Upgrade CAPTURE 2023 Duet do CAPTURE 2023 Quartet

Upgrade your Capture Duet to Capture Quartet in any time.

You need Capture Duet first if you want upgrade your program.

Capture Quartet

Universes: 4

Local Video: 4

Streaming Video: 4

Laser Feeds: 4

What's new in Capture 2023?

With Capture 2023 we have introduced new features but also redesigned existing ones to be less dependent on the operating system, giving more control to the application and the user, increasing accuracy, predictability and speed.

It is now possible to export all plots and reports with one click, directly to PDF without needing to have a printer installed. Plot inset placements, edges and margins can be configured in advance for a guaranteed end result. We have also moved to our own colour picker for both Windows and macOS, and have improved all dialogues and property listings in the design tab. With the keyboard shortcut editor you can configure all shortcuts to match your style of working. The application takes advantage of multicore processors in opening, importing and saving of projects thus speeding up the process.

For the rendering we have switched to high precision timers on Windows, and optimised state handling on Mac. Shadow quality has been dramatically improved and we have introduced HDRI backgrounds. Visualisation of pixel tubes is more realistic, along with multiple frost flags, framing shutters with collision detection, and other fixture enhancements.

Finally, the OSC server allows control of cameras and other view properties, while sACN supports universe discovery and selecting a specific range of 512 universes.

Design

User Interface

Keyboard shortcut editor. Modify keyboard shortcuts for commands in the options. Some new keyboard shortcuts for common operations have been allocated as well.

New Navigate menu. Providing improved keyboard navigation to windows and tabs.

Colour picker. The RGB/HSV colour picker with a built-in palette that was previously only used on Mac is now also used on Windows – with the added ability to store up to 12 custom colours that are saved in the project.

Texture resolutions. Load any high resolution images for projects, gobos, plots or materials. The rendering engine downscales image internally if necessary and according to the limitations of the video card.

New property editing. New property list implementation.

Exit fullscreen on Mac when importing models. On Mac, if the main window is in fullscreen mode when the Import Model window opens, the main window is taken out of fullscreen mode first in order to make drag and drop easier.

Disable HDR visualisation. An option has been added to disable the use of HDR. Good for testing, seeing on screen what you would render in SDR and saving battery on laptops.

Offer ”don’t ask again” in TDR settings warning. The dialog that warns the user of changed TDR settings now has a ”Don’t show this warning again” option to prevent it from repeating. The setting can still be changed in the options as before.

Selection & Groups

Select by fixture type improvements. The command now also includes panels (as they sort under fixtures in the library tab) and also handles generic user renamed fixtures correctly (by selecting fixture of the same make and name).

Select by location. The ’Select by fixture location’ command has been changed to a ’Select by location’ command which works on all objects with a location property.

Keyboard modifier to allow selecting unselectable objects. The Tab key can be held during selection in order to select objects in unselectable layers.

Grouping objects included in scenes. When objects that are included in scenes are grouped, the new group is also included in scenes and inherits location information from the grouped objects.

Group location. Groups now also have a location property and location awareness.

Interoperability

Highlight Fixture mode import. When importing fixtures from MVR, CSV/TSV or over CITP, fixture mapping is done per fixture + mode combination and allows choosing the desired fixture modes during import.

MVR fixture mode import. If GDTF files are present in MVR files being imported, then mode name and DMX channel count information is read from GDTF in order to preserve the correct fixture modes.

MVR import and export. Capture and GDTF use different conventions for the coordinate of a fixture. This is now compensated for during import and export.

Model import options. Model import options are now remembered and saved in the project file.

Choice of filter in import model window. The import model window now has a dropdown menu that lets you choose a filter when importing from another Capture project.

Model patch import. Universes are now created as needed for patched fixtures, if missing during model import.

sACN universe option added. Option to configure a range of universes, up to 512 in total. Default range updated to 1...16 from 64. New option to enable universe discovery.

Compulite VC. It is now possible to configure up to 64 Compulite VC universes in the options.

Disable concole link. Automatic console link can be disabled in options.

Improvements

Dialog improvements. Several frequently used dialogs have been redesigned for improved keyboard navigability.

Improved open & model import performance. Opening project files is faster thanks to better usage of multiple cores when preparing data for the GPU.

Improved save performance. Saving project files is now much faster since compression is multi-threaded.

Translation editor capitalisation. The translation editor now attempts to spot capitalisation mistakes. This only works for Latin, Cyrillic and Greek script.

Documentation

Reports

Reports export to PDF. Reports can now be exported to PDF directly. Multiple reports can be exported to the same PDF. Report preview now shows actual paper layout. The same page setup is now used for both reports and plots. New plots can now be created even if no printer is present or installed. (Neither plots nor reports can be printed directly to a printer any more – only export to PDF is available.)

Export documentation. This new command in the File menu allows exporting both reports and plots to a single PDF.

Fixture report items. Report items can now be set to be listed in fixture tables for reports. They can also be patched and the number of DMX channels used are available as a property.

CSV fixture data export units. It is now possible to choose between meters and inches for fixture coordinates in CSV fixture data export. Fixture coordinates are no longer exported in mixed units.

Plots

Plot underlays. A plot can now be included in another plot as an underlay. This makes it easy to reuse things like plot headers between plots.

Plot key symbol ordering. The configuration dialog has been redesigned and now allows you to manually reorder plot symbols using drag and drop.

Plot inset placement. Properties for the location of the top left corner as well as the width and height of plot insets are now available for inspection and editing.

Plot edge and margin snapping. Plot items now snap to the edges and margins of a plot.

More plot symbol coordinate styles. Plot symbols such as rigging points can now also show their coordinates as X, Y, Z, XY and YZ.

Focus, filter and gobo annotations. Plot text in front of a fixture denoting focus, filter and gobo information is now movable annotation.

Visualisation

Cameras

OSC Server. Capture now supports remote view control and camera position changes over OSC.

View options in control pane. The exposure adjustment and hue clamp view options have been added to the control pane with slider control. A “more..” link button that navigates to the Views category of the Design tab has also been added.

Rendering

HDRI image based lighting. Panoramic HDR images add both a background and realistic lighting to a scene.

Increased shadow quality. Shadows look crisper and more accurate. Shadows of omnidirectional fixtures look crisper and more accurate. Generally increased shadow quality in both renders and visualisation (depending on current visualisation settings).

High dynamic range image rendering. Images can now be rendered in HDR to PNG and AVIF.

Visualisation optimisations. The separate rendering thread on Windows has been dropped. We have switched to high precision timers on Windows. Support for memory-less render targets on Mac. Optimised state handling on Mac. General shadow map optimisations.

Redesigned visualisation settings. The interface now better maps to the underlying technology and is less inviting to disabling the adaptive rendering quality.

Movie rendering options. Movie rendering options are now remembered and saved in the project file.

Fixtures

Pixel tube visualisation. Pixel tubes now light their surroundings and have the right emissive surface shape.

Multiple frost flags. Visualisation and control of multiple frost in fixtures like the Elation Artiste Monet.

DMX rotators. The maximum rotation range has been increased from 720 to 3600 degrees.

Asymmetric LED panel pixel pitch. Asymmetric LED panel pixel pitches can now be visualised.

Asymmetric fixture barndoors. When barndoors are used as external accessory for an asymmetrically box shaped fixture with a square aperture type, such as the Elation KL Panel XL, the barndoors now assume the correct form.

Framing shutters. The visualisation can respect real world limitations of framing shutters better if more detailed library data is available. Specifically:

-Respecting the maximum frame angle in A/B systems.

-Respecting anti-collision mechanics in two-plane framing shutter systems where each frame can reach beyond the middle of the beam.

-Respecting anti-collision margins in two-plane framing shutter systems. I.e. the inability to fully black out the beam when both sides' frames are fully inserted.

Bloom effect and aperture improvements. The rendering of apertures and the bloom effect now stays true to the colour of the light. The maximum power of the bloom effect has also been reduced.

Designing with Capture

Whether you're looking to create a simple 2D sketch or a full-blown 3D plot, Capture has you covered. Try as many fixtures as you need, at different hanging positions and with different gels or gobos. Adapt easily to any set design changes or sudden new restrictions. Do even more with Capture's impressive 3D model import capabilities and excellent integration with other lighting control and design products.

Innovative Design Tools

The powerful control pane combined with fixture groups for easy fixture selection makes conceptualisation a breeze.

The specialised focus plane tool helps you plan an even coverage.

Our filter concept lets your organise your design by layers and DMX universes.

Model Import and Export

When the built-in parametric forms are not enough, you can import 3D models from a wide selection of 3D file formats including glTF, SketchUp, DWG, Cinema 4D.

Capture embraces the Physical-Based Rendering approach to materials, ensuring the highest possible level of realism in lighting interaction.

For a full list of file formats supported for model import and export, see the specifications table at the bottom of this page.

Connectivity

Capture supports a wide range of network protocols and methods of communication with lighting console and other control systems.

With our own CITP protocol extension you can exchange DMX values for focusing, the full patch with fixture positions and much more with lighting consoles.

Lighting

Choose from a wide range of fixtures.

Capture supports conventionals as well as moving lights, but also yokes, scrollers, laser- and video projectors, pixel tubes and much more.

With our industry leading fast library support from AtlaBase, no fixture is missed!

Motion Control

You can use DMX as well dedicated motion control protocols such as PosiStageNet and Blacktrax RTTrP to control objects in Capture.

LED Panels

Capture simulates LED panels down to the correct pixel pitch. The library contains all LED panels on the market, both solid and semi transparent ones.

Special Effects

Incorporate particle-based special effects such as flame-, water- and CO2 jets in your designs.

They can all be controlled using DMX in several different modes combining output and movement in different ways.

Specifications related to Design

Model file import formats:

glTF

DWG/DXF

MVR

Cinema 4D

SketchUp

OBJ

3DS

Model file export formats:

DWG/DXF

glTF

MVR

Data file import formats:

CSV

CSV, ETC EOS flavour

Data file export formats:

CSV

XML for Hog

XML for grandMA 2

USB devices:

3Dconnexion Space Mouse

Documentation comes easy

Great plots and reports are never more than a click away in Capture! Design changes are instantly reflected in your plots and reports. Plot information like patch, filters, gobos and other accessories appears automatically for all fixture types.

Capture documentation is clear and easy to read, with a wide range of configuration options that give you total control. All that is missing is your personal touch!

Plots

Create any number of plots in different sizes and with different contents. All insets offer plenty of configurability, ranging from text sizes and colours to filters that dictate what to include in the views.

Copying contents across plots is also easy. The underlay concept makes it easy to work with plot templates.

Plot Headers

Start off with any of the header templates that come out of the box. Break them apart, rearrange them and customise them according to your needs.

A set of special keywords allow you to centrally edit key pieces of information shared across all plots and reports.

Reports

Hit the ground running with our premade report templates. Customise the columns, sorting, grouping and filtering as required.

Apart from fixtures, Capture reports also cover your fixture groups, custom gel strings, rigging points and cabling information.

Export to PDF

Documentation is meant to be shared!

Both plots and reports can be exported directly to PDF, either one by one or together as a documenation package in a single PDF.

Measuring Mode

The dedicated measuring mode is ideal for quick positioning and one-off measurements.

You can also use it to quickly add dimensions to your plots

Custom Plot Symbols

Capture comes with a rich library of fixture and informative symbols. You can also import your own symbols using the SVG format.

Imported symbols can be used for fixture, or as objects by themselves. Symbols are centered by default, but a vertical offset can be added as well.

Visualise with brilliance

Bring lighting, media and motion into your visualisation. Our rendering engine's outstanding colour accuracy and amazing performance will impress you right away! With a complete library of lighting fixtures, trusses, LED panels and video projectors you have everything you need to make your ideas come to life. When your design is complete you can render it to high quality image and video files. You can also export Capture's unique, stand-alone, presentations which deliver full interactivity with your design.

Physical Based Rendering

Lighting design is all about the interaction of the light from your fixtures with the materials on set.

Capture embraces the PBR material model, with support for several property textures, including metallic, roughness, normal, alpha. As an industry first you can even work with fluorescent materials.

Any imported scenery can be enhanced with PBR materials.

Renders

Create high quality offline renders at any point, watermarked with your logo and project information.

By recording movie snapshots that include DMX, media and motion you can render movies in up to 4K 60fps.

Presentations

Share your design by exporting an interactive presentation of your Capture project with others that don't have Capture, on either Windows or macOS.

In a presentation you can browse through design snapshots and view them from different angles.

Reflections

Adding a planar surface with reflections is way of enhancing the realism of your visualisation.

Capture supports reflections on flat surfaces by combining a reflection plane with a smooth material.

HDR

Capture supports and makes full use of HDR monitors out of the box.

Using the latest dynamic tone mapping from ACES, Capture automatically adjusts the HDR experience to the maximum brightness of your display.

On macOS, Capture also supports rendering movie snapshots to HDR.

Specifications related to Visualisation:

Video capture devices:

Any with Windows (Media Foundation) drivers

Any with macOS drivers

Ethernet DMX protocols:

Art-Net

CITP

Compulite VC

High End Hog visualizer connectivity:

ETC Net 2

MA-Net2 (Windows only, MA software version 2.9+)

MA-Net3 (grandMA3 viz-key)

sACN

USB DMX devices:

EntTec DMX USB Pro

EntTec DMX USB Pro Mk2

Streaming video media protocols:

NewTek NDI

CITP/MSEX

Green Hippo HMap 3

Streaming laser media protocols:

CITP/CAEX

LaserAnimation

Pangolin Beyond

Motion tracking protocols:

Blacktrax RTTrP

Kinesys K2

PosiStageNet

Camera control protocols:

OSC

For educational institutions

Educational institutions may use one license of any edition on an unlimited number of seats per location. In order to be eligible for this offer we require that you purchase your license using an educational institution e-mail address and notify us by e-mail to sales@capture.se after completing your purchase. Your institution must be a secondary school, college, university or career state-accredited school.