Most of us got in this business because we didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk shuffling paper. So we happily wandered into this field where we could use our right lobes in the right job creating works of art from light. But what we find is that we spend most of our time shuffling paper and documenting the lighting designs we create. If you’re using lighting design software then you probably use the lighting paperwork software that comes with it such as WYSIWYG Report, LD Assistant worksheets, etc. I tried Lightwright and I found that it organizes the information I need very quickly and it prints very nice reports for shop orders, load-ins, focusing and programming notes. I don’t often endorse individual products but the bottom line is that I’m going to spend almost $500 for a license, and that’s all I’m saying. I’m still waiting, however, for a lighting paperwork software package that caters to permanent installations. Though Lighwright works well for my use, it seems to be oriented towards rep theatre. Having said that, it does help me finish the paperwork and get on with the reason I love this industry – the fun.
What lighting paperwork software do you use?
