LightTools Enewsletter

In September, Synopsys' Optical Solutions Group held LightTools^® User Group Meetings featuring presentation topics ranging from LightTools case studies and usage tips to what's new in the software.

If you weren't able to attend the meeting, you still can benefit from this year's topics. We've uploaded the presentations to the Customer Support Portal for viewing at your convenience. When you log in, you'll find the following presentations:

• LightTools 8.5 New Features
  LightTools 8.5 has a number of exciting new features to enhance your effectiveness, including Conformal Receivers, Illuminance Visualization in the 3D Design View, a new Parameter Sensitivity Analyzer, and enhancements to the Light Guide Designer and Street Light Utilities. In this presentation we review all of these new features and enhancements.

Training videos are available for many of the LightTools 8.5 new features from the Customer Support Portal, in the LightTools New Feature Videos section.

• Wall Grazing Luminaire Case Study
  Wall grazing is the illumination over a wall to bring attention to aesthetic wall textures and details. In this case study, a wall grazing luminaire is designed and visualized using the LightTools Freeform Designer and Parameter Sensitivity Analyzer.
  
  LightTools User Group Session 1 Webinar - New Features and Wall Grazing Luminaire Case Study
  
  
• Simulation and Analysis of Color and Visual Effects in LightTools
  Color is an important aspect of many lighting systems. This presentation explores many ways to model, simulate, and analyze color in LightTools. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of many techniques and include references for further study.
  
  
• Ghost Analysis of an Imaging Lens with LightTools, CODE V and RSoft
  The analysis and control of stray light is an important but complex task for the design of imaging systems. In this presentation, we discuss various computational approaches to simulation stray light in an imaging lens, using CODE V, RSoft Device Tools, and LightTools.
  
  LightTools User Group Session 2 Webinar - Simulation of Visual Effects and Ghost Analysis with LightTools, CODE V, and RSoft
  
  
• Interesting Ways to Use Freeform Designer: Using Pinhole Images to Understand Non-Imaging Optics
  The design of illumination optics that use extended sources and freeform surfaces is relatively common. We show how these nonimaging optics can be better understood by using pinhole images. Numerous examples are used to illustrate.
  
  
• Interesting Ways to Use Freeform Designer: Conformal Targets
  Historically, most illumination designs were specified using an illuminance on a flat plane or intensity. With the introduction of conformal receivers in LightTools 8.5, it is possible to analyze and design for a target illuminance on a curved surface. This presentation discusses using the Free-form Designer to design these systems.
  
  LightTools User Group Session 3 Webinar - Interesting Ways to Use Freeform Designer