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Frequently Asked Questions

Browse through our frequently asked questions to find quick solutions and master the platform.

What is OpenLumen?
OpenLumen is a browser-based lighting design platform. It combines layout design, photometric analysis, IES file management, and professional report generation into a single workspace. No downloads. No installations. Just open a browser tab and start designing.
Anyone who works with light. Lighting designers and specifiers use it for full-cycle projects. Contractors create quick layouts for bids — often from the job site. Manufacturers distribute verified IES data. Distributors close sales with real photometric evidence. Students learn with professional-grade tools at zero cost. If light is part of your job, OpenLumen is built for you.
Traditional tools cost thousands per year, require desktop installations, and lock you into proprietary ecosystems. OpenLumen runs entirely in your browser — on your laptop, tablet, or phone. It is brand-agnostic, community-driven, and starts free. The calculations are just as rigorous: Point-by-Point method for direct illuminance, IES-standard Zonal Cavity Method for inter-reflected components, BUG ratings, and vector PDF output. Professional results, without the barriers.
Yes. The Community plan is free forever. It includes unlimited layouts, full photometric analysis, DXF/PDF/image import, community IES library access, and standard PDF reports — with up to 25 fixtures per layout. When you need unlimited fixtures, private files, or custom-branded reports, Pro is $20/month. Teams start at $25/license/month with shared files, centralized billing, branded team user interface, and member management.
It is the world’s open photometric library. Thousands of IES files from manufacturers worldwide — searchable by manufacturer, category, lumens, watts, and more. The library is community-contributed and community-verified: files move through three trust tiers (Unverified, Candidate, Verified) as more professionals corroborate the data. Anyone can search and download for free. Official manufacturer-published files carry a verified badge.
OpenLumen uses industry-standard methods. Direct illuminance is calculated using the Point-by-Point method with full angular interpolation from IES photometric data. Inter-reflected illuminance uses the Zonal Cavity Method with cavity ratios, effective reflectances, and coefficient of utilization. The platform also generates BUG ratings, zonal lumen summaries, beam spreads, LCS analysis, UGR tables, and isoilluminance diagrams. These are the same methods used in established desktop software.
DXF, PDF, and image files (JPG, PNG). DXF import supports 14+ entity types — including LINE, LWPOLYLINE, CIRCLE, ARC, ELLIPSE, SPLINE, INSERT/BLOCK with nested expansion, and more. Auto-scaling handles unit detection. You can also snap a photo of a blueprint at the job site and use it directly.
Yes. The Report Designer lets you build polished PDF reports with drag-and-drop elements. Include layout snapshots with heatmaps or point values, luminaire schedules, calculation summaries, and your company branding. Reports use vector PDF output for crisp print quality. Auto-paginating tables handle large fixture counts. Pro and Team plans support custom logos on every report.
Does it work on mobile?
Fully. The Layout Designer supports touch interaction on tablets and phones. Design from the job site, the supply house, or the conference room. Every feature works across desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers.
Lighting professionals share layouts, contribute IES files, discuss techniques, and learn from each other. You can browse public layouts for inspiration — warehouses, offices, parking lots, retrofits — and copy any layout as your starting template. Threaded comments on files and layouts let you share real-world insights. Upvotes, application tags, and category endorsements keep the library organized and trustworthy.
Teams bring collaboration to lighting design. Share private IES files and favorites across your organization. Manage members with role-based access. Get centralized billing with one invoice. Your team logo appears across the interface. Teams start at 4 licenses and include everything in the Pro plan for every member.
Your layouts, private files, and account data are stored securely and never shared without your permission. Private files remain private — only you (or your team) can access them. Public layouts and community IES files are shared by your choice. The platform includes full DMCA safe-harbor compliance with takedown and counter-notice workflows for intellectual property protection.
Yes. The Manufacturer Program gives brands a dedicated page where specifiers browse, analyze, and use official IES files directly. Upload files individually or in bulk. Official files carry a verified badge that distinguishes them from community uploads. Your product data stays accurate because you control it.
Create a free account — no credit card required. You will have immediate access to the Layout Designer, Photometric Hub, IES Library, and community features. Import a floor plan, place your first luminaire, and generate a report. The guided onboarding walkthrough covers every step.

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