

Right under the name: 🔒 Lock, 👁 Hide, 🏷 Label (+ Top/Side) and ⚙ Type.
A highlighted button means on.
Lock stops accidental dragging. Hold Z or M to still move a locked element.
Hide removes it from views and the PDF, but it still counts in weight/load (shown with 🚫).
Label shows the info label above (Top) or beside (Side) the element.
Label shows: Name · FID · DMX · Hot sits right under the quick row on Fixtures. See Labels, FID & Info ▾.

Fixture Inspector order

Header: Name and Fixture ID side by side, type under the name.
Patch: DMX mode, universe, start, channels, Cable/PU, watts, power/hot.
Position: X / Y / Z, rotation (0/90/180/270° buttons), body tilt.
Aim: Pan, Head tilt, direction arrow.
Look: colour, size, gel, accessory, transparency.
Rigging & weight: hangs on, weight.
Click a section title to fold it. The tab remembers it until closed.

Moving & rotating

Drag along the floor. Shift‑drag or right‑drag changes height.
Hold R and drag to rotate around the vertical axis.
Mounted Fixtures move and rotate with their truss.
Locked elements are click‑through by default: dragging them moves the camera. Toggle with Locked click‑through.
Images and 3D models don’t block the mouse. Hold M to grab one.

Pop‑up editor

Right‑click an element (without moving) for the editor in a centred window.
Switch fixture / Switch truss·rig changes the type but keeps position, name, DMX and rigging.
With a multi‑selection it switches all of the same kind at once.
On an MX1 crossbar, ＋ Add hangs a Fixture straight on it.

Element list

Each row shows a summary, e.g. LX1 · 1.001 · H1.2 for a Fixture or 6.00 m · 2×3m for a truss.
🗑 deletes (Undo brings it back). There’s no delete key, to avoid accidents.
Sort: Number, Type, Name, Truss / pipe (LX), DMX address, Hot, Position or Layer. ↑/↓ reverses.
Sorting only changes the view. The sort is saved with the project when it isn’t Number ↑.

Selection panel

Click Select, then click, Shift‑click or drag a box.
Distribute evenly or with fixed spacing along the truss or an axis (2+ elements). Circle trusses spread by angle.
On a chain of snapped truss modules (e.g. a square with corners), Fixtures spread along the whole chain. Side (truss frame) puts them on the Centre line, Inner edge or Outer edge.
Set one value on all: Height, X, Y, Colour, DMX universe or Power tag.
Align on truss lines Fixtures up on the Front or Back chord.
Rotate each (45° / 90° / 180° / +5°) and Nudge all (X/Y/Z by a distance).
⧉ Copy selection duplicates everything with its structure intact.
Name the group, lock/unlock, labels on/off, change Fixture type, DMX and auto‑hot for the selection.
Number by click order… or Number selected · left → right rename with a counting number (101, LX101 …).
Rename selected… uses a base name, start, step and padding with a preview.

Groups

Select 2+ elements and press ⛓ Group or G. Shift+G ungroups.
A group moves as one. It gets a row at the top of the list to rename, move or tilt it.
Deleting the group row keeps its elements. Groups are saved and survive copying.

Patch & DMX

Addresses

Each Fixture gets a DMX footprint and the next free address automatically.
A universe holds 512 channels. A Fixture that won’t fit rolls to the next universe at address 1.
Set universe, start and channels in the Inspector. Channels 0 = no DMX.
Labels and the PDF show the address as #universe‑address (e.g. #1‑123).
DMX: Auto / Manual (next to Add to scene) controls addressing for new Fixtures.

DMX modes

Fixtures with several modes (e.g. from .gdtf) get a DMX mode dropdown. Channels follow.
The footprint counts 16/24‑bit channels correctly.
In Auto addressing, changing mode reflows addresses so nothing overlaps.
Apply channels to all of this type copies one Fixture’s channel count to its type.

Re‑addressing

Auto‑number addresses the selected Fixtures in Fixture‑number order from address 1 of universe U.
Set from here starts at the exact U @ address you type.
Set universe U · keep address only changes the universe.
In Patch & power, Auto‑number with nothing selected re‑addresses all (asks first).

DMX check

Runs all the time and never changes anything.
Flags overlaps, duplicate starts, addresses below 1 or past 512, unknown footprints and duplicate FIDs.
A red badge shows the count. Warnings select the Fixture; the list row gets ⚠.
A table shows used / free channels per universe.

Fixture ID (FID)

Optional. Empty = MVR uses a trailing #n in the name, otherwise a running count.
A typed FID goes straight into MVR (FixtureID + FixtureIDNumeric).
Duplicates are flagged but never changed automatically. Copies don’t inherit the FID.
Number FIDs: Per LX (101…, 201…), Sequential, or Clear. FID from sets the first number. Works on the selected Fixtures, or all.
Per LX numbers each LX from its 0‑end. Fixtures on a drop arm or on a pipe hung on a truss count on that truss, in position order (on one drop arm: top first).
Fixtures without an LX get their numbers last.
Where the FID shows up: labels, Info ▾, the Patch list, Fixture labels and the PDF. See Labels, FID & Info ▾.

Patch list

Patch list… shows one row per Fixture: FID, name, type, mode, channels, univ.addr, LX + distance, hot, Cable/PU, gel, accessory, X·Y·Z.
LX is the truss or free‑hanging pipe the Fixture counts on (also via a drop arm), with its distance from the 0‑end.
Click a heading to sort. Conflicts and duplicate FIDs are red.
Click a cell to edit FID, Name, mode, Univ.Addr, Hot, Cable/PU, Gel, Accessory. Tab / Enter save, Esc cancels.
Every saved cell is one Undo step.
Tick rows to Auto‑address, Set universe or Rename….
Export CSV saves the list in the current sort.
In View only the list is read‑only.

Other Fixture fields

Cable/PU out: a free reference such as A1. Shown on labels, plan and PDF.
Gel / filter and Accessory: free text. Shown in the patch list, CSV and (optionally) labels.
Empty fields aren’t saved, so old files stay unchanged.

Labels, FID & Info ▾

Name labels

Labels: on/off (toolbar) shows or hides the name labels in 3D and plan view. 🏷 Label in the quick row turns on the label for one element.
When a Fixture has a FID, its label reads e.g. 101 · Fresnel 2 KW instead of the element number (#37). Without a FID nothing changes.
The same goes for Fixture labels, hot labels and the name labels on the PDF drawings.

Label shows (one Fixture)

Label shows: Name · FID · DMX · Hot (Inspector, right under Label, also for several selected Fixtures) picks what the label shows, e.g. 101 · 1.019 · H8.5 – as one callout with a thin leader line in Top, the elevations and the PDF plot.
Tick any mix of the four. Untick all and the Fixture keeps the classic label.
Callouts and FID numbers are placed automatically so they never cover each other or the name labels; zoomed out they move further from the Fixture.
Saved with the project only when something is ticked, so old files look the same.

Info ▾ (all Fixtures)

Info ▾ in the toolbar (or ⋯) shows info on every Fixture in Top and the elevation views (not in 3D).
Click ▾ for the panel: Show on all Fixtures plus Name, FID, DMX and Hot. Ticking a field switches Info on.
Click Info to switch it on or off. The button shows what is chosen, e.g. Info: FID · DMX.
Info ▾ adds to what each Fixture shows under Label shows (no doubles, still one box per Fixture). When it is off, only the Inspector choices show.
Name is left out where the classic name label is already shown. Fixtures without a FID show no FID.
Works with Labels on or off. Remembered in this browser, not saved in the project. Allowed in View only.

FID in plan view

Tick FID under Info ▾ to see every Fixture’s FID in a small box under it in Top and the elevations.
Works for Fixtures on trusses, pipes and drop arms. Close boxes move aside so they stay readable.

In the PDF

The PDF plot shows the same callouts as Label shows. Name / DMX / Hot from Info ▾ are added when Info is on.
The FID in the PDF follows the PDF option Fixture ID (FID) (on by default). When Info adds Name / DMX / Hot, the FID sits in the same box.
A note in the PDF options tells you when Info ▾ adds to the plot.

Power & hots

Power (Hot) field

Each Fixture has a free‑text Power (Hot) field, e.g. Hot 1.1.
It appears on the label, plan overlay and PDF.
Typing a hot by hand locks it from auto‑hot. Unlock hands it back.

Auto‑hot

Give each type a Watts value (or set Watts on one Fixture).
Open Auto‑hot… (Patch & power). Tabs: Fixtures and Video screens.
Scope: All, Selected, or one LX.
A hot has 6 outputs. Each output is limited by amps (and optional Max fixtures/output).
A new truss starts a fresh hot.
Order is left‑to‑right seen from the studio centre. On a circle, seen from inside the ring.
Phase per output: six numbers, e.g. 1,1,2,2,3,3 (Pairs) or 1,2,3,1,2,3 (Rotating).
Video screens can continue the same hot series (After fixtures).
The Inspector shows a Fixture’s watts/amps and the load on its output and hot.

Which LX?

A Fixture on a drop arm counts on the arm’s truss.
A Fixture on a pipe counts on the pipe’s truss, or the pipe itself if it hangs free.
A free‑hanging pipe is treated like an LX truss: its name is the LX name, distances count from its 0‑end (left end), and Auto‑hot starts a fresh hot on it.
The same LX and distance show in the Patch list, Fixture labels, CSV and the PDF.

PDU & cables

PDU / Dimmer city is a floor power distro.
Power‑Hot cable: click a truss to start, click bends, click a PDU to finish (Enter ends, Esc cancels).
Length and weight (kg/m × length) are calculated. Weight is split over the trusses it runs on.
⚡ Auto‑route to PDU follows the trusses and drops at the PDU (via a hoist above it if there is one).
Limit routes with Auto‑route only via these LX.
Start at hot starts the cable at that hot’s Fixtures.
Drag yellow handles to move bends.
Length is split into 40 / 30 / 20 / 10 / 5 / 2 m cables with the fewest joins.

Rigging & weight

Hanging on trusses

Drop a Fixture near a truss/pipe and it snaps underneath. Set pieces, models and images snap too.
Hangs on: Auto (nearest), None, or a specific truss.
Moving a truss carries its mounted elements.
Hold Z and release over a rig to snap to its height. H snaps selected Fixtures back onto their rig.

Rigging points

Pick H (ceiling) or P (wall), set the WLL, click Place point, then click a ceiling or wall.
Edit a point to rename it, set X/Y/Z and WLL, and tick which trusses it carries.
Points have their own layer. Hiding it doesn’t change the load.

Load calculation

A truss’s load goes to its points by moment balance (see‑saw), not split equally.
Two points: exact. Three or more: each load is shared by the two nearest points (safe side).
A load outside the points goes fully to the nearest one.
A drop arm counts with the Fixtures hanging on it, on the truss it hangs from.
The Load summary shows total load, per point, per truss, and warns when a WLL is exceeded.
Hidden elements still count.

Hoists

Chain block, Electric hoist and Electric hoist (upside‑down) connect a point to a truss.
Set capacity and chain length (default 24 m). Self‑weight = motor + chain (CM Lodestar data), overridable.
Chain drop raises or lowers the truss. One motor alone tilts it, with everything mounted.
Move whole truss or Level truss moves all its motors together.
A hoist’s weight counts on its ceiling point, never on the truss.

Measurements

Truss measurements

Tick Show measurements in a truss editor.
It lists each Fixture’s distance from the left end and draws a dimension chain in plan view.
A gold arrow marks the 0‑end (left end, 0 on a circle, top of an MX1).
Truss meas: on/off hides the chains on views. The PDF table is always included.

Free measuring

Click Measure (switches to plan view). Click a start and an end point.
Click a line to delete it. Clear meas. removes all (asks if more than 3).
Esc cancels the current line or removes the last.
All of it can be undone. Measurements are saved with the project.

Layers

Type layers

Layers follow the types: Rigging, Set, Video, Markings, Images, 3D models and one per custom type.
A layer appears once something uses it.
Fixture layers are grouped under Fixtures, one row per type.
Rigging points and Groups have their own layers.

Show / hide

Click the eye in the sidebar, or use Layers ▾ in plan view (⋯ on a phone).
A hidden layer can’t be clicked but still counts in weight/load.

Your own layers

Click + New layer and name it.
Select elements and use Move to layer.
🗑 removes a layer; its elements go back to their type layers.
Layers are saved with the project.

Video screens & cameras

Video screen

Set panel width/height (cm, default 50×50) and pixels per panel.
Enter the screen size. It fills with whole panels and shows count, resolution and megapixels.
Weight = panel count × weight per panel, or a fixed total.
★ Save as panel type adds it under My panel types.
Screen image: Test image, Custom image… or None.

Signal (NovaStar MX40 Pro)

20 Ethernet ports, fiber boxes of 10 ports, max 9 M px per device.
Pick bit depth, frame rate and receiving card. Ports fill to their pixel capacity.
Choose Distribution (Serpentine / Straight), start corner and pull direction.
Modules per port can be lower than the capacity, never higher.
Redundancy doubles the ports: Split (1–10 / 11–20) or Odd/even.
Manual patch lets you click panels per port.

Power

Enter watt per panel, voltage, amps per output and outputs (Auto by default).
A hot has 6 outputs. Phases follow the same pattern as Fixture hots.
Starts are labelled hot.output (H1.1 …).
Show port/hot numbers in ISO toggles the tags in 3D.

Studio camera

Add Video · studio camera. It starts at 1.6 m.
Set Pan °, Tilt ° (±89°) and Zoom (FOV) ° (1–100°, default 50°).
Open live view previews the lens. Save image… downloads a PNG.

Images & 3D models

Import

Use Image or 3D model (.obj), or drag a file onto the view.
Images become a flat panel with their aspect ratio.
OBJ units are guessed (m / cm / mm). Change them in the editor.
3D models start at 10 % opacity. Raise it with Transparency.

Edit

Place on Floor / Ceiling / Wall N‑S‑E‑W positions in one click.
Mirror flips along an axis. Three rotation fields tilt freely.
Calibrate size: click two points with a known distance and type the real length.
Horizontal cut shows only a slice of the model. Reset cut restores it.
Color tints the whole model.

PDF export

The report (A3)

Pages 1–3: top plot, side view and 3D view, each filling a page.
The top plot follows your plan zoom and pan. The 3D page follows your 3D view.
Then: Parts count, element data, loads, measurements and the power‑hot summary.
Per‑truss pages show distances, DMX and hots. Circle rigs are drawn as a ring.
LX pages come in the order you see them in Top view: top to bottom, then left to right (by each truss/pipe centre). Pipes count as LX too.
The same LX order is used for the measurement list, loads per truss/pipe and the PDF Patch list sorted by LX. Nothing in the project changes.
MX1 uprights and video screens get their own pages.

Pages

PDF contents → Pages picks which pages go into the PDF.
Top plot, Side view, 3D view, Parts count, Element list, Rigging & weight, Power & DMX summary, LX measurements, MX1 elevations, Video screen pages, Patch list.
All are on by default except Patch list.
A line under the box shows what the PDF will contain and about how many pages. Preview shows the exact result.

Show on drawings

Picks what is drawn and labelled on the Top / Side / 3D pages.
Fixtures, Rigging, Power, People, Set, Video, Markings, Images, 3D models, Rigging points, Measurement chains, Name labels.
It never changes the lists or data pages. Load totals always count everything.

Element list contents

Picks which groups appear in the Element list: Fixtures, Truss / pipes, Power, Set, People, Video screens, Cameras, Markings, Images, 3D models.
Counts per group are shown. All / None set every box.
Greyed out when the Element list page is off.

Layout

Print‑friendly: white background, dark lines.
Title block: logo, project, venue, designer, date, revision and page x / y on every page.
DMX / hot text: DMX, Cable/PU and hot beside Fixture names on drawings and LX / MX1 pages.
Fixture ID (FID): shows e.g. "101 · F1" on the LX / MX1 pages and the measurement list. Only Fixtures with a FID; greyed out when none has one.
With FID on, the top plot shows the FID next to every Fixture, and the Element list and Patch list show it instead of the element number (#37).
Fixtures on a drop arm are listed on their truss’s LX page with › and their FID, e.g. › 102 · A1: 4.00 m (on Arm).
Rigging points: ▼ marks above each LX with name, position from the left end and load, plus the spacing; also in the measurement list. Straight trusses/pipes only.
Rigging point text is turned upright like the Fixture and hot text. Close points put their text on the other side of the ▼.
Black & white: pure black text and lines on white, no coloured or grey fields (outlines instead). Best on B/W and label printers.
Black & white applies to every PDF: the report and Fixture, hot and rigging labels. The Fixture labels window has the same switch. Off = colour as before.
Fill in venue, designer and revision under Project → Project info.
PDF settings are saved with the project only when changed.

Preview

Click Preview… to see the PDF in the app before downloading.
Every PDF has a 👁 preview button: Quick row PDF, Hot labels, Fixture labels (A4 / roll) and Rigging labels (A4 / roll).
Update preview rebuilds it. Download PDF saves exactly that file.
If your browser can’t show PDFs inline (e.g. iPhone), use Open in new tab.
Works offline and in View only.

Other exports

Quick row: PDF, MVR, CSV labels and Save, one click away.
Hot labels: one label per hot (Fixtures + video). Editable, CSV import/export, A4 PDF.
Fixture labels: number, type, LX, DMX, mode, Cable/PU, hot, position. A4 Avery, roll PDF or CSV.
On Fixture labels the number is the FID when set, and LX is the truss or free‑hanging pipe with the distance from its 0‑end.
Rigging labels: one per point and hoist.

MVR, GDTF & CSV

MVR export

Export MVR writes MVR 1.6 for grandMA3 (Show Creator → MVR, or Patch → Import MVR).
Fixtures carry GDTF name, mode, universe.address, FID and a Z‑up mm matrix.
A Fixture from GDTF Share / .gdtf packs the real GDTF model.
Trusses, pipes, MX1 and drop arms export as Truss nodes. Screens as VideoScreen.
The room and pan/tilt are not exported.

MVR import

Import MVR… reads our files and typical MA exports (Fixtures, layers, geometry).

GDTF Share login

The Online tab asks for your own GDTF Share email and password (gdtf-share.com).
The account must be activated on gdtf-share.com.
Search and download go through the site’s proxy over HTTPS.
If the login is rejected, the message says so. Other errors say they are not a password problem.
GDTF Share needs internet. The Bundled tab and Import .gdtf file work offline.

CSV

Patch list → Export CSV for patching (universe and address in separate columns).
Fixture labels and hot labels also export/import CSV.

Realistic models & pan/tilt

Realistic fixture models

Under Studio size → Fixtures, tick Realistic fixture models.
It replaces the simple shapes with detailed models. Display only — MVR, CSV and positions are unchanged.
Off by default. Saved with the project only when on.
If a model can’t load, the Fixture keeps its simple shape.

Pan & Head tilt

Each Fixture has optional Pan (°) and Head tilt (°), within its range.
Empty = pan 0°, head 35° forward. Head tilt 0° points straight down.
The floor round Fresnel/QuikPunch: 0° = its usual uplight, + raises the beam.
Works with simple shapes too. The Direction arrow follows the beam.
Not written to MVR.

Offline & install

Offline

After the first visit the whole app works without internet.
3D, realistic Fixtures, PDF, save/open, autosave and MVR all work offline.
The header badge shows ● Offline ready (green) or Offline (amber).
GDTF Share needs a connection.
Opening the HTML file from disk (file://) works, without the badge.

Install & update

Click the badge to Install (Chrome / Edge / Android).
iPhone/iPad: Share → Add to Home Screen.
A new version shows New version available — Reload. Save first, then reload.

Saving, autosave & unsaved changes

Save & open

Save project stores everything in one self‑contained .sldt.json file.
Open project opens it again. Old files always open.
You can also drop a project file onto the view.
New project clears everything (asks first). Your custom types are kept.
Export JSON writes a data export.

Autosave

Versions are saved in this browser while you work. Nothing is downloaded.
At most one new version every 2 minutes. Up to 10 versions and 30 days.
🕘 Restore autosave… lists them: Restore (undoable), Download (as …-autosave-date.sldt.json) or Delete.
If an autosave is newer than your last save, a note offers to restore it.
⟳ Auto turns autosave on/off. No autosave in View only.

Unsaved changes

Closing, reloading or leaving with unsaved changes asks first.
Every change counts. Only Save project clears it; autosave doesn’t.
Undo back to the saved state clears it again.
Browsers only warn after you’ve clicked or typed. iPhone/iPad Safari never warns — save first.

Undo

Ctrl/⌘+Z undoes (up to 500 steps). Ctrl/⌘+Shift+Z or Ctrl+Y redoes.
History is kept under about 50 MB; the oldest steps drop first.
Undo clears the selection.

View only

Lock the design

Click 👁 View only (top bar). It reads 🔒 VIEW ONLY with a yellow banner.
Locked: adding, moving, editing, deleting, undo/redo, measuring, patch tools and imports.
Allowed: inspecting, views, layers, labels, sorting, the manual, Open, Save, every export and PDF preview.
Click again to edit. No password. Remembered in this browser.

Share a read‑only link

Add ?view=1 to the address, e.g. https://sldt.paulli.net/?view=1. ?view=0 forces editing.
A project saved in View only opens locked.

Keyboard shortcuts

Edit

Ctrl/⌘+Z undo · Ctrl/⌘+Shift+Z or Ctrl+Y redo.
Ctrl/⌘+C / V duplicate the selection (with mounted Fixtures, softboxes and group links).
G group · Shift+G ungroup.
H snap selected Fixtures/pipes/drop arms to their truss height.
Enter applies a panel field.
Esc cancels measuring/placing, stops Move all, closes windows.

Hold a key

A + click: add the selected type at that point.
R + drag: rotate.
M + drag: grab an image/model, move a locked element, or pull a module out of its group.
Z + drag: move up/down. Release over a rig to snap to it.
Hold keys only work while held, and never while typing.

Navigation

Tab / Shift+Tab move between controls (amber outline).
Inside a window, Tab stays in it and Esc closes it.
In the manual search, the first Esc clears it, the second closes.

Troubleshooting

Common questions

Can’t move an element? It may be locked (🔒) or View only is on.
Element missing? Its layer may be hidden, or it’s hidden (👁 in the quick row).
Fixture won’t snap? Drop it closer to the truss, or set Hangs on.
DMX warning? Open Patch & power → DMX check, or the Patch list.
PDF too long? Untick pages under PDF contents → Pages (e.g. Element list), or groups under Element list contents.
Wrong scale on an OBJ? Change its units or use Calibrate size.
GDTF Share login fails? Check your login on gdtf-share.com. If the message says it isn’t a password problem, try later.
Online search shows 404? A local static server can’t run the proxy. Use the hosted site.
Wrong file type? All files show in the dialogs; the app tells you if the file belongs elsewhere.
Lost work? Try 🕘 Restore autosave…
Info doesn’t show in 3D? Info ▾ and FID boxes are drawn in Top and the elevations only.
No FID on a Fixture? Give it one in the Inspector or with Number FIDs (Patch & power).
Coloured PDF on a label printer? Tick Black & white under PDF contents → Layout.
Softbox slightly twisted after reopening? Fixed in v3.42.78 – save again: a softbox on a rotated Fixture now keeps its exact angle. If an older file already shows a twist, select the softbox and snap it to the Fixture again.

Credits

Created by Kim Paulli · kim@paulli.net
Reopen this manual any time with the ? button.

Project

Studio size

Add element

Layers

Elements in scene

Inspector

Patch & power0

Rigging points

Export / import

Studio Lighting Design Tool — User Manual

Getting started

What the tool is

Your first plot in five steps

Set up the room

The sidebar

Zero point (origin)

Views & navigation

Mouse

View buttons

Plan view

Cursor position (X/Y)

Saved 3D views

Toolbar

Phone & tablet

Adding elements

Add an element

Available groups

Weight defaults

Truss & pipe

Pipes on trusses

MX1 ladder

Drop arm & stand

Fixtures

Library

Look & hanging

Softboxes

Custom types

Fixture library

Selecting & the Inspector

Select

Quick row

Fixture Inspector order

Moving & rotating

Pop‑up editor

Element list

Selection panel

Groups

Patch & DMX

Addresses

DMX modes

Re‑addressing

DMX check

Fixture ID (FID)

Patch list

Other Fixture fields

Labels, FID & Info ▾

Name labels

Label shows (one Fixture)

Info ▾ (all Fixtures)

FID in plan view

In the PDF

Power & hots

Power (Hot) field

Auto‑hot

Which LX?

PDU & cables

Rigging & weight

Hanging on trusses

Rigging points

Load calculation

Hoists

Measurements

Truss measurements

Free measuring

Layers

Type layers

Show / hide

Your own layers

Video screens & cameras

Video screen

Patch & power