Creating Fixtures

Define custom fixture profiles for your hardware

Creating Fixtures

When a fixture isn't in the library, create your own definition.

When to Create a Profile

Fixture not in the library
Custom or DIY fixtures
Modified fixtures with different channel layouts
Rebranded fixtures with unique addressing

Fixture Definition Basics

A fixture profile includes:

Identity

Name: Fixture model name
Manufacturer: Brand name
Type: Category (LED, Moving Head, etc.)

Channels

Each channel specifies:

Number: Position in DMX range
Name: Descriptive label
Type: What it controls (color, dimmer, position, etc.)
Default: Starting value

Modes

Fixtures often have multiple modes:

Different channel counts
Different feature sets
Match to physical fixture settings

Creating a Profile

Step 1: Gather Information

From the fixture's manual, collect:

All DMX modes and channel counts
Channel-by-channel breakdown
Value ranges for each function
Any special behaviors

Step 2: Create New Definition

Go to Library Manager > Fixtures
Click Create New
Fill in the basic information

Step 3: Define Channels

For each channel:

Click Add Channel
Set the channel number
Choose the channel type
Set the name and default value

Step 4: Channel Types

Type	Use For
Dimmer	Master intensity
Red/Green/Blue	RGB color mixing
White/Amber/UV	Additional colors
Pan	Horizontal position
Tilt	Vertical position
Pan Fine	High-resolution pan
Tilt Fine	High-resolution tilt
Color Wheel	Fixed color selection
Gobo Wheel	Pattern selection
Gobo Rotation	Rotating gobo speed
Prism	Prism effects
Focus	Beam focus
Zoom	Beam width
Shutter/Strobe	Strobe effects
Control	Special functions

Step 5: Add Modes

If the fixture has multiple modes:

Click Add Mode
Name the mode (e.g., "9-Channel", "Full")
Define which channels are active
Set mode-specific defaults

Step 6: Test

Add the fixture to a project
Patch it to your hardware
Test each channel individually
Verify all functions work

Step 7: Save

Click Save
Choose to save to Library (global) or Project only
The fixture is now available for use

Example: Simple LED Par

A basic 7-channel LED Par:

Mode: 7-Channel

Channel 1: Dimmer
Channel 2: Red
Channel 3: Green
Channel 4: Blue
Channel 5: Strobe
Channel 6: Color Macros
Channel 7: Mode Selection

Example: Moving Head

A moving head with two modes:

Mode: 16-Channel
1: Pan
2: Pan Fine
3: Tilt
4: Tilt Fine
5: Speed
6: Dimmer
7: Shutter
8: Red
9: Green
10: Blue
11: White
12: Color Wheel
13: Gobo Wheel
14: Prism
15: Focus
16: Control

Mode: 8-Channel
1: Pan
2: Tilt
3: Dimmer
4: Red
5: Green
6: Blue
7: Color Wheel
8: Speed

Advanced Features

Value Ranges

Some channels have discrete values:

Color wheel positions
Gobo selections
Special functions

Define these as value ranges within the channel.

Physical Properties

For accurate visualization:

Set beam angle
Configure pan/tilt ranges
Define fixture dimensions

Icons

Upload a custom icon for visual identification.

Export

Share your fixture definitions:

Right-click the fixture
Select Export
Save the .slf file

Community Upload

Contribute to the community:

Go to Library Manager > Community
Click Upload
Select your fixture file
Add description and submit

Troubleshooting

Channels Don't Match

Re-check the manual
Verify fixture's current mode
Test with raw DMX values

Colors Are Wrong

Check RGB channel order
Verify channel numbers
Test each channel individually

Position Is Inverted

Check pan/tilt polarity settings
Some fixtures invert axes
Add invert flags to the channel

Generic LEDs

Working with generic RGB LED fixtures

Hardware

Connect and configure hardware with Spectralite