Light Types
Place lights from the Lights tab in the Add Object panel. Five types are available: Path Light, Spotlight, Area Light, String Lights, and Sunlight.
Light TypesScapiera provides six light types grouped under the Lights tab: Point Light, Spotlight, Area Light, String Lights, LED Strip, and the scene-wide Directional Light (sun). Each type models a real-world fixture category — from a bollard casting soft ambient glow to a tight-beam spot aimed at a feature tree. Every emitting fixture shares a Light Color control (solid color or color temperature) and a Brightness control in lumens, while type-specific controls such as beam spread, bulb style, or strip length appear automatically when you select that fixture in the inspector.
Spotlight
A directed beam light for accenting plants, walls, or features. Fixture styles: Ground Spike, Wall Mount, Tree Mount, Flush Mount. Controls include beam spread angle (horizontal), elevation angle, and edge softness (penumbra).
Area Light
A flat rectangular or linear light source for broader, diffuse illumination. Configure width, height, and direction. Typical use: illuminating a surface like a wall or ceiling.
String Lights
Decorative lights strung along a path drawn on the canvas. Bulb styles: Festoon, Fairy, Edison. The string follows the path you draw. Set bulb spacing and sag.
Sunlight
The directional sky light that simulates the sun. Sunlight position is controlled by the azimuth and elevation settings in Project Settings → Editing → 3D & Lighting. Only one sunlight exists per project.
Directional Light (sunlight)
The directional sky light that simulates the sun (light-directional). Sunlight position is controlled by the azimuth and elevation settings in Project Settings → Editing → 3D & Lighting. Only one sunlight exists per project.
Draw an LED Strip
Click LED Strip under Linear & Suspended, then click to draw its run — finish with a double-click or Enter. The inspector shows a Context picker (Deck Edge, Step Riser, Pathway Edge, and more), a Color Mode selector, and a Brightness slider. A computed Strip Length and Total Watts value updates as you draw, making it easy to size drivers. LED strips are suited for deck edges, step risers, fence rails, and pool coping.
Configure the Directional Light (sun)
The Directional Light represents the sun and is shared across the entire project — there is only one per drawing. Adjust its Azimuth, Elevation, and Intensity from Settings → 3D & Lighting → Sun, or dial it live with the Sun controls and Sky Dial in Presentation mode. The sun angle drives real-time shadows in the 3D view. See the Sunlight article for full details.
Adjust Light Color and Brightness
Select any placed light to open its inspector. In the Light Color section toggle between Custom Color (a color picker) and Color Temperature (a warm-to-cool Kelvin slider) — no hex codes are shown, keeping the controls approachable for non-technical users. Set Brightness in lumens using the numeric field or slider; the app maps lumens to the right physical value for each light type so the 3D preview stays consistent.
Warm temperatures (2700–3000 K) suit residential gardens and dining areas; cooler temperatures (4000–5000 K) suit security and commercial plantings.
The Power & Wiring and Controls groups (Transformer, Cable Run, Junction Box, Controller) document the electrical system on the plan but do not emit light in the 3D view. Use these objects to show clients the infrastructure behind the design, then see the Wiring and Infrastructure article for wiring layout guidance.
For a realistic night-scene preview, switch to the 3D editor and lower the ambient scene brightness in Project Settings. Your placed lights will then read clearly against the darkened sky rather than competing with daylight fill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Lights tab?
Activate the Select tool to open the Add Objects panel on the right side of the canvas, then click the Lights tab. The tab is included in all standard plans; if it is not visible, your subscription tier may not include it.
What is the difference between Point Light and Spotlight?
A Point Light emits equally in all directions like a lantern or bollard, using Reach and Falloff to define its range. A Spotlight emits a directed cone with configurable Horizontal and Vertical beam angles and Edge Softness — use it when you need to aim light at a specific feature such as a tree, wall, or sculpture.
Why can I only have one Directional Light (sun)?
The Directional Light represents the sun, which is a single scene-wide source. Only one sun exists per project, and its azimuth and elevation drive shadows across the entire 3D view and Photo mode render. Adjust the existing sun's angle rather than trying to place a second one.
Which type should I use for a continuous glowing line along a deck edge?
Use LED Strip for a continuous ribbon of light along a surface edge, step riser, or cove. Use String Lights when you want individual visible bulbs hanging at intervals along a catenary between two support points — the two fixtures look very different in the 3D view and on client presentation renders.
How do I see my lights in action?
Switch to the 3D editor to see real-time shadows and light cones from your placed fixtures. For a fully rendered after-dark view, open Presentation mode and choose a dusk or night time preset so your fixtures become the dominant light source.