Alternatives to LightTools
Compare LightTools alternatives for your business or organization using the curated list below. SourceForge ranks the best alternatives to LightTools in 2026. Compare features, ratings, user reviews, pricing, and more from LightTools competitors and alternatives in order to make an informed decision for your business.
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Ansys SPEOS
Ansys
Ansys SPEOS predicts the illumination and optical performance of systems to save on prototyping time and costs while improving your product’s efficiency. Ansys SPEOS delivers an intuitive and comprehensive user interface, enhanced productivity with use of GPUs for simulation previews and easy access to the Ansys multiphysics ecosystem. SPEOS has been assessed by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) against CIE 171:2006 test cases, assessing the accuracy of light modeling software and showing the performance benefits of Ansys SPEOS. Turn on the light in your virtual model and intuitively explore the propagation of light in 3D. The SPEOS Live preview function features simulation and rendering capabilities so you can design products interactively. Cut iteration time and speed up your decision-making process by performing simulations correctly the first time, automatically designing for optical surfaces, light guides and optical lenses. -
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LucidShape
Synopsys
Quickly and easily create reflector or lens geometry with LucidShape FunGeo. It leverages proprietary algorithms that automatically calculate and construct optical geometries based on user-defined illuminance and intensity patterns. This unique, functional approach gives you the freedom to focus on overall design objectives rather than the implementation details of complex optical components. Accelerate LucidShape illumination simulations with GPUTrace and experience a quantum leap in speed. LucidShape is the first optical simulation software to take advantage of graphics processing unit computing to deliver simulation speed increases by orders of magnitude compared to multithreading capabilities. Use LucidShape's visualization module to demonstrate luminance effects when light sources in a model are illuminated and depict all interactions between system geometry and light sources. -
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RayViz
Lambda Research Corporation
RayViz is a SOLIDWORKS add-in developed by Lambda Research Corporation that enables users to apply and save optical properties directly within the SOLIDWORKS CAD environment. This integration allows for the assignment of optical characteristics from the TracePro property database, which are then stored as part of the SOLIDWORKS model. Users can define light sources and perform ray tracing within SOLIDWORKS to visualize light rays and paths, facilitating tasks such as beam path verification, detection of vignetting by mechanical structures, and identification of light leakage in light guides. RayViz includes catalogs of LED sources, as well as sources with Gaussian and Lambertian beam profiles. A significant advantage of RayViz is its ability to save SOLIDWORKS models in TracePro file format, enabling comprehensive optical analysis in TracePro. If modifications are made to the SOLIDWORKS model, the "update from RayViz" option in TracePro allows for synchronization of the changes. -
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Ansys Zemax OpticStudio
Ansys
Ansys Zemax OpticStudio is a comprehensive optical design software utilized globally by companies and universities to create and analyze optical systems, including imaging, illumination, and laser systems. It offers a user-friendly interface that integrates analysis, optimization, and tolerancing tools, facilitating the design of complex optical systems for a wide range of applications. The software supports both sequential and non-sequential ray tracing, enabling precise modeling of light propagation through various optical components. Advanced features include structural and thermal analysis, allowing users to assess the impact of environmental factors on optical performance. OpticStudio also provides extensive materials and optical element libraries, enhancing the accuracy of simulations. For students, Ansys offers a free version of OpticStudio, providing hands-on experience in designing and analyzing optical systems, thereby preparing them for future careers in optics. -
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OpTaliX
Optenso
OpTaliX is a comprehensive program for computer-aided design of optical systems, thin film multilayer coatings, and illumination systems. It provides powerful features to conceptualize, design, optimize, analyze, tolerate, and document virtually any optical system. OpTaliX includes geometrical and diffraction analysis, optimization, thin film multilayer analysis and refinement, non-sequential ray tracing, physical optics propagation, polarization analysis, ghost imaging, tolerance analysis, extensive manufacturing support, user-defined graphics, illumination, macros, and many more. It is successfully used for the design of photographic and video lenses, industrial optics (beam expanders, laser scanners, reproduction, machine vision), space optics, zoom optics, medical optics, illumination devices, fiber optical telecom systems, infrared optics, X-ray optics, telescopes, eyepieces, and many more.Starting Price: €1,600 one-time payment -
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CODE V Optical Design
Synopsys
Synopsys' CODE V is a powerful optical design software that enables engineers to model, analyze, optimize, and support the fabrication of imaging optical systems. It offers advanced capabilities for designing complex optical components, including freeform surfaces, and provides tools such as global synthesis for global optimization, glass expert for intelligent glass selection, and beam synthesis propagation for accurate diffraction analysis. CODE V's robust tolerancing features help reduce manufacturing costs by predicting and compensating for potential fabrication and assembly errors. The software also facilitates interoperability with other Synopsys tools, such as LightTools, for comprehensive optical and illumination system design. Comprehensive graphics capabilities (pictures, data plots, shaded displays), including 3D visualizations and diffraction-based image simulations. -
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BeamWise
BeamWise
BeamWise is a set of software tools and related services for the design of biophotonic and other complex optical systems. It is implemented using Design++, a knowledge-based engineering platform that simplifies the capture of in-house engineering expertise and streamlines the integration of legacy systems into design automation and product configuration solutions. BeamWise fills the gap between the optical and mechanical worlds by augmenting CAD tools like AutoCAD and SolidWorks with design rules and a component library, ensuring that beam alignment is maintained as design changes propagate through the system. This design automation system addresses significant challenges in optical system design, such as costly prototype iterations, time-consuming design documentation, and poor predictability of instrument performance, by automating the creation of 3D CAD models and design documentation, including drawings and parts lists. -
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FRED
Photon Engineering
FRED is a comprehensive tool that simulates the propagation of light through optomechanical systems using ray tracing. It supports both coherent and incoherent light propagation and allows users to assign realistic surface properties to every component in a system. Key features include fast and accurate simulation of various light sources, such as lasers, arc lamps, LEDs, ideal emitters, bulbs, and user-defined ray sets. The software offers advanced geometry, scatter, optimization, scripting, and graphic tools, along with fine-grain control of ray trace properties during simulations. It provides comprehensive post-trace analysis features and reports, real-time visualization and editing of complex optical and mechanical systems, and is highly extensible via user-defined scripts. FRED provides core capabilities for propagating light through optomechanical systems. -
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TracePro
Lambda Research Corporation
Combines Monte Carlo ray tracing, analysis, CAD import/export, and optimization methods with a complete and robust macro language to solve a wide variety of problems in illumination design and optical analysis. Using TracePro’s user-friendly, 3D CAD interface you can create TracePro models by importing lens design or CAD files, or by directly creating solid geometry. TracePro uses a true solid modeling engine to ensure consistent and robust models. TracePro’s ray tracing engine is fast and accurate. Exact ray tracing to all surfaces even imported splines ‒ no missed intersections or “leaky” rays. Analysis Mode ray tracing, unique to TracePro, is a very powerful capability that creates an interactive environment. With Analysis Mode you can analyze every surface and object both visually and quantitatively. -
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3DOptix
3DOptix
3DOptix is a cloud-based optical design and simulation platform that enables users to design, simulate, and refine optical systems efficiently. Leveraging cloud and GPU acceleration, it offers rapid analysis capabilities without the need for local installations. The platform provides access to an extensive library of off-the-shelf optical and optomechanical components, facilitating the creation of accurate digital twins of optical prototypes. Its intuitive 3D graphical interface features drag-and-drop functionality and real-time visualization, simplifying the design process. 3DOptix supports both sequential and non-sequential ray tracing, allowing for comprehensive modeling of complex optical systems. Additionally, it offers real-time collaboration tools, enabling multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, with easy sharing via cloud links. The platform is accessible via any web browser, eliminating the need for specific hardware or software installations.Starting Price: $2,000 per year -
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ELEOptics
ELEOptics
ELEOptics, founded in 2019, is a company dedicated to advancing optical engineering through innovative software solutions designed to streamline design and collaboration processes. Their product suite includes Ember, a desktop application for dynamic first-order layout and third-order design analysis; Spark, a cloud-based platform that enhances teamwork with version control and project requirements tracking; ARC, an application integrated with Onshape to unify optical and mechanical design teams for seamless opto-mechanical system development; and Aurora, a cutting-edge optical physics library enabling hyperscale simulations with a user-friendly API for rapid iteration. Committed to fostering a strong optical community, ELEOptics also provides a platform for professionals to collaborate and exchange ideas, driving innovation in the field. -
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OSLO
Lambda Research Corporation
OSLO (Optics Software for Layout and Optimization) is a comprehensive optical design program developed by Lambda Research Corporation. It integrates advanced ray tracing, analysis, and optimization methods with a high-speed internal compiled language, enabling users to address a wide array of challenges in optical design. OSLO's open architecture provides designers with significant flexibility to define and constrain systems according to their specific requirements. The software is capable of modeling various optical components, including refractive, reflective, diffractive, gradient index, aspheric, and freeform optics. Its robust ray tracing algorithms and analytical tools offer a solid foundation for optimizing and evaluating lenses, telescopes, and other optical systems. OSLO has been employed in designing numerous optical systems, such as space telescopes, camera lenses, zoom lenses, scanning systems, anamorphic systems, cinema systems, microscopes, ocular systems, etc. -
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Ansys Optics
Ansys
Modeling light propagation and its impact is crucial for measuring product performance and human comfort, perception and safety. Ansys Optics uniquely simulates a system’s optical performance and evaluates the final illumination effect, predicts and validates the impact of lighting and material variations on appearance and perceived quality all in real conditions. Visualize your product before it exists to deliver the ultimate virtual customer experience. Let Ansys Optics & optical simulation software lead you to the best solution, no matter the style of your project. The software easily solves complex optical problems and refines visual appearance for perceived quality. Significantly elevate final product quality with true-to-life visual experiences and combine design and engineering processes into a single, connected workflow. Prepare and appraise virtual prototypes of a cockpit HMI in a real-time, immersive environment. -
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VirtualLab Fusion
LightTrans
VirtualLab Fusion is an advanced optical design software that facilitates fast physical optics modeling by connecting various field solvers through a unique operator and channel concept. This integration enables efficient simulations that balance accuracy and speed. The software offers a range of packages tailored to specific optical design needs, providing tools and functionalities to support diverse applications. With an intuitive user interface, VirtualLab Fusion simplifies the design process, allowing users to focus on innovation and optimization. The platform also provides access to tips, tricks, training, and webinars to enhance user proficiency. -
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Qualitas EagleEye
Qualitas Technologies
The Qualitas EagleEye comes with a modular design with the choice of image resolution, fixed focal length optics, and illumination. Illumination choices include a spotlight, dome light, ring light, and bar light. Once the camera module has been installed, the images captured will be sent to our cloud application for annotation and teaching. Using a simple point-and-click software interface, images can be labeled which is then trained using a deep learning training module. Trained models are deployed “over the air” using a one-click deployment interface. Once deployed the autonomous vision system is able to autonomously inspect the images captured and results are obtained. Continuous performance and accuracy monitoring with closed-loop re-training for error corrections can be done using the cloud-based application. -
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Paraxia-Plus-10
Sciopt Enterprises
With origins from Stanford U., Paraxia-Plus-10 is a Windows based optical design program specifically optimized for laser resonator and laser beam propagation applications. Its drag and drop layout mode enables real time visualization of beam properties using the “Digital Laser Workbench”. Laser engineers/designers can access laser beam data not generally available from geometric ray tracing optical design codes. Tools include optimization, tolerance analysis, stability plots, and FFT based rigorous beam propagation of arbitrary input beams. This enables simulation of diffraction effects and beam deviations from decentered and/or laser damaged components. Waist size and location is listed relative to each component, and beam diameter and beam radius of curvature is available anywhere along the beam path. Users can supply code to extend capabilities, and to enable scripting. The program is used worldwide by, consultants, laser companies, & govt. labs, often with multiple copies.Starting Price: $1,750 one time fee -
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Polaris-M
Airy Optics
Polaris-M is an optical design and polarization analysis software developed by Airy Optics, Inc., integrating ray tracing-based optical design methods with polarization calculus, 3D simulation, anisotropic materials, diffractive optic simulation, stress birefringence, and diffraction theory. Developed over a decade at the University of Arizona's Polarization Laboratory and licensed to Airy Optics in 2016, it includes over 500 functions for ray tracing, aberration calculation, polarization elements, stress birefringence, diffractive optical elements, polarization ray tracing calculus, and liquid crystal cells and optical elements. Polaris-M requires Mathematica, providing a powerful macro language for optical design and a deep set of algorithms for graphics, computer algebra, interpolation, neural networks, and numerical analysis. The software features comprehensive documentation with active help pages accessible via the F1 key, offering explanations, inputs, outputs, and live examples. -
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Kray
Kray
Kray is a state of the art global illumination renderer that allows very fast and accurate rendering of scenes where indirect light plays important role. It includes the most advanced modern algorithms and optimizations to allow it to render full global illumination, reflections, refractions and caustics quickly on standard computers. Fast global illumination: light/photon mapping – biased, but very fast and not much dependent on number of ray recursions, path tracing – unbiased with serval sampling optimizations, irradiance caching – for fast, view independent, reusable GI solution storage, caustics. Light models: point/directional, line lights, area lights, background light, HDR image based lighting, lights pre sampling. Instancing: allows repeated re-use of the same geometry in multiply locations in the rendered scene with very low memory consumption, instanced geometry can be also instances, even self cloning is possible with user defined number of recursions.Starting Price: €70 per unit -
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OptSim
Synopsys
Synopsys OptSim is an award-winning photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and fiber-optic system simulator that enables engineers to design and optimize photonic circuits and systems. It offers state-of-the-art time- and frequency-domain split-step algorithms, providing a native photonic-domain environment for accurate simulations. OptSim can function as a standalone solution with its own graphical user interface or integrate into the OptoCompiler Photonic IC design platform. When integrated with OptoCompiler, OptSim supports electro-optic co-simulation with Synopsys PrimeSim HSPICE and PrimeSim SPICE electrical circuit simulators, and seamlessly integrates with the PrimeWave Design Environment for advanced simulation, analyses, and visualization, including parametric scans, Monte Carlo, and corner analyses. The software includes extensive libraries of photonic and electronic components and analysis tools, and supports numerous foundry process design kits (PDKs). -
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BeamXpertDESIGNER
BeamXpert
BeamXpertDESIGNER is a laser simulation software that enables real-time simulation of laser radiation propagation through optical systems. It offers intuitive operation with a CAD-like 3D representation, facilitating quick and precise results. The software is designed to be easy to learn, allowing users to achieve reliable outcomes after just one hour of training. Its interactive interface supports direct manipulation of optical components through drag-and-drop functionality, with real-time updates to the beam path. BeamXpertDESIGNER provides parameters such as beam diameter, waist position, and Rayleigh length, adhering to ISO 11145 and 11146 standards. The software includes a comprehensive component database featuring over 20,000 optical elements from various manufacturers, enabling users to integrate market-standard components into their designs. Additionally, it offers functionalities for analyzing and optimizing optical systems. -
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Raylectron
Raylectron
Raylectron took many years of research and testing. Creating such software is not an easy task. While Raytracing exist already for many years prior to Raylectron, they are not photorealistic. To achieve photorealism, tracing the light path to illuminate the objects in a scene requires the understanding of the law of physics, such as photons and how they interact with the surface of the object they hit. In real life, photons travel at the speed of light, hence everything is illuminated almost instantly (to our perception). But as a computer program, this can not be done so easily. First, speed is a big issue. Computers do not calculate anywhere near the speed of light. Furthermore, the mathematics involved is extremely complex. All of the features combined into one single software. Select from a wide range of illumination and a combination of them. Texturing your model has never been so easy, in real-time!Starting Price: $99.95 per license -
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Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics is a photonics component simulation software that enables the seamless design of photonic components by capturing multiphysics effects, including optical, thermal, electrical, and quantum well interactions, within a unified design environment. Tailored for design engineering workflows, this intuitive product design software offers a fast user experience, facilitating rapid design exploration and providing detailed insights into real-world product performance. It combines live physics and accurate high-fidelity simulation into an easy-to-use interface, supporting faster time-to-market. Key features include a finite element design environment, integrated multiphysics workflows, comprehensive material models, and capabilities for automation and optimization. The suite of solvers and seamless workflows in Lumerical Multiphysics accurately capture the interplay of physical effects in modeling both passive and active photonic components.
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ImSym
Synopsys
Visualize images with precise, quantitative data. Streamline your development process. Deliver your next great imaging product to market faster. Provides an end-to-end model of an imaging system, including lenses, sensors, and image and signal processors (ISPs) before manufacturing. Helps design teams collaborate more efficiently. Ensures confidence that products will work right when built. Automate ImSym processes with a Python interface. Customize ISP capabilities using Python scripted routines. Provides an intuitive, integrated, collaborative workflow for an exceptional user experience. Delivers accurate results powered by industry-proven CODE V and LightTools. ImSym integrates multiple features to simulate an imaging system object using an input graphics file. ImSym’s accuracy is powered by CODE V and LightTools, the most trusted imaging and illumination optics design solutions in the industry. -
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COMSOL Multiphysics
Comsol Group
Simulate real-world designs, devices, and processes with multiphysics software from COMSOL. General-purpose simulation software based on advanced numerical methods. Fully coupled multiphysics and single-physics modeling capabilities. Complete modeling workflow, from geometry to postprocessing. User-friendly tools for building and deploying simulation apps. The COMSOL Multiphysics® software brings a user interface and experience that is always the same, regardless of engineering application and physics phenomena. Add-on modules provide specialized functionality for electromagnetics, structural mechanics, acoustics, fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical engineering. Choose from a list of LiveLink™ products to interface directly with CAD and other third-party software. Deploy simulation applications with COMSOL Compiler™ and COMSOL Server™. Create physics-based models and simulation applications with this software platform. -
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Light-in-Night
Light-in-Night
Application for the design of street lighting and open areas. A mobile tool for designers and lighting specialists. Helps buyers of lighting equipment with the choice of fixtures. Set the parameters of the illuminated site or road. Choose fixtures and how to install them. After the calculation, you will receive a visual 3D model of the scene with a display of the illumination distribution. You can save the results of the lighting calculation and the parameters of the scene objects in the report. Sample projects made by professional lighting technicians will allow you not only to evaluate the possibilities of the program, but also to design your own lighting objects based on them.Starting Price: Free -
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Render[in]
Render[in]
Render[in] is a fully integrated, real-time radiosity engine developed for SketchUp (Free and Pro) users. Powered by Artlantis 6.5’s rendering engine, Render[in] 3 gives SketchUp users the high-definition, photorealistic renderings they’ve been looking for, in a robust, easy-to-use application. Just as in photography, the respect of color is essential in rendering. Render[in]’s new global illumination engine improves images for a better perception of colors, textures, and materials. Thanks to both the ISO and Shutter parameters, it is easier than ever to fine-tune a scene’s lighting.Starting Price: €190 per license -
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Ansys VRXPERIENCE Perceived Quality offers a physics-based, real-time solution for design evaluation involving lighting, colors and materials variations. Test and validate your product design in context. VRXPERIENCE Perceived Quality can instantly compare multiple design intents for materials and lighting. The process allows you to validate choices against design specifications and select lighting and material combinations in lifelike conditions. Create a virtual prototype from a 3D format and easily prepare a virtual model, helping you make choices early in the design process, in real-time optical simulation. With the live preview of Ansys VRXPERIENCE Perceived Quality immersive virtual reality visualizations, bring in physics-based lighting conditions to explore how your lighting and material choices will look in reality.
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Maverick Studio
Maverick
Maverick Studio is a GPU-accelerated desktop app where our proprietary simulator of the physics of light is harnessed with intuitive and interactive drag-and-drop tools. Import your 3D models or CAD data files, and render amazing photo-real shots or turntable presentations with the best quality and the least effort imaginable. A bridge plug-in for Rhinoceros is also available. With our brand new Rhino plug-in you can Send (and Update) your models to Maverick Studio with a single click, preserving the materials, lights, and camera work done in Maverick. Enjoy our comfortable and user-friendly workflow to illuminate your jewelry models and achieve photo-real results thanks to our gradient lights and our physically-correct materials. Not a Rhino user? Export from your modeling software to any of the many file formats that Maverick can import natively and enjoy dressing your geometry with materials and lighting to achieve photo-real shots effortlessly.Starting Price: €3999 per month -
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RenderMan
Pixar
Advanced technology from Pixar Animation Studios for rendering VFX and animation. With a new state-of-the-art framework optimized for physically-based rendering, RenderMan can deliver unmatched flexibility for any production pipeline. Not only is RenderMan used for our own feature films at Pixar, it is also used throughout the industry for rendering Visual Effects and animation, making scalability and versatility one of its core strengths. Now you can get out-of-box production tools straight from Pixar Animation Studios, including materials and light transport, no development required. Physically based shading allows RenderMan to deliver highly realistic lighting with minimal setup, including full support for multi-bounce ray traced global illumination and ray traced subsurface scattering. Much research and development has gone into making these traditionally expensive effects a production reality. Materials come fully loaded with all of the creative options.Starting Price: $5 per lincense -
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CarMaker
IPG Automotive
CarMaker is a simulation solution specifically designed for the development and seamless testing of cars and light-duty vehicles across all development stages (MIL, SIL, HIL, VIL). It offers a high-performance, real-time capable vehicle model to build virtual prototypes early in the development process. All components can be replaced with customer-specific models or hardware. By combining the virtual prototype with an adaptive driver model, a complex traffic model, and a detailed road and environment model, automated and reproducible tests are possible at any time. The well-structured user interface guarantees easy parameterization. CarMaker's new visualization tool, Movie NX, enables photorealistic simulation of scenarios. Thanks to light and weather effects, real scenarios in the virtual world may take place at any time of day and during any season. Built-in camera models with HDR capability allow for realistic testing of camera systems. -
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Unicorn Render
Unicorn Render
Unicorn Render is a professional rendering software that enables users to produce stunning realistic pictures and achieve high-end rendering levels without any prior skills. It offers a user-friendly interface designed to provide everything needed to obtain amazing results with minimal controls. Available as a standalone application or as a plugin, Unicorn Render integrates advanced AI technology and professional visualization tools. The software supports GPU+CPU acceleration through deep learning photorealistic rendering technology and NVIDIA CUDA technology, allowing joint support for CUDA GPUs and multicore CPUs. It features real-time progressive physics illumination, a Metropolis Light Transport sampler (MLT), a caustic sampler, and native NVIDIA MDL material support. Unicorn Render's WYSIWYG editing mode ensures that 100% of editing can be done in final image quality, eliminating surprises in the production of the final image. -
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Autodesk Arnold
Autodesk
Global illumination rendering software. Render high-quality 3D images faster with Arnold–so you can focus on the art. Arnold software is an advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer that helps you work more efficiently. Interactivity produces immediate results, leaving more time for iterations. The controls and UI are simple and intuitive. Switch seamlessly between CPU and GPU rendering to suit your production needs. Arnold thrives on heavy datasets and complex scene files. Production-ready tools reliably manage complex characters, scenery, and lighting challenges. Compute performance is optimized when creating elements such as hair, fur, skin. Easily integrate with all of the top 3D digital content creation (DCC) tools. Get the scalability of an open and extensible architecture. Arnold GPU allows users to switch seamlessly between CPU and GPU rendering. High-performance ray traced subsurface scattering eliminates the need to tune point clouds.Starting Price: $27 per month -
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Ansys Lumerical FDTD
Ansys
Ansys Lumerical FDTD is the gold-standard for modeling nanophotonic devices, processes, and materials. The integrated design environment provides scripting capability, advanced post-processing, and optimization routines. This finely tuned implementation of the FDTD method delivers best-in-class solver performance over a broad spectrum of applications. The integrated design environment provides scripting capability, advanced post-processing and optimization routines, allowing you to focus on your design and leave the rest to us. A range of benefits allow for flexible and customizable models and simulations. Ansys Lumerical FDTD models nanophotonic devices, processes and materials so you can focus on creation. Lumerical FDTD is the gold-standard for modeling nanophotonic devices, processes and materials. This finely tuned implementation of the FDTD method delivers reliable, powerful and scalable solver performance over a broad spectrum of applications. -
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AIR
SiTex Graphics
AIR is an advanced 3D graphics renderer with a unique architecture and extensive features designed for the rapid production of high-quality images. AIR is a hybrid renderer, combining the advantages of scanline rendering - fast rendering of complex scenes, motion blur, and depth of field - with the flexibility of on-demand ray tracing for accurate reflections, soft shadows, global illumination, and caustics. AIR supports a broad range of geometric primitives, including polygon meshes, trimmed NURBs, subdivision meshes, curves, particles, and implicit surfaces. All primitives are supported in their natural form; no pre-meshing is required. AIR also provides true (sub-pixel) displacement and high-dynamic range (HDR) input and output. AIR offers the flexibility of fully programmable shading and procedural modeling. Users can extend the shading language by writing new functions in any programming language.Starting Price: $375 per license -
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KeyLIGHTS
Transoft Solutions
KeyLIGHTS is a highway lighting software package for creating working drawings of proposed highway lighting schemes. It includes its own illuminance calculation engine, a Roadway design tool, and a fully integrated Highway Power Calculation (HPC) module. KeyLIGHTS also provides for you to design all the civil works for the installation of your street lights. With full support for BIM and 3D meaning you can now share the data-rich designs with other software such as Navisworks or maintenance inventory. KeyLIGHTS includes a powerful fully featured lighting calculations engine. Light levels are dynamically generated from the photometric data files specified for your luminaire symbols, Transoft Solutions support services include user group meetings and upgrades, to keep you up to date with standards and legislation. -
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TurboCAD
IMSI Design
TurboCAD® 2021 Platinum is a professional 2D Drafting and 3D Solid Modeling CAD Solution for engineers, architects, manufacturers and other design professionals. It comes fully equipped with a powerful drafting palette, ACIS® solid modeling, premium photorealistic rendering, advanced architectural and mechanical tool sets, AutoCAD®-like 2D drafting interface options, and extensive file support. TurboCAD® 2021 Platinum delivers a robust collection of professional 2D/3D CAD tools to design, modify, present, and document in an integrated fashion. It includes advanced mechanical design and modification tools, a powerful drafting palette, 2D geometric and dimensional constraints, and an ACIS® solid modeling engine. It includes a customizable Ribbon Interface with 4K monitor support to optimize productivity and readability on higher resolution displays.Starting Price: $69.99 -
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Indigo Renderer
Indigo Renderer
Indigo Renderer is an unbiased, photorealistic GPU and CPU renderer aimed at ultimate image quality, by accurately simulating the physics of light. State-of-the-art rendering performance, materials and cameras models - it's all made simple through an interactive, photographic approach. Indigo's OpenCL-based GPU engine provides industry-leading performance on Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. With a single modern GPU, it's approximately 10x faster than before. Simply add more GPUs and get the horsepower to quickly render incredible 4K images and animations. A dark UI mode. Interactive material previews and light-layer thumbnails. RGB colour curves and snappy trackball navigation. These are just some of the new features making Indigo 4 the most streamlined and enjoyable version yet. A dark UI mode. Interactive material previews and light-layer thumbnails. RGB colour curves and snappy trackball navigation.Starting Price: $835 per license -
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OptoCompiler
Synopsys
Synopsys OptoCompiler is the industry's first unified electronic and photonic design platform, combining mature and dedicated photonic technology with Synopsys' industry-proven electronic design tools to enable engineers to produce and verify complex photonic integrated circuit designs quickly and accurately. By providing schematic-driven layout and advanced photonic layout synthesis in a single platform, OptoCompiler bridges the gap between photonic experts and integrated circuit designers to make photonic design accessible, fast, and flexible. OptoCompiler supports electronic-photonic co-design to ensure scalable design processes and offers comprehensive features for hierarchical design, enabling multiple designers to work closely together to shorten product development cycle times. The platform includes dedicated native photonic simulators, in conjunction with industry-standard electrical simulators, for accurate simulation results that account for statistical variations. -
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Boris FX Optics
Boris FX
Optics is the definitive digital toolbox for photos. Created by professional feature film VFX artists, Optics is designed to simulate optical camera filters, specialized lenses, film stocks and grain, lens flares, optical lab processes, color correction as well as natural light and photographic effects. Take your images to the next level, try Optics. Available now as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as a standalone application for macOS and Windows. Apply Optics and choose from 160 filters and thousands of presets. Optics provides everything you need to creatively enhance and improve photos using a staggering amount of filters and presets. Color grade your image using film style controls or go from reality to sci-fi with incredible lighting effects. All filters can be limited to a portion of the image using sophisticated but simple to use masking controls. A layering system to apply multiple filters, a built-in paint system for touch-ups,Starting Price: $7 per month -
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Radiance
Radiance
Radiance is intended to aid lighting designers and architects by predicting the light levels and appearance of a space prior to construction. The package includes programs for modeling and translating scene geometry, luminaire data and material properties, all of which are needed as input to the simulation. The lighting simulation itself uses ray tracing techniques to compute radiance values (ie. the quantity of light passing through a specific point in a specific direction), which are typically arranged to form a photographic quality image. The resulting image may be analyzed, displayed and manipulated within the package, and converted to other popular image file formats for export to other packages, facilitating the production of hard copy output. The major portion of the Radiance package, and the part that is of chief interest to users, is the lighting simulation engine that calculates light levels and renders images. -
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VRED
Autodesk
Autodesk VRED is a professional 3D visualization and virtual prototyping software designed to bring complex data to life. It enables users to create high-quality renderings on-premises or in the cloud, visualize, review, and validate designs with ease and accuracy, and collaborate on any device, including virtual reality. VRED helps designers and engineers create product presentations, design reviews, and virtual prototypes using interactive GPU ray tracing and both analytic and cloud-rendering modes. It transforms complex design and engineering datasets into a holistic digital control model that can be used as a single source of truth. Users can access the latest design data anywhere, anytime, for high-quality collaborative review on desktop, mobile, or in VR using various utilities and streaming APIs. VRED supports features like data preparation, virtual prototyping, virtual photography, visual simulation, collaboration, and XR experiences. -
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NOX
EVERMOTION
NOX is a free stand-alone, physically-accurate state-of-an-art renderer. Its engine is based on unbiased methods. Global illumination is evaluated using Path Tracing or Bidirectional Path Tracing. Light behavior is based on laws of physics, however some simplifications occur. Many post-production actions can be done in NOX internally, so no additional software is necessary. NOX works with scenes created and imported from 3ds Max, Blender and Cinema4D. NOX is one of the most comprehensive renderers on the market and it is still under development at beta stage. It evolves and constantly gains new features. To make the best renders with NOX you need to know its philosophy of rendering. To achieve the best results read User Guide. Currently it covers features from version 0.3.39. The software made a long leap since then so we currently work on updated version of User Guide and want to release it autumn 2013. -
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ViaCAD
Punch! Software
Designed with professionals in mind, ViaCAD® Pro delivers the flexibility of mesh-based and solid modeling to help you quickly go from 3D design concept to completion. Our 3D CAD software can handle your architectural, mechanical, prototyping, and design planning with ease. All you need is an idea and ViaCAD. Intelligent software at a no-brainer price, ViaCAD Pro offers 2D drafting and advanced 3D modeling toolsets, with easy switching 3D and 2D views. ViaCAD Pro can help you accomplish advanced 3D prototyping, photorealistic rendering, designs for product manufacturing, product packaging, architectural drawings, home remodeling plans, interior design, inventions, and more. If you run an engineering or design firm that needs multiple user seats for your team, we are your new best friend.Starting Price: $39.99 -
44
IRender nXt
RenderPlus
IRender nXt will improve client presentations of your SketchUp models. High-quality architectural renderings created with IRender nXt from your SketchUp models can be an important addition to your client presentations and proposals. Stop waiting on your 3D renderings. Deliver projects ahead of schedule. Render multiple jobs simultaneously. Get your computer back while you are rendering your 3D models. Stop upgrading your computers and use our fast machines instead. Watch IRender nXt create a photo-realistic rendering of an object with just one click. Without changing the SketchUp model, use IRender nXt to create a high-quality rendered image. It’s easy to create light fixtures and add them to a model. IRender nXt includes point, spot, ceiling, floor, and table lighting. IRender nXt is a powerful plugin for producing high-resolution architectural renderings from SketchUp models. IRender nXt is fully-integrated with materials, lighting, and components with an easy-to-use interface.Starting Price: $499 one-time payment -
45
Flamingo nXt
Robert McNeel & Associates
Present your Rhino models in their best light. Next generation rendering technology. Flamingo nXt was developed for designers. You don't need to be a CG professional to quickly present your Rhino model in the best light. Results in a few clicks and a few minutes. In Rhino, just click Render to try the nXt defaults, or spend a few minutes to select a lighting scenario and add some materials before you click Render. Flamingo nXt 5 allows you to easily create stunning, life-like images in Rhino. With nXt you don't need to be a professional renderer to get realistic results quickly. You provide materials and lighting and press the Render button. nXt provides the simulation. Unlike many rendering products, there are very few settings to worry about or understand. nXt produces realistic results by simulating light transport in your model. Indirect lighting as well as complex reflection and refraction can be easily incorporated into the simulation.Starting Price: $195 -
46
Enlighted IoT
Enlighted
Applications from Enlighted and our partners improve operating efficiencies and occupant experiences, enhance productivity, and optimize resource and asset use. Sensors detect motion, temperature, and ambient light. Asset tags and badges communicate using Bluetooth with the sensors for calculating the location of assets and people. Room controls allow hands-on or automatic lighting adjustments. The most sophisticated software-defined sensor in the industry, capturing and combining multiple streams of data. The gateway relays data captured by the sensors to the energy manager for analysis and reporting. Occupants can override preset illumination levels and lighting configurations at the push of a button. -
47
SOLIDWORKS Simulation
SolidWorks
Subject your designs to real world conditions to raise product quality while reducing prototyping and physical testing costs. SOLIDWORKS® Simulation is an easy-to-use portfolio of structural analysis tools that use Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to predict a product’s real-world physical behavior by virtually testing CAD models. The portfolio provides linear, non-linear static and dynamic analysis capabilities. SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional enables you to optimize your design, determine product mechanical resistance, product durability, topology, natural frequencies, and test heat transfer and buckling instabilities. It can also perform sequential multi-physics simulations. SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium lets you efficiently evaluate your designs for nonlinear and dynamic response, dynamic loading, and composite materials. SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium includes three advanced studies: Non-Linear Static, Non-Linear Dynamic, and Linear Dynamics. -
48
ElumTools
Lighting Analysts
ElumTools® is the first (and only) fully integrated lighting calculation add-in for Autodesk® Revit®. ElumTools is designed to calculate point-by-point illuminance on any workplane or surface utilizing lighting fixture families and surface geometry already present in the Revit model. ElumTools runs completely inside of Revit with its own ribbon toolbar to provide quick access to analysis tools for Revit Rooms, Spaces, Regions and Views. An interactive Radiosity-based visualization is produced by the calculation process providing designers complete walk-through capability to assist in the understanding the interaction of light and surface. ElumTools is easy to learn and even easier to use regularly for your lighting computations. The ElumTools workflow is fast and efficient, saving you countless hours over trying to export geometry to a stand-alone tool, then fussing to integrate the results with your Revit sheets.Starting Price: $94 per user per month -
49
MAK ONE
MAK Technologies
A powerful and flexible Computer Generated Forces (CGF) platform to fill your synthetic environments with urban, battlefield, maritime, and airspace activity. VR-Engage lets users play the role of a first-person human character; a ground vehicle driver, gunner, or commander; or the pilot of a fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter. Game-like visual quality in a high-performance image generator. Designed by modeling & simulation experts for training and simulation projects. Physically accurate sensors, model the physics of light in any wavelength to represent electro-optical, night-vision, and infrared sensors. Applications that let you model, simulate, visualize, and participate in whole-earth multi-domain simulations. Multi-domain computer-generated forces. Multi-role virtual simulator. Image generator & battlefield visualization. EO, IR, and NVG imaging sensors. Synthetic aperture radar simulation. -
50
Twinmotion
Unreal Engine
Easily produce high-quality images, panoramas, standard or 360° VR videos, and complete client presentations in seconds! For architecture, construction, urban planning, and landscaping professionals, Twinmotion combines an intuitive icon-driven interface with the power of unreal engine. View and edit your scene in real time at the same high quality as the final rendering. Twinmotion features realistic physically based lighting and shadowing with built-in global illumination, includes over 600 PBR materials that react to your environment, and offers effects like depth of field, lens flare, and vignetting, making it easy to get the look you need. Regardless of your project’s complexity or your previous CG experience, Twinmotion's simple and intuitive interface makes it a breeze to learn and use. Drag and drop lights, materials, and props; change the season, the weather, or the time of day by simply dragging a slider.
