Luxuswin 2 is a program which brings together in a single package all the functions needed by lighting professionals:

· lighting technique calculation;
· electronic catalogue and photometry documentation functions;
· photo-realistic rendering;
· calculation of materials.

At present, the program is only available for internal illumination designs. The external and street version is currently being developed.

Luxuswin 2 works in Windows 98/NT/Me/2000 professional environments.

The main feature of this program is that it is simple to use. The user interface maintains and considerably improves the immediacy which was a fundamental characteristic of the previous version of Luxuswin.

The screen is divided into easily locatable and recognizable areas. The project is broken down into the main stages. Each project stage corresponds to a different operational method which can be activated using one of the big main menu buttons to the left of the screen.

The calculation module is the heart of the program and all the main innovations originate here. The module adopts radiosity algorithms which are state of the art for this sector. These are then perfected and optimized in order to obtain acceptable calculation times as well as an agreeable presentation.

As a direct consequence of the calculation procedure followed, it is possible to obtain rendered representations, which is the program's representation of choice. Naturally it is also possible to obtain traditional representations (isolux curves, tables, etc.).

Improvements have also been made to the presentation layout. The materials of each surface are simulated by means of a bitmap. Finally, a tone reproduction correction function is included which makes it possible to optimize the video display.

The calculation module is completely generic and makes it possible to manage environments of any shape. Any limitations to the type of environments managed are thus dictated by the need to keep the user interface as simple as possible. The environments are defined as parameterized "typologies" (for example, L-shaped or cross-shaped environments, etc.), which make it possible to define even more complex structures by entering a very limited number of parameters. The user can describe a structure by typing in the values of the most significant parameters, or modifying the same interactively with the mouse.

Each surface is linked to a material (simulated by a texture bitmap) or a color and a reflection coefficient. The user can modify the texture or choose to work with solid color surfaces, with no texture.
In this way, with just a few simple operations, it is possible to obtain extremely attractive photo-realistic representations.

The "View bar" is always displayed on the screen. It has a compass containing a small layout of the environment which can be used to change the view of the same extremely rapidly and intuitively. It is possible to choose between flat views and perspective views. Flat views, in addition to being in plan or from the four cardinal points, can be in parallel with each wall (by simply clicking on the wall in question on the layout inside the compass). The compass makes it possible to set the viewing angle or the elevation of a perspective view. Using special controls the user can then zoom in or "go inside" the perspective view, or save it and call up the most frequently used views.

The management of the fixture database is undoubtedly one of the most interesting new features of Luxuswin 2. The structure of the libraries reflects as much as possible the reality of a collection of lighting appliances, with a completely innovative approach compared to similar programs on the market.

A lighting fixture can be made up of one or more illuminating bodies. For fixtures with more than one illuminating body, it is possible to direct each of the illuminating bodies separately from the others and from the basic body of the appliance, as well as to individually locate different lamps and accessories for each illuminating body. No other program on the market has this characteristic.

The program takes into account any modifications made to the photometry of each of the illuminating bodies of lamps with an incorporated reflector. Illuminating bodies can also be combined with an accessory which can, in turn, modify the photometry. Thus the photometry of a fixture is a result of the following combination: illuminating body + lamp + accessory, as in the real world. Management is completely transparent and always starts with catalogue references. No other program presents this characteristic.

Fixtures are cataloged in the library according to the same hierarchical tree structure used for the Targetti catalogue.

The program offers a double level of use: i.e. access to data is possible through the complete structure of libraries or directly through the photometric files in Eulumdat format.

The generic term "Library" is intended to mean the database of information regarding the products manufactured by one of the Targetti group companies. Each library includes all the information managed by the program: technical specifications, images, lamps specifications, etc.

The term "Eulumdat file" refers to the simple photometric file for an individual fixture, formatted in EULUMDAT. Eulumdat files are commonly used by most companies. They only contain information strictly connected with the photometry of the fixture. The program can be used with any Eulumdat file, even from companies outside the Targetti group.

It is possible to enter furnishings, occupied spaces, volumes or architectural elements into the environment by taking them from a library. These objects have parametrical measurements: the three dimensions (length, width and height) are variable, and can be defined when the furnishing element is selected. This makes it possible to manage any type of generic volume or occupied space (pillars, stairs, paneling, etc.)

Each furnishing element is linked to a color, a material and a reflection coefficient which can be modified in a similar way to those for the internal surfaces of the environment.

It is possible to set partially calculated surfaces. These are managed to all effects and purposes as "objects", the same as fixtures and furnishing elements, and share the same positioning, movement, direction and editing methods.

A partially calculated surface can be "real" or "virtual". In the first instance it is distinguished by a material and a reflection coefficient; it intercepts light, projects shadows and permits the calculation of illumination and luminance. In the second instance, the surface is only a spatial reference, it does not intercept light and is not shown in the rendering. On the virtual surface it is possible to calculate the illumination but not the luminance.

In many cases the positioning of objects and fixtures in an environment follows criteria of regularity or symmetry. In order to facilitate positioning in such cases, a powerful grid management function is available.

The grid is a regular graticule (right-angled or radial), the branch points of which act as points of attraction for positioning the fixtures. The grid can be switched on or off (the attraction function is only activated when the grid is turned on). The grid management function has numerous advanced options. For example, in addition to positioning it is possible to make the grid act on the direction of the fixtures, i.e. the fixtures can "lie" along the lines of the grid.

The fixtures remain linked to the grid on which they are positioned. Any modifications to the parameters of a grid will affect the fixtures linked to the same. A virtually unlimited number of grids can be defined for a design project, each one of which is distinguished by a name. By combining different grids in the same environment, it is possible to reproduce any positioning layout with some regularity, even complex layouts.

Numerous advanced positioning functions are available for introducing an object into the environment, making it possible to place it anywhere inside the same, or to apply it directly to the desired surface. With wall positioning, for example, the walls "attract" the fixture and automatically give all the rotations necessary to apply it to the wall, without the user having to do anything.

Fixtures and objects filed in the library are linked by default to the most suitable positioning methods for the type of object selected. For example, the default position of a furnishing element is on the floor; the default position of a wall-mounted luminaire is on the wall, whilst a lighting system element has a generic default position. The default position can, however, be changed by the user when the object is introduced to the environment. Positioning instructions which are not coherent are automatically blocked (it is not possible, for example, to place a desk on the ceiling).

Finally, it is possible to aim the lighting fixtures by simply indicating the point towards which the fixture is directed.

Each design project file can contain different environments.

Moreover, fixtures in an environment can be turned on or off. For each environment it is possible to set different "scenes" (giving them different names) corresponding to different combinations of fixtures which are turned on or off. It is thus possible to simulate different situations (such as, for example, different circuits, or emergency and general lighting) without physically having to reintroduce all the fixtures.

The library can manage fixtures with emergency remote power supplies. When this type of fixture is placed in the environment, it is possible to automatically calculate the emergency lighting (in addition to the general lighting), thanks to the sophisticated scene management function which includes a special scenario for emergency lighting.

It is possible to automatically calculate materials using the program. All fixtures included in the design project are included in the calculation and others can be added manually. It is also possible to enter comments or special items into the calculation (i.e. non-standard articles). The management of the calculation also includes a number of advanced functions (management of "standard" environments; management of repetitive compositions; management of unlisted codes; export on file of calculation, etc.).

Since the Luxuswin 2 program is continually evolving, new updates are periodically posted on line which can be downloaded by anyone who has already installed the software on their computer. To install the update, just download the file into a temporary folder, double click and follow the instructions displayed. After installation, the downloaded file can be removed.
Updates for all previous versions.