As the pace of technological development increases, finding a software tool that is easy to understand and easy to use is becoming more challeng-ing. That’s what makes The Stage Research SoftPlot 9 lighting CAD software so appealing. It provides enough power and features to effectively create a complete lighting plot without overtaxing your brain, leaving it free to concentrate on the design.
Not Your Daddy’s CAD
SoftPlot is a lighting computer-aided design software package with several built-in calculators, reports and paperwork templates. It’s different from your typical AutoCAD-like 3-D CAD engine. The interface is more graphical and includes several icons that give you the ability to create a draw-ing using lines, rectangles, circles, ellipses and arcs. There are a limited number of solid editing tools to create walls, set risers and ramps. There is also a masking tool that allows you to create three styles of curtains. In addition, the program gives you the ability to import DXF and DWG files.
You can add design elements to your plot by selecting them from the inventory library. By clicking on an instrument, rigging or power distro icon, you can select an item from a list. Then, when you click in the drawing space, it drops in a block. For example, if you select the rigging icon, you can then choose among various rigging hardware such as pipe, truss, ladders, booms and prerigged truss. Before you drop it in the plot, you can configure its attributes such as the layer in which it will be placed, trim height, weight, size and even the radius if it’s a curved truss.
It also has a cabling feature that allows you to select the type of cable you need and run it between two devices in your plot. For example, you can run cable between your power distro and your dimmer rack, and you can route it any way you choose.
SoftSymbols Library Card
The inventory of equipment is extensive and includes fixtures, rigging and distro. The fixture database includes symbols from Field Template Soft-Symbols and information about the optional accessories, photometrics, lamp options, size and weight. If it’s an automated instrument, it has infor-mation about its pan and tilt range as well. It also has a photograph and a nicely drawn symbol. All of these fields are editable as well.
As you’re laying in your design elements, it automatically assigns a logical layer to it. That can save a lot of time, since you don’t have to take the added step to change the layer or go back and change it. Of course, you can change it if you need to.
Once you have your plot laid out, you can then go in and turn on instruments and focus them with a few clicks of the mouse. By choosing from the Top, Section, Front or 3-D options, you can open a new viewport to see your drawing from different perspectives. There are, however, no isomet-ric views.
Printing and Plotting
The program saves files in an *.ldd format, and you can print a scaled plot on a single sheet of 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, or you can print a larger version on several sheets of paper using the tiled drawing option. Alternatively, you can print any sized drawing with a pen plotter. The drawing border is already preconfigured — ready to be customized for your use.
The data editor included in the program is a spreadsheet-style editor that allows you to manipulate the attributes associated with the instruments and accessories. This is where you can change or assign the dimmer, circuit, channel, etc. There is also a cue editor and a report writer.
When SoftPlot first opens, the graphic on the screen says, “The simplest lighting software available.” I would have to agree. It is very easy to get to know and use. It is a great lighting design tool for cranking out plots and associated information in a short amount of time. It is not, however, a visualizer or rendering tool. While you can insert JPEG backgrounds, there is no facility for attaching materials to objects or creating photo-realistic renderings. That’s not what this software is about. It seems to be about making it easy to create lighting plots in a short amount of time. I think it would be great for theatres where there is no time or need for “selling” your design idea, but a great need for information about lighting positions, power requirements, cable runs, etc. It’s also a great tool for teaching lighting design. With little or no instruction about how to use the program, I can envision turning it over to a kid who is eager to learn lighting design, yet only has a basic background in the subject.
Although this software gives you the ability to create drawings, many of the commands are not like conventional CAD commands. In fact, there is no command line, and some of the functions are very different. For example, the zoom function is a drop-down menu. But don’t let that deter you from this cool tool. It doesn’t take long to get used to the interface, and it will give you just about every tool you need and more.
SoftPlot 9.0 3D is a great starter program or an intermediate program for lighting designers of all levels. In many situations, it will be all you need to create lighting plots and documentation for a lighting production from start to finish. And the best part about it is that it’s affordable. You can download a free demo version at www.stageresearch.com/support/downloads.aspx.
What it is: Lighting design CAD software.
Who it’s for: Beginning to intermediate lighting designers in theatre, education, and more.
Pros: Not like AutoCAD, easy to use, powerful features and functions.
Cons: Not like AutoCAD, no photo-realistic rendering or pre-viz.
Retail Price: SoftPlot 3D V9.0: $499;
SoftPlot 3D V9.0 download: $449; SoftPlot 3D V9.0 10-license academic lab: $2,245
