Shoot Before You Shoot

set.a.light 3D V3 — Your Virtual Lighting Studio for Photo & Film

The ultimate companion for visual storytelling

set.a.light 3D is a physics-based lighting simulator software for photographers and filmmakers. Step into your virtual lighting studio and visualize your lighting, camera angles and entire scenes – all before you ever set foot on location. Position real-world strobes, continuous lights and modifiers and preview the exact result in a complete 3D lighting simulator – no surprises, no wasted time on set.

Now with more precision and freedom than ever before!

Available for macOS and Windows

For Windows & MacOS

Plan your shoots professionally, even on limited budgets

Shoot before you shoot without limits and pressure

Create anytime, anywhere – whenever inspiration strikes

Make Every Shoot a Success!

Go to Pricing Download free trial

💡 Master Lighting Without Limits

🎥 Previs camera work and movements in advance

🎬 Turn your script into a storyboard

✔️ Preview color grading with LUTs

🖨️ Export Production-Ready Set Blueprints

✨ Access 10.000+ Ready-to-Use Lighting Setups

Transform Your Vision with Real-Time Previsualization

set.a.light 3D V3 revolutionizes the production process by offering detailed and realistic previsualization of cameras, lighting, and scene setups in real-time.

Built on a completely new foundation, the latest version delivers a level of performance and realism never seen before. Every tool has been reimagined for a smoother, more intuitive creative experience — giving you unparalleled precision and cinematic freedom for your most ambitious projects.

“This is the best previs tool I’ve ever used. It bridges the gap between imagination and execution.”

Liam Foster, Cinematographer & DOP

01 Overview

Cinematic restaurant scene created as a real-time previsualization

Create Film & Photo Sets in a Fully Equipped Virtual Lighting Studio

No more guesswork and expensive rentals! Create an authentic and accurate representation of your set in 3D before production begins and run a virtual test shoot. Refine your setups before stepping on set and avoid costly surprises.

Try for free

Physics-Based
3D Lighting Simulation

Set.a.light 3D delivers real-world precision based on physical light data. That means your setups work in reality just like
they do in your virtual studio. Every shadow, highlight, and reflection behaves just as it would on a real set.

It’s the only tool for cinematographers and photographers offering true-to-life lighting characteristics.

Realistic shadows, highlights & reflections

Accurate exposure & precise measurements

Real-world reproducibility

„The realism is insane. The shadows, reflections – everything behaves just like on set.”

Owen Carter, Cinematographer

ANIMATION TOOL

Animate Your Shots and Turn Static Setups
into Dynamic Previews

From cinematic camera moves to full scene animations: set.a.light 3D V3 lets you bring your shots to life before the shoot. Animate cameras, lights, props, and characters with frame-accurate precision to refine timing, blocking, and visual transitions in advance.

Two 3D characters and a cinema camera on a tripod set up for animating camera movements

New

Camera Movements

Previsualize complex camera moves — from dolly and crane shots to pans, tilts and orbits — including lens animation and depth of field.

Animating lighting changes with keyframes on studio lights

New

Animate Lighting Changes

Animate light intensity, color, position, and modifiers to previsualize transitions and lighting cues.

Animating a 3D character with the timeline and ready-made animation presets

New

Character Animation

Block scenes and previsualize actions with built-in character motions – easy and intuitive to use.

4K
MP4

Video Export

Export your animation as MP4 to share with clients and collaborators—making your vision clear, compelling, and easy to communicate.

NATURAL LIGHT

From Indoor Setups to Outdoor Scenes:
Shape your Light with Sun, Fog & Volumetric Lighting

For the first time, set.a.light 3D goes beyond the studio! Say goodbye to limitations and bring your cinematic vision to life with natural light and immersive environments.

Simulate the sun with precise positioning to create scenes that shift from bright daylight to dramatic nightscapes. Test the interplay of sunlight and artificial lighting, and add fog and atmospheric depth to achieve breathtaking realism that captivates your audience.

Outdoor 3D scene with the sun positioned by real-world location and time of day

Real Sun Position Worldwide

Simulate the sun with precise positioning to create scenes that shift from bright daylight to dramatic nightscapes. Test the interplay of sunlight and artificial lighting, and add fog and atmospheric depth to achieve breathtaking realism that captivates your audience.

Moody scene with real-time volumetric fog and visible light beams

Real-Time Volumetric Fog

Add cinematic depth and atmosphere with volumetric fog. Watch in real time how light interacts with it —revealing rays, diffusion, and dramatic shafts of light. This technique shapes the mood, directs the viewer’s eye, and adds a sense of realism that instantly elevates your shot.

Spherical HDRI environment map with selectable sky presets

HDRI Environment Maps

Use realistic HDRI maps for natural reflections and ambient lighting, placing your subjects in authentic outdoor environments. With a variety of built-in sky presets, from clear sky, cloudy sky to night sky, you can instantly create the perfect atmosphere for your scene.

PHOTO & CINEMA LIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Your Entire Lighting Kit,
Virtually Recreated

Create lighting setups that feel like you’re on a real set – without hauling gear or spending on expensive rentals.

90+ Lights

90+ Light shapers

20+Accessories & Helpers

Realistic stands

Access a Huge Collection of Light Sources 24 Hours a day

Choose from a wide range of light sources, including strobes, speedlights, practicals and continuous lights like Arri, Aputure, Nanlite, KinoFlo and more.

Version 3 expands your lighting arsenal with even more professional options.

Studio filled with over 50 virtual light sources and modifiers

Combine Modifiers Freely for Maximum Control

Attach over 90 light modifiers, including softboxes, reflectors, snoots, umbrellas and more.

With the V3 modifiers can now be combined freely with nearly all light sources, unlocking an unprecedented level of flexibility for building and refining your setups.

Shape Your Light with Endless Possibilities

With set.a.light 3D, you have the power to shape every beam, shadow, and nuance before the camera even rolls.

Control spill and direction, adjust softness and diffusion, bounce or block light where needed, and create breathtaking atmospheres with realistic color gels.

Further innovations

Built-in light meter showing lux and exposure values on a 3D model

Built-in Light Meter

Measure your lighting in real time and plan your exposure just like on set.

Creating a custom light source from a manufacturer template in the New Light dialog

Create your own custom lights

Create custom strobes and continuous lights to match your gear (With IES Import).

Resizing a softbox on a light stand

Resize softboxes

Resize existing softboxes to match with your studio equipment and save them as custom presets.

Unleash your creativity!

Try out bold concepts, experiment with new ideas and play with special techniques – anytime, anywhere.

Effortlessly create stunning social media content and wow your community with unique ideas.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Shoot with realistic photo
and cinema cameras

Seamlessly switch between photo and film cameras with a powerful system built to replicate real-world shoots – bringing the tools of a real set straight to your computer.

Film and photo cameras on tripods with realistic settings for sensor, focal length and aperture

Preview Camera Settings and Perspective

Take full creative control of framing, depth and style – and preview exactly how your final shot will look.

Adjust aperture, ISO, frame rate, shutter angle and more in real time – just like on set. Choose from a wide range of lenses – zoom, prime or anamorphic – and find the perfect match for your scene. Use advanced tools like histogram, false color and exposure zones for precise control.

One scene shown in three cinematic color looks: Dark and Somber, Magic Hour and Cold Chrome

Simulate Cinematic Styles

Apply cinematic LUTs and instantly preview how your scene looks after color grading.

Exposure analysis of a scene with EL-Zone and IRE false-color overlays next to the original

EL-Zone and False Color

Use EL-Zone and False Color to evaluate exposure and lighting with professional accuracy.

Cinematic widescreen portrait with anamorphic lens simulation

Anamorphic Lens Simulation

Switch to anamorphic lenses and create widescreen images with cinematic depth and character.

3D ASSETS

Everything You Need to Build Your Scene

Bring your ideas to life with a complete set of assets at your fingertips. From lifelike models and props to custom imports—you’ll have everything you need to create detailed, realistic scenes.

MODELS & ACTORS

High-Resolution and Flexible Characters

In set.a.light 3D you’ll find a wide range of flexible models that you can easily customize for your projects. With just a few clicks, you can adjust facial features, skin tone, hair, body shape, clothing and accessories, and transform them into unique characters. Save your creations in the library and build a diverse cast for any project.

Grid of diverse, high-resolution 3D human characters
Editing a 3D character's facial expressions with emotion and muscle sliders

Facial Expressions

Customize facial expressions to capture any emotion — from subtle changes to dramatic effects. Choose from ready-made templates or fine-tune using the expression panel.

Posing a 3D character in posing mode with detailed hand and finger controls

Custom Posing

Set up poses that match your scene — from subtle adjustments to expressive postures. Choose from pose templates or create your own in posing mode, and save them for future use.

Styling 3D characters with different outfits like a dress, scrubs and a uniform

Versatile Styling

Change the entire look of your models — swap clothing, hairstyles, skin, makeup and accessories to create versatile styles for any scene.

Adjusting a 3D character's body size and proportions with sliders

Size and Proportions

Adjust the size and proportions of your characters to fit any role — from slim to heavyset, tall to petite. Clothing adapts automatically to every change.

Building a custom 3D character by combining face, skin and eye presets

Character Building

Create Characters that fit your story. From face shape and skin tone to makeup, hairstyles, and eye color—you have full control to build lifelike characters for your scenes.

Pose library with ready-made poses applied to male and female 3D characters

Pose Library

Save your custom-built poses and reuse them anytime. Build your own library of go-to poses to streamline your workflow and keep characters consistent across projects.

PROPS & MORE

Customize your scenes with props and furniture

Build your scene with ease using an extensive library of ready-made props, furniture, and customizable objects.

Mix, match, and adapt elements to design the perfect set—whether you’re recreating a real-world location or crafting something entirely new.

Furnishing a scene with props from the asset library, such as an armchair and instruments

Flexible Basic 3D Shapes

Use flexible basic shapes to build essential parts of your scene or create unique custom objects.

Walls, Doors & Windows

Choose from a variety of windows and doors, add walls, and build realistic interiors in just a few clicks.

Building an outdoor city street scene from ready-made buildings, roads and trees

Build outdoor scenes in no time

Now you can build far into the distance – create wide, detailed outdoor environments with ready-made or custom imported assets.

Realistic glass refraction and reflections on wine glasses under blue light

Glass and reflections

Simulate glass and reflections with stunning real-time accuracy and material behavior.

Furnishing an interior room with sofas, tables and a kitchen from the library

Furnish rooms

Bring your spaces to life with a wide selection of furniture and props – ready to use.

Product photography lighting setup with a laptop on a seamless backdrop and softbox

Illuminate products

Master product photography by precisely planning your lighting setups before the actual shoot.

3D IMPORTER

Import your own 3D assets and maximize your content library

Unlock unlimited creativity with the powerful 3D Importer. Bring in custom props, environments and assets to complete your scenes and make them truly your own. Enjoy maximum flexibility and expand your creative possibilities.

SET MANAGEMENT

Manage all your shots, setups, and scenes in one place

The Timeline has evolved into a powerful workspace where you manage, plan, and structure your entire project. From lighting setups to camera angles – every shot gets saved here.

Managing shots and scenes in folders in the set.a.light 3D library

Maintain Control with Folders

Organize your timeline with folders by topic, scene, or project – keeping complex productions clear and manageable.

Reorganizing rated shot thumbnails by drag and drop

Reorganize your shots

Easily move setups between projects and folders via drag-and-drop to flexibly reorganize your shots.

Merging set files and shots into organized project folders

Merge set files

Import another set file, and it will automatically appear as a new folder in your timeline.

EXPORT & SHARE

Versatile Export Options that Empower Your Workflow

Export stunning renders, detailed diagrams, and complete shot plans – all ready to share with your team or clients, giving you a great start on set.

Production-ready set blueprint with a top-down lighting plan, gear list and camera settings

Export Production-Ready Set Blueprints

Need a plan for your shoot? Export a production-ready set blueprint as PDF or JPG to easily recreate your vision on set. Each plan contains all essential information you need to get started quickly – ready to print and share.

✔️ Lighting diagram with positions & distances
✔️ Camera & light settings
✔️ Gear & Modifiers used
✔️ Camera views & Shot previews
✔️ Gear lists

Drop Your Shots Into a Storyboard template

Transform your script into a detailed storyboard, mapping out each scene and shot in advance. Print it out and share with your crew or client.

✔️ Easily rearrange your shots
✔️ Add notes and directions to each frame
✔️ Export as PDF and print out

Film storyboard built from shots with numbered frames and scene descriptions
Rendering a shot in up to 4K resolution with quality and denoiser settings

Render Your Shots up to 4K

Render your shots in high quality up to 4K – ideal for client previews, production planning and visual reference. Adjust quality settings to match your hardware and render needs.

Collage of cinematic images created by the set.a.light 3D community
set.a.light 3D Community logo

A dose of inspiration,
whenever you need it

You’re looking for inspiration and want to see how other creatives light their setups? The Community is your creative hub inside set.a.light 3D to discover, exchange, and learn – anytime, anywhere.

BETTER TOGETHER

Connect with creatives worldwide and exchange lighting ideas

Access a massive library of lighting setups shared by users worldwide and get inspired. Whether you’re into photography, filmmaking, or visual storytelling, you’ll find setups that fuel your creativity and help you grow.

set.a.light 3D Community page for sharing lighting setups and getting feedback from creatives worldwide
Downloading a ready-made lighting setup from the community to reuse in a project

10.000 LIGHTING SETUPS

Download any lighting setup to kickstart your next project

No need to start from scratch. Download any setup, tweak it to your needs and then use it for your own projects. The Community thrives on sharing, so everyone benefits and evolves together.

Learn new techniques

Stop guessing, start exploring! Get to know how other creatives build their lighting setups and elevate your lighting skills.

Showcase Your Work

Easily upload your lighting setups directly in set.a.light 3D. Showcase your creativity and get recognition from a global network of creators.

Stay Creative

Keep your creativity flowing with new ideas. Follow other creatives and collect your favorite setups to fuel your next projects.

Get help from other users

Have a question about lighting, equipment, or need help with a shoot? It takes just a few clicks, and you’re part of a thriving creative exchange.

Artists featured in the top banner (from left to right, top to bottom): zhongyi li, Waleed Jaber, Cristian Rezmerita, mau.man, TomW, Waleed Jaber, zhongyi li, Lakerfilm, Sakiko, Julie Boehm, Adel Nour, Axel Acosta Acosta, Joey Arcisz, Tomw, Alchemy Jeff, Ahmed Omara, Joey Arcisz, UTOPIANSHOTS

See What Creators Are Making with set.a.light 3D

Filmmakers, photographers and production teams around the world are already using set.a.light 3D to plan, visualize and perfect their projects before stepping on set.

Studio Lighting Setup
Portrait Lighting Setup
Studio Setup with Titan Tubes
Film Scene Previsualization
Creative Lighting Setup
Film Scene Setup
Dramatic Lighting Setup
Professional Lighting Setup
Multi-Light Setup
Cinematic Lighting Setup
Film Scene with Lighting
Indoor Film Scene
Outdoor Film Scene
Night Film Scene
Moody Film Scene

Studio Lighting Setup
Portrait Lighting Setup
Studio Setup with Titan Tubes
Film Scene Previsualization
Creative Lighting Setup
Film Scene Setup
Dramatic Lighting Setup
Professional Lighting Setup
Multi-Light Setup
Cinematic Lighting Setup
Film Scene with Lighting
Indoor Film Scene
Outdoor Film Scene
Night Film Scene
Moody Film Scene

set.a.light 3D V3 logo

Choose a version and start creating

Find your perfect match and start creating from the comfort of your own virtual studio.
Upgrade your workflow and unleash your creativity with the lighting simulator set.a.light 3D

Benefits in
every version

✓ Experiment with bold ideas in a safe, virtual studio
✓ Previs your entire setup before the shoot and save time & budget
✓ Experience lighting that behaves just like on a real set
✓ Export Production-Ready Set Blueprints for a smooth production
✓ Kickstart your projects with 10.000+ Ready-to-Use Lighting Setups

Get Started Today

Unlock the Power of Lighting and bring your vision to life!

For Mac and Windows

Download free trial Go to Pricing