***Link to the addon for 2.66 trunk builds (new nodetrees):
https://gist.github.com/AngryLoki/4364512/raw/ies2cycles.py
24.06.2013. Changes in version 0.8:
- Use pythonless drivers to match the new security policy in recent blender builds.
Changes in version 0.7:
- Added “Generate Rig” feature, which allows to change angle by means of rig object, instead of struggling with Mapping Node. Rig Object scale also works as Intensity multiplier.
- Added Lamp Properties panel for rigs, which allows to change emission color and strength multiplier.
- Meshes for rigs depend on light distribution, so debug became much easier. Version 0.7 includes many changes in angle calculations and symmetrical lamps.
- Added Color Temperature presets
IES files contain information about the light distribution of a lighting fixture. These files are typically provided by lighting fixture manufacturers. This addon converts IES data into greyscale PNG or EXR. From LuxRender wiki:
The main use of IES is measuring real world lamp models, many manufacturers sites offer their IES library for free. Generic IES can also be made with applications like “IES Generator”. Since IES profiles can be applied to meshlights and arealights, they can be used to control the light spread angle, much like a spotlight cone. Arealights with the IES profile of a spot will illuminate like a spot but will have a physical size. This will make them easier to balance in intensity with other physical lights. However, to have the physical intensity of a specific ies scaled correctly the ies must be used with pointlights (mesh and planes will still make the correct ‘shape’ , but the intensity will be altered by their power, efficiency and size)
After installation of this addon new item “IES To Cycles” appears inside “File” -> “Import” menu (also don’t forget about space menu). After selecting any *.ies file new “Save as…” dialog appears, which allows user to save generated image (unfortunately packed images are not supported by cycles). After that the addon creates a new pointlamp and generates a huge nodetree and rig for this lamp. There are number of settings at this moment:
Different *.ies lamps use different scale for luminosity data, so strength could be adjusted either here or later in nodetree. By default images are exported in PNG format, but EXR is also available for float data (up to 5 textures in cycles). There is no visible difference between PNG and EXR though.
This is a collection from a few lighting vendors. Most of them are for outdoor lighting. While these are mostly direct links to the IES downloads, it’s probably a good idea to look at the lamp they are representing first so you know what result to expect.
- Lamps From American Electric Lighting
- Lamps from Lithonia Lighting
- Lamps from Gotham Lighting(need to goto each lamp model itself on this site)
- Holophane Lighting
- Mark Architectural Lighting
- Peerless Lighting Lamps(Like Gotham above you need to goto each lamp and dig up its IES data
- Tersen Lighting
- Winona Lighting
I tested only few of them (like IES files from above which came from http://www.mrcad.com/download-free-ies-lights/), so there could be some bugs in the addon. Feel free to report about them and suggest new features in this thread.