Vectorworks Spotlight

CAD and 3D design package aimed at lighting, scenic and event work, with a fixture and truss library and automatic paperwork. It is where most lighting plots and hanging plots in theatre and events are actually drawn.

CAD and draftingVectorworks, Inc.proprietaryReported

What to watch for

Worksheets are generated from the objects in the drawing. A fixture with an incomplete record produces a report that looks correct and quietly omits it, so check counts against the plot before sending paperwork out.

Braceworks rigging analysis and Vision previsualisation are separate products, not Spotlight features. Budget for them separately if the job needs load calculations or previs.

GDTF and MVR round-tripping depends on both ends supporting the same revision. Test the export against the actual console before relying on it to carry patch.

Typical use

Drawing light plots, section and hanging plots
Generating channel hookups, instrument schedules and equipment lists from the drawing
Exchanging a rig with a console or visualiser using GDTF and MVR
Scenic modelling and event layout including seating and tables

Sources

Vectorworks Spotlight product page — Vectorworks, Inc. primary
Vectorworks Spotlight Capabilities — Vectorworks, Inc. primary

Understand the mechanism

Drawings, models and BIM How a machine reads the world

Something wrong, or missing?

Known gaps on this entry: speaks, platforms, price_model. If you can source one of them, that is a ten minute pull request.

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