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Version 3.0 New Features

We're happy to announce the release of Photopia v3.0. This release represents a significant advancement over Photopia 2.0 with over 50 changes that improve usability and expand the types of calculations that can be performed.

Photopia 3.0 will be released to customers who have a current Annual Design and Upgrade Package (ADUP). If your ADUP has expired and you would like to receive the upgrade to Version 3.0, you will need to renew your ADUP.

  • 5 Key Improvements
    • CPlane - Construction Planes are automatically set when you go to an orthographic view.
    • Anisotropic Materials - Photopia supports measured data for materials with strong grain, such as Miro5 and MicroLinear prismatic lenses.
    • Component Files - Allows you to export items from one project and import into another, keeping layer and material assignments. This all makes it easier to import complex LED and lamp models.
    • Project Templates - Let you set up common items, including photometric and raytrace settings.
    • Pan - Now you can pan with the middle mouse / wheel button. It'll definitely become second nature. Next up, zoom with the wheel.
  • CAD Improvements
    • Support for AutoCAD 2008 DXF and DWG files for import and export.
    • Project Templates - Let you set up common items, including photometric and raytrace settings.
    • Component Files - Allows you to export items from one project and import into another, keeping layer and material assignments.
    • CPlane - Construction Planes are automatically set when you go to an orthographic view.
    • Pan - You can pan in the model with the center mouse button.
    • Rotate - The Rotate command now works in 3D, allowing rotation about any axis.
    • Auto Save - Photopia will automatically save the file at a specified interval.
    • 3D Rays - Raytrace rays can be toggled off and on with a single button.
    • Ortho - The Ortho command can be initiated with the Shift key.
    • Selection Method - Have the option to use either an accumulating selection set or a replacing selection set.
    • Layer Manager - Much improved in scrolling, selecting, and making batch changes.
    • Polygon to Mesh - Can convert a set of polygons to a mesh, for easier selection.
    • Command Aliases - Can add command aliases for any CAD command, like co for copy.
    • Luminaire Import - Quicker processing on lamp selection dialog box.
    • Shaded Views - The view options have been simplified.
    • Parametric Array - Array properties are now paramteric, allowing array resizing without recreation.
  • Calculation Improvements
    • Anisotropic Materials - Photopia supports measured data for materials with strong grain, such as Miro5 and MicroLinear prismatic lenses.
    • Raytrace Settings - The raytrace settings have been simplified by removing the Random Number Seed, Continuation Minimum, and Ray Shadowing Retries.
    • Emanation Shadowing - The default is to now account for ray emanation shadowing, making some models more accurate.
    • Refractive Scatter - Improved ability to handle reflected and transmitted scatter at refractive surfaces.
    • Batch Raytrace - Ability to run multiple calculations successively without having Photopia open.
    • Illuminance Shading - Ability to adjust maximum and minimum values so that all planes are rendered on the same scale.
    • False Color Illuminance - A false color rendering of the illuminance plane.
    • EulumDat Extension - EulumDat files will now have the standard .LDT file extension.
    • IESNA TM-15 2007 - Added the new Luminaire Classification System to the roadway reports.
    • Radiant Imaging Source Models - Photopia can now use source models from Radiant Imaging, which means an expanded library of LED and automotive lamps.
  • PODT Improvements
    • 2D Contours - Aiming based 2D contours allow you to link curves to create arbitrary reflector or lens shapes.
    • Construction - Options for construction (hydroformed and segmented) have been improved.
    • Parametric Arcs - You can now create parametric arcs based on included angle.
  • General Improvements
    • Network License - Network Licensing has been improved and should be more reliable.
    • Scripting - Photopia can be set up to run based on a script, using many of the CAD commands to perform operations on the model. This will be expanded in future releases.