Blackwire Designs has announced a series of significant updates to its Blacklight Linear Lighting Design Software. These updates introduce features that further simplify the design and specification process for linear lighting systems.
“Our goal is to empower designers and integrators to create stunning lighting systems with unprecedented efficiency and accuracy,” says Cody Crossland, national sales manager at Blackwire. “By automating complex processes like DMX configuration and integrating with Control4, we’re not just simplifying the design and installation process — we’re redefining it. These transformative updates to Blacklight represent a leap forward in our commitment to innovation, ease of use, and excellence.”
Blacklight has already made waves in the industry by simplifying the traditionally complex process of designing and specifying linear lighting systems and taking home a CEDIA Expo 2023 Best New Product Award. Available for free to all Blackwire customers, the software enables users to import floorplans; outline each fixture; and promptly organize, configure, price, and produce a purchase order and accurate install reports for the bespoke lighting system design. With these latest updates, Blackwire continues to not only simplify the jobs of designers, purchasers, and programmers, but also benefit integrators by enabling faster completion of projects with fewer errors and costly mistakes.
Key Updates to Blacklight Design Tool:
- Control4 Integration and Auto-Config: Blacklight now integrates with Control4 systems via Blackwire’s Grape Box DMX Bridge. By pasting a unique import code into the Grape Box driver, users can add DMX lighting devices to a Control4 system automatically. Pre-programming of LED types, DMX channels, and fixture naming is also handled automatically, significantly accelerating project installations.
- Auto DMX Configuration and Channel Layout: Blacklight now automates the configuration of DMX channel mappings for each fixture within a system, dramatically reducing the complexity of specifying DMX-controlled lighting. This feature also allows integrators to customize settings while providing alerts for any potential errors, ensuring a seamless design process.
- New DMX Report: A comprehensive DMX report is now available, detailing all DMX-configured fixtures and highlighting any configuration errors. This tool aids installers in quickly referencing DMX settings on-site, streamlining the installation process.
- New Fixture Edit Panel: The introduction of an enhanced Fixture Edit Panel offers a more detailed view of each fixture, enabling designers to modify control methods or swap out tape light products across all fixture segments with a single click. This update also simplifies adjustments to power supplies, controllers, and accessories, making the design process far more efficient.
- Expanded Partner Ecosystem: Blackwire is adding even more products from Pure Edge, Wiz Pro, and Shelly to Blacklight’s extensive database, all of which will be made available for one-click purchasing from the company website via the software platform. Additionally, select products from Lucetta Ci and Lumini — Blackwire’s two newest partners — will soon be added to Blacklight, further enhancing the range of options available to designers.
The latest version of Blacklight is available now and is accessible via a desktop browser. Integration with Control4 systems requires the Grape Box DMX-BRIDGE, available for purchase separately.
For more information, visit www.blackwiredesigns.com/blacklight.
