Lighting Design Tips
Effective garden lighting combines multiple layers — path marking, accent uplighting, and ambient wash — each fulfilled by a different light type.
Effective garden lighting combines several fixture types working in concert rather than relying on a single bright source. Place and configure each fixture in the 2D editor using the Light Inspector, then switch to the photoreal 3D view and use Sun Controls to simulate dusk or full dark so you can see exactly how the scheme reads. These tips walk through a proven workflow — from initial fixture placement to electrical documentation — so your finished plan communicates the night-time atmosphere to the client.
Use warm color temperatures
Warm whites (2700–3000 K) complement natural garden materials — wood, stone, foliage. Cooler whites (4000 K+) are better suited for architectural or commercial contexts. Use the color temperature mode in the Inspector to set this rather than a custom RGB color.
Evaluate in the 3D view
Switch to the photoreal 3D view to see how lights render at night. Enable shadows in Project Settings → Editing → 3D & Lighting for the most realistic shadow preview. Use the Lighting Controls in the presentation toolbar to adjust the global ambient level and preview different times of day.
Document the electrical system
Use the infrastructure tools (transformer, cable run, junction box, controller) to document the circuit for installation drawings. Group infrastructure entities onto a dedicated Lighting layer so they can be toggled independently in deliverables.
Tune brightness in lumens
The Brightness field in the inspector uses lumens — the same unit you will find on a real fixture spec sheet. Path lights typically sit in the 100–400 lm range; accent spotlights for trees range from 200–800 lm; broad area washes can reach 1000–2000 lm. Start conservatively and increase gradually — over-lit gardens look harsh in the photoreal view and are harder to correct after client approval.
Simulate dusk with the Sun controls
Open Presentation mode and use the Sun controls. Choose the Dusk or Evening time preset, or drag the Sky Dial to lower the sun toward the horizon, to see the transition from golden hour into artificial lighting. Adjust until your fixtures become the dominant light source. You can also set sun direction, height, and intensity precisely in Settings → 3D & Lighting → Sun.
Evaluate the scheme in the photoreal 3D view
Switch to the Presentation view to render the full lighting scene. If shadows appear flat or missing, turn on Enable Shadows in Settings → 3D & Lighting → Sun so the sunlight casts shadows across the scene. Rotate the camera to check the scheme from the client's likely vantage point — the entrance, the dining terrace, and any key focal features. Adjust individual fixture Reach and Brightness values in the inspector until the balance looks right.
Document the electrical infrastructure
Once the fixture layout is approved, add the electrical components using the infrastructure tools: place a Lighting Transformer to establish the power source, draw Cable Run lines between fixtures, add Junction Box nodes at branch points, and connect a Lighting Controller if the scheme includes zones or timers. Place all of these elements on a dedicated Lighting — Infrastructure layer so they can be toggled independently when producing clean presentation and installation drawings.
Aim for contrast, not uniform brightness. A few well-placed accent spotlights read far more dramatically at night than a grid of evenly spaced fixtures at the same total wattage. Use the photoreal view to confirm that your focal points — specimen trees, water features, architectural walls — are at least two stops brighter than the surrounding ambient level.
The Temperature slider produces more consistent results across an entire scheme than custom RGB colors. If you use a custom color on one fixture (for example, a warm amber on a fire pit area), keep all surrounding fixtures on the Temperature slider so the scheme does not clash when rendered.
Intensity values above 1500 lm for spot or area lights can wash out nearby planting and stone textures in the photoreal render. Reduce intensity and compensate with additional lower-power fixtures positioned closer to the subject rather than increasing a single source.
Frequently Asked Questions
My lights look the same as in daytime — no visible effect.
Lighting effects are only clearly visible when the scene is dark enough. In Presentation mode, choose the Dusk, Evening, or Midnight time preset (or drag the Sky Dial to lower the sun). Once the sky is dark the fixtures become the dominant light source and their contribution shows clearly.
I can see light but no shadows in the scene.
Turn on Enable Shadows in Settings → 3D & Lighting → Sun, then return to the Presentation view. The sunlight then casts shadows from plants, structures, and walls across the scene.
How do I show different lighting zones to a client?
Place fixtures for each zone on a separate named layer (for example, "Lighting — Terrace" and "Lighting — Driveway"). In the Layers panel you can toggle layers on and off and take separate screenshots of each zone active in isolation, making it easy to walk a client through the scheme area by area.
The Spotlight inspector shows Horizontal and Vertical beam spread — what is the difference?
Horizontal and Vertical let you create an asymmetric cone, which is useful for wall-washing a long facade where you want a wide horizontal spread but a tighter vertical cut-off. For uplighting a tree or sculpture, set both to the same value for a symmetrical cone.
How do I set the project location for the sun?
Open Settings → Project → Site & location and search for the project's city or address. The selected location is saved with the project, so you only set it once. Then set sun direction, height, and intensity in Settings → 3D & Lighting → Sun, or dial it live in Presentation mode.