Video: Specify an IES File for a Light Source

Use an IES file to define the intensity and style of a light source in your Revit model.

This video demonstrates the following:

  1. Updating an IES file.
  2. Update the Light Source Definition
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Note: This video was recorded using Revit 2023. When using Revit LT, you may notice differences in functionality and user interface.

Transcript

Use an IES file to define the intensity and style of a light source in your Revit model.

By using IES files, you can implement a more photorealistic lighting effect in a rendered image. can be seen in this render, the current generic spotlight style lighting is a little harsh and not fully realistic. In this example, we will change the IES file for this lamp to make the lighting more realistic. Select the lamp and then open the Family Editor under the Modify panel.

Next, select the light source in the Revit drawing area. Click Light Source Definition. In the Light Source Definition Window, under Emit from Shape, we can change the shape of the light emitted from the light source. Under Light Distribution, change the light distribution from the generic spotlight to Photometric Web. Photometric Web is a 3D representation of the light intensity distribution of a light source. Click Apply. Now click OK.

Next, we need to specify which IES file to use. To apply the same light distribution for an entire lighting fixture family, we'll keep the light fixture family open in the Family Editor. Select the light source.

Next, click Family Types in the Properties panel. In the Photometrics section, we can modify the light color, tilt angle, and more. To define an IES file for the light source, click the Photometric Web File value section. Click the ellipses. The IES file selection window will appear. Let's change the file to the Spot_Ideal IES file.

Click Open. Click Apply in the Family Types window and then OK. In the drawing area, the light source shape now reflects the specified IES file. Click Load into Project. If we render the project, we can now see that the lighting in the room has changed to the more realistic setting we defined with the IES file. Use an IES file to define the intensity and style of a light source in your Revit model.