LightTools

LightTools is a commercial 3D optical design and illumination analysis software used by lighting designers and optical engineers to simulate how light propagates in complex scenes and to optimize luminance performance. It supports forward and backward ray tracing, detailed light source modeling, and interaction of light with different materials and surfaces.

Core features include a 3D scene editor, libraries of light sources such as LEDs and lamps, and material models with spectral data and BRDFs. LightTools employs a non-sequential ray-tracing engine capable of handling multiple bounces, scattering, refraction, and reflection. It supports wavelength-dependent calculations for color rendering, glare analysis, and various photometric metrics to assess lighting performance.

Outputs cover a range of photometric and radiometric data, including illuminance, luminance, irradiance, and candela distributions, along with visualizations such as intensity maps and luminance views. The software can export common photometric formats (such as IES files) and integrates with other design workflows, including CAD and PLM tools.

Applications span automotive lighting development (headlamps and taillights), architectural and street lighting design, backlighting for displays and signage, LED luminaire development, and research into illumination efficiency, optical coatings, and surface interactions. It serves both industry professionals and researchers seeking rigorous optical analysis and optimization.

Availability and development: LightTools is a proprietary software package distributed by a dedicated company for professional use. It runs primarily on Windows and is supported with technical documentation, training resources, and customer support, with regular updates that add features for optical analysis, design, and workflow integration.