Focus objects

Focus Objects allow you to draw an object, either a line or an arc, like you would a Focus Point. Selected fixtures can then be assigned directly to the drawn object. If you move or resize the object, the fixtures assigned to the object move along with your Focus Object. Focus Objects have many of the same properties of a Focus Point, but have considerably more functionality.

Note: Conventional fixtures can be assigned to Focus Objects in CAD mode; moving head units can be assigned to those same Focus Objects in DESIGN mode.

Linking fixtures to focus objects

When you draw a Focus Object, you can assign several pairs of fixtures to that object as you would like, and the fixtures will be organized in one of two ways, either using Spread Focus or Focus to Vertices.

The Spread Focus function available is available to both focus lines and focus arcs. Spread Focus is where the object divides itself up based on the fixture “sets” that you select, and distributes the fixtures at even intervals along the object in the order selected.

Focus to Vertices is only available to focus lines. When using Focus to Vertices, the focus line is drawn with multiple segments separated by a vertices. When fixtures are assigned to the focus line, a single fixture will be focus to each vertex in the line in the order selected. The maximum number of fixtures that can be assigned is limited to the number of vertices in the focus line.

Breaking the fixture links to focus objects

Once a group of fixtures is assigned to a Focus Object, they are essentially “linked” to that Focus Object until otherwise refocused. If you have a group of fixtures assigned to a Focus Object and you refocus or move one of them, any of the other fixtures will remain in the position they were focused, but their link will be removed from the group of fixtures and the Focus Object, as you would expect.

Focus objects - point naming

Keep in mind that since you can assign different sets of fixtures to the same object, the same point can be used for two different fixtures. In Spreadsheets and Reports (and CAD), the position points in the Focus column are indicated as "<name> - 1 of 3", "<name> - 4 of 5,” and so on (where one set has 3 fixtures and the other set has 5 fixtures). In this case, “1 of 3" and “1 of 5" would be the same point, as would “2 of 3" and “3 of 5", as would “3 of 3" and “5 of 5".

Assigning fixtures to focus objects

Creating Focus Objects and assigning fixtures to them is as easy as selecting the fixtures, selecting the Focus Object, and applying a key shortcut.

To assign conventional fixtures to a focus line in CAD mode

1. Draw a Focus Line by clicking Draw > Focus Line.

Result: The New Focus Line window appears.

2. Type a name for the new focus line.
3. Select the layer on which you want to draw the focus line.
4. Select the focus type.
5. Click OK.
6. Draw your focus line where you like.
7. Select your fixtures in the order in which you would like to focus them.
8. While keeping the fixture selection you just created, also select the focus line to which you want to assign conventional fixtures in CAD mode.
9. Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+F to assign the fixtures to the focus line.

To assign conventional fixtures to a focus arc in CAD mode

1. Draw a Focus Arc by clicking Draw > Focus Arc.

Result: The New Focus Arc window appears.

2. Type a name for the new focus arc.
3. Select the layer on which you want to draw the focus arc.
4. To draw the focus arc in free hand, click Interactive. To pre-construct the focus arc, enter in the radius, start angle and end angle details, then click OK.
5. Place your focus arc where you like.
6. Select your fixtures in the order in which you would like to focus them.
7. While keeping the fixture selection you just created, also select the focus arc to which you want to assign conventional fixtures in CAD mode.
8. Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+F to assign the fixtures to the focus arc.