Welcome to the how to create GDTF lighting device learning path.
This 6 chapter series introduces you to the process of creating GDTF lighting devices.
Each chapter covers a key step in the process and the relavent page of the GDTF builder.
Video
Entertainment
50m
Intermediate
Learning Objectives
Understand what resoruces are required to create a GDTF lighting device.
Learn how to model a light.
Define the spectral and photometric behavior for emitters and filters.
Configure gobo, color, and effect wheels.
Understand how to configure DMX mapping and attribute control.
Set up control macros and understand how to use the Summary page and builder error messages to test your fixture.
Join Jazz Hutsby, lighting designer and technician, for an in depth walkthrough of our new Vectorworks Odyssey app for VR headset. He’ll showcase how the app works and give a glimpse of how Odyssey was used in Royal Conservatoire of Scotland production of Sweet Charity.
Video
Entertainment
46m
Intermediate
Learning Objectives
How to add Vectorworks model to Odyssey app.
Understand how to use and benefit from Vectorworks Odyssey.
Sharing your model in Odyssey with anyone - regardless of whether they use Vectorworks.
Discover a real life use of Odyssey app in Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Sweet Charity case study.
Real-time previsualization is available directly inside Vectorworks to bring you intuitive, live control of lighting fixtures and the ability to test run your show without leaving the application. Explore countless lighting and scenic possibilities and then experiment, edit, and adjust to your satisfaction based on your previsualization.
Video
Entertainment
6m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about Showcase, the new real-time previsualization mode, released with Vectorworks Spotlight 2025.
Show, ghost, hide, or isolate specific objects with individual visibility control. Navigate to specific parts of your model by isolating objects and create custom drawings or viewports to clearly communicate your design intent. Apply object visibility directly within your design layer or save it to viewports and data visualizations. Find fast, flexible workflows, while also working harmoniously with Class and Layer visibilities.
Video
All Industries
3m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about the new Object Level Visibility feature, released with Vectorworks 2025.
Vectorworks Spotlight 2025 includes several user interface and workflow efficiency improvements. From Truss insertion and alignment improvements, to impproved light fixture snapping, automatic numbering, schematic view creation, and more.
Video
Entertainment
4m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about additional improvements released with Vectorworks Spotlight 2025.
Keep your files up to date with GDTF Mapping, giving you accurate fixture information to avoid errors. Map GDTF files to fixtures with direct access to GDTF-Share to download and import the files in one action from within Vectorworks. Automatically update all GDTF profiles with one command and store assigned GDTFs within their lighting devices.
Video
Entertainment
2m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about the new GDTF File Mapping feature, released with Vectorworks Spotlight 2025.
Quickly and easily establish a geographic survey or reference point with a single operation, saving you time and avoiding complications among collaborators. Perfect for both new and existing projects, place a survey point anywhere in the document to specify coordinates, angles to true north, and elevation information in both 2D and 3D.
Video
Buildings/Landscapes
3m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about the new Survey Point and Reference Points, released with Vectorworks 2025.
Let project participants view and comment on your document from anywhere on any web-enabled device, getting your projects in front of them faster. Share selected drawings and worksheets and allow collaborators to select areas of interest to access object specifications. They can add comments that you can view within Vectorworks, streamlining your review process. Once you’ve made your changes, quickly share updated documents the same way.
Video
All Industries
3m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about the new Vectorworks Cloud Document Reviewer, released with Vectorworks 2025.
Discover one-click navigation that allows for easy, instant access to all views of your model and interactive model orbiting with click-dragging. The optional display of XYZ axes, compass direction, and working planes help you effortlessly orient and navigate your model. Easily switch it off with a popover (but you won’t want to).
Video
All Industries
2m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Learn about the new Onscreen View Control introduced with Vectorworks 2025.
Switching to Vectorworks unlocks new design powers — from visualization to
documentation!
Join Tom Wagman, senior set designer, and Dawn Snyder, director of education
at IATSE Local 800, for a webinar showcasing Vectorworks' power. Discover how
Wagman's set design workflow has improved since switching from SketchUp.
Wagman now performs most of his set design process directly in Vectorworks,
enhancing his creative capabilities, streamlining his workflow, and empowering
his design process.
Video
Entertainment
48m
Beginner
Learning Objectives
Discover all you can do by switching to Vectorworks from SketchUp.
Get hands-on tips for creating high-quality renders directly within Vectorworks.
See how to expedite your workflow using Vectorworks Resource Libraries.
Learn how Vectorworks helps you easily generate plans and elevations from your 3D model.
Learn about the basics of scenic design as Jim Woodward and Joshua Schulman showcase how to create a stage design for an award show from start to finish. This video will showcase how Vectorworks Spotlight helps you to easily design venues and stages using free form modeling and parametric tools – making it the ultimate scenic design software.
This class offers an in-depth exploration of Vectorworks Spotlight rigging tools, catering not only to riggers but also to technical directors (TDs), lighting designers (LDs), sound engineers, video designers, and scenic designers—essentially anyone involved in managing flown elements. The class is structured in two main parts to provide a holistic understanding and practical application of these tools.
Text and Video
Entertainment
8h
Intermediate
Learning Objectives
Understand and utilize truss, pipes, and ladders in your rigging designs.
Efficiently connect various loads to the rigging structure.
Integrate and configure hoists within your rigging system.
Design and implement bridles for complex rigging configurations.
Utilize worksheets and data for rigging management and documentation.
Incorporate Braceworks to perform accurate load calculations and analysis.
