TracePro Overview O7]kcA -d9L Like LightTools, TracePro is an solid-modeling based illumination modeling program with a Windows-based interface and CAD import/export capability \[G"/]J
2g~W})e TracePro modeling capabilities are similar to LightTools but with significant weaknesses that make it harder to use and less flexible, and is especially limited in 3D texture modeling compared to LightTools 2# =Fc}T% TracePro analysis features are similar to LightTools, but LightTools is much stronger as an interactive design AND analysis tool
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:29
TracePro Weaknesses nA(5p?D+YB ? o&goiM User Interface 4k9$'
k Must move/rotate objects by dialog box only HVdB*QEH Default naming convention (for spheres/elements, etc) is confusing and ambiguous t3 3\f<e Zt&
7p Modeling f%3MDI Most elements cannot be edited iGSF5S Must be deleted and recreated (including optical properties) ~ z^49Ys: No unboolean capability KjMwrMgC Boolean limited to two objects at a time baBPf{< 3D texture very limited vs. LT
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:31
TracePro Weaknesses Y[|9
+T Jz4;7/ Ray Trace 'pyIMB?x No interactive (point & shoot) ray trace ,k1ns?i9KH No point sources; no volume sources ~# \{'< Clipped Lambertian sources are difficult (LED or fiber output) gL~3z'$ \x<,Ma=D Analysis IAWs}xIly No illumination error estimate 9@?|rje9 Only 4 preset bins “available” Pc`)D:/}R No 2D intensity distributions of full spheres 2I3H?Lrx!m Limited ray sorting options
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:32
LT Strengths vs. TracePro h@]{j_$u )Y&B63]B LT has excellent design features vs. TracePro E^Ch;)j| Interactive ray trace W0;QufV Editable geometry +U<.MVOo. More powerful macro language in LT (VB/COM/Excel/etc. vs. Scheme) S?zP;
iFj c_,pd TracePro features not fully or well implemented [?=DPE% 3D textures $WE=u 9m Source definition +vH#xc\' Many others
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:34
TracePro/LT Feature Checklist txm6[Io I %sw(uoE Recent LT features addressing TracePro competition ]<ay_w; New LT 4.0 User Interface _+)n}Se Accelerated Ray Tracing (improved in 5.0) Zl>wWJ3y AOI and Wavelength Scattering capabilities -GCU6U| Powerful 3D texture modeling for backlights (greatly expanded in v5.1 available 12/04) @My
RcC (#x&Y#5 TracePro features not in LT BpGyjoJ2 Ray trace through GRIN material \ KsKb0sM Birefringent ray tracing
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:35
Misc. Comparisons, LT vs. TP w11L@t[5W8 I *f@M} Some large CAD models consume 20-30% more RAM and more CPU time in TP vs. LT a^^OI|? dQFUQ TP CAD import repair feature much slower than LT =*.S<Ko) c,]fw2 Inability to edit properties of Booleaned objects in TP (easy and unlimited in LT) TwF.UL@G% )Jw$&%/{1 Luminance meter simulation is simple approximation in TP, much more flexible and accurate in LT 6;@:/kl t
_,v>P2) Most operations in LT can be done by mouse, by numeric input, or any combination (fewer TP features are mouse-enabled) 9xK#(M WRRR "Q$ LT online help is extensive and useful, but very limited in TP >L8 &6aU D><^ 7nr% ORA Tech Support for LT is by a dedicated team or experience illumination and optical engineers
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:36
3D Texture Comparisons 4/_!F'j aI|X~b 3D texture modeling more flexible and much faster to ray trace in LT vs. TP In;P33'p l)~$/#k LT (5.1) has flexible features to parametrically vary all 3D texture features (spacing, size, angles, depth, etc.) by equation or by direct “placement lists” imported from spreadsheet or other software #)i+'L8 X)=m4\R When optimization is available in 2005, these parametric textures will make it much easier to design backlight systems
shiloh
2005-09-22 20:37
Coming Soon in LightTools IL uQf- &os:h]
C ~9,Fc6w4`+ Photorealistic rendering will be introduced in LightTools in 2005 -G#m'W& Available now in TP, but feature is poorly implemented "\]]?& Au{ b1n Illumination optimization including special backlight design features will be introduced in 2005 &T ^bv*P Has been demonstrated in papers, ORA demos, and limited customer testing in 2004 ;TK$?hrv*1 JV8*;n%}- Is now being developed for maximum ease of use for typical users and applications without user programming