ArchiLumos is the plug-in software for creating photographic images from model data of ArchiCAD.

ArchiLumos is the software that is developed by OptGraph, Inc. and has two functions: Radiosity and Ray Tracing. Although these functions can be operated independently, in most cases Radiosity is calculated first, and then Ray Tracing is rendered using the result.

Radiosity is the function to calculate the shade of the three-dimensional model using Radiosity method. With Radiosity method, the effect of direct light (the light directly from the light sources) and the effect of indirect light (the light reflected by the surfaces in the scene) are calculated. Therefore, it simulates the realistic effect of lighting by arranging only the light sources that actually exist in the scene. However, only the diffusion light and environmental light are calculated as the effect of lighting.

Ray Tracing is one of the rendering (image making) method, in which light is emitted from the viewpoint passing through each pixel of the screen. By tracing these light paths it is possible to render images with the complicated phenomena of the light, such as reflection, transparency and refraction.

Ray Tracing function in ArchiLumos can be run as a single operation, but it can be operated in collaboration with Radiosity function. As a single operation, Ray Tracing cannot render the effect of indirect light, and thus virtual light sources should be placed (operation needed in ArchiCAD) to supply the effect of the lighting.

To operate Ray Tracing with the result of Radiosity calculation, Radiosity function must be operated first, and then Ray Tracing function can be operated. In this case, the effect of direct light is calculated both by Radiosity and Ray Tracing function, but ArchiLumos takes the result of Ray Tracing function only, not of Radiosity. (The effect of direct light by natural sunlight, however, is taken from the result of Radiosity calculation.) This is due to render high-quality image.


By operating this optional function, it is possible to making CG more real.

ArchiLumos 1.5.1 for ArchiCAD 8.0

ArchiCAD 8 R3 or later

OS…Windows 2000/XP Professional、Mac OSX v10.2

CPU…P4 2GHz / Power Mac G3、G4

HD…1GB available

memory…1GB

ArchiLumos 1.5.1 for ArchiCAD 8.1

ArchiCAD 8.1 R1

OS…Windows 2000/XP Professional、Mac OSX v10.2

CPU…P4 2GHz / Power Mac G4

HD…1GB available

memory…1GB