General

📄️ Licensing FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions concerning our licenses.

📄️ Photometrics Video Overview

A video overview of how Design Master Photometrics works.

📄️ Project and Database Management w/ Video

Training video on how to maintain the integrity of your project drawings and databases when using Design Master Photometrics.

📄️ Master and Standards Databases

The master and standards databases are used to store default settings for new projects. You can make changes to the customization settings, store them in these files, and reuse them.

📄️ Where to Find IES Files

Design Master does not provide IES files for use in projects. They are provided by the light fixture manufacturer.

📄️ Metric Units in DM Photometrics

Design Master Photometrics uses Imperial units by default, but can easily be modified to use metric units instead.

📄️ Photometrics Customization Folder Location

Use the Installation Settings command to see where your customization folder is located.

📄️ Backing Up and Transferring Customization Files

To back up your Design Master Photometrics customization, simply locate the folder using the Installation Settings command and copy the entire folder.

📄️ Converting a Single-User Install to a Multiple-User Install

You can switch from a single-user to a multiple-user installation by following these simple steps.

📄️ Light Fixture Tilt, Arm Length, & Elevation

The Tilt, Arm Length, and Elevation fields can be used to adjust how light distribution from IES files is displayed relative to the light fixture block.

📄️ Light Fixture Cutoffs and Shields

Design Master Photometrics does not have a way to configure light fixture cutoffs and shields, but you can approximate them using the Insert Solid Line command.

📄️ Calculation Areas and Light Fixtures Video

Training video on how to use and group photometric calculation areas, as well as an overview of light fixtures in Design Master Photometrics.

📄️ Removing Existing Light Fixtures from Schedule Quantity Counts

Existing light fixtures can be excluded from schedules by creating a separate schedule entry and unchecking the Include in Schedule box.

📄️ Performing Indoor Photometrics Calculations

While Design Master Photometrics is intended for outdoor lighting calculations, it is possible to perform simple indoor calculations with some limitations.

📄️ Curved Boundaries & Solids

Curved lines for Design Master Photometrics entities such as boundaries and solids can only be approximated using multiple points.

📄️ How Design Master Sets Layers

Layers are controlled using the Layers customization commands.

📄️ Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

Many Design Master Photometrics dialog boxes can be navigated using keyboard shortcuts. Here is a table of common shortcuts and instructions on how to find what shortcuts are available in each dialog box.

📄️ Design Master Command Aliases

You can create command aliases for Design Master Photometrics commands the same way as any other command, by editing the .pgp file.

📄️ Multiple Scales on a Single Drawing

Our software does not allow for multiple scale factors on a single drawing, also called annotative scaling.

📄️ Upgrading AutoCAD

Here are instructions on how to migrate Design Master Photometrics menus when upgrading AutoCAD.

📄️ Installing Design Master Photometrics Silently & Other Command Line Arguments

You can use command line arguments to install or update Design Master Photometrics in the background, as well as other modifications.

📄️ Uninstalling Design Master Photometrics

You can uninstall Design Master Photometrics using the steps outlined here.