Designing Events & Exhibitions Shouldn't Feel This Hard
Missed details, endless revisions, and stressful deadlines hold back your vision
Accurate Venue Layouts
Redrawing outdated CAD files slowing you down?
Spotlight auto-scales layouts so booths, tables, and stages fit perfectly the first time
Smarter Seating & Floor Plans
Does seat numbering eat up your entire day?
Drag-and-drop tools and smart seating let you finish complex plans in minutes, not hours
Precision Rigging Made Simple
Still juggling complex load calculations?
Design safely and accurately with professional 3D rigging software that simplifies planning and setup.
Smarter Truss & Rigging Designs
Frustrated by redoing layouts for small changes?
Integrated truss & rigging software keeps your structure in sync—every update auto-adjusts instantly.
Event Design: From Layout to Experience
Plan. Render. Execute.
Design complete event layouts in one place with powerful 2D and 3D tools.
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Build seating and table arrangements in detailed 2D layouts.
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Transform layouts into stunning 3D renderings for client approvals.
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Track costs seamlessly with integrated worksheets and Excel links.
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Automate item details and generate comprehensive event documentation.
Perfect for exhibitions, concerts, live event design, and movie lighting productions.
Simplify Stage, Lighting & Event Planning
Live Event Design
Design unforgettable concerts with tools built for live event design and 3D event previews
Exhibition Design Software
Plan exhibition halls with precise stage layouts, booth lighting, and safe truss structures.
Movie Lighting Production Design
Make Perfect cinematic shots with advanced movie lighting production design tools.
Event Planning Software
Integrate stage layouts, rigging plans, and lighting schedules into a single workflow
What's New in Vectorworks Spotlight
Behind the Events & Exhibition, Every Detail Counts
From layouts to last-minute changes—Spotlight delivers flawless layouts, seating charts, and stage designs, ready for clients.
🎭 Showcase Previz
See your stage come alive with real-time lighting and scenic previews—test ideas instantly.
📂 GDTF File Mapping
Import and update GDTF files in seconds—no more broken fixture profiles.
🏗 Braceworks Chord Loading
Visualize stress on every truss chord—build safer, stronger structures.
🔗 Truss & Lights Snapping
Snap trusses and lights with perfect precision—save hours of alignment work
📐 Schematic Views
Edit once, update everywhere—your 3D model and schematics stay in sync.
⚡ Power Schematics
Create power layouts that auto-update—cut errors and speed approvals.
🎛 Cable Tools
Edit, group, and report cables faster—with clear prompts to prevent mistakes.
🎬 Event & AV Tools
Design every detail—audio, video, staging, and drapes—all in one place.
🕵 ConnectCAD Error Checking
Catch mistakes before they cost you—real-time error scans, easy fixes.
💡 Fixture Focusing
Focus lights virtually—adjust pan, tilt, and shutter before stepping onsite.
🏷 Bridle Data Tags
Auto-tag bridle elements—clean drawings, zero extra effort.
🔌 Distributor Editing
Manage complex power easily—see every input and output at a glance.
⛓️ Hoist Insertion
Drop in single or multiple hoists with one click—speed up rigging.
🏷 Spotlight Labeling
Generate labels directly from worksheets—goodbye external tools.
🔄 Cable Multi-Circuiting
Daisy-chain with auto-numbering—get accurate power docs in less time.
Why Event Designers Choose Spotlight?
Quick Layouts, Big Impact
Create seating charts and table arrangements in 2D, then elevate them to stunning 3D renderings.
Stay in Control of Costs
Use integrated worksheets and Excel referencing to manage budgets and avoid surprises.
Automate the Details
Display and update item information instantly with comprehensive documentation.
Impress Clients
Deliver polished, client-ready layouts and renderings that make approval faster and easier.
All-in-One Solution
Handle design, documentation, and budgeting seamlessly in a single application.
Sketch. Plan. Celebrate.
Spotlight blends creativity with control—helping event designers go from floor plans to flawless experiences with confidence.
From Seating Charts to 3D Layouts
Design table arrangements, seating charts, and venue layouts in one seamless workflow.
Cost Tracking Made Easy
Manage budgets with integrated worksheets and Excel referencing—no missed details.
Comprehensive Item Libraries
Access ready-to-use event elements, décor, and furniture symbols at your fingertips.
Polished Presentations
Bring proposals to life with realistic renderings, walkthroughs, and VR experiences.
Automated Documentation
Display and update detailed item information instantly in comprehensive reports.
Seamless Collaboration
Work in sync with planners, vendors, and clients with cloud sharing and real-time updates.
See How Spotlight Stands Out
Built for event professionals, Spotlight combines Exhibition Design, Event Planning, and Events Lighting Design Software in one powerful platform.
| Feature / Capability | ✨ Spotlight | ⚡ Competitors |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid 2D-3D Drafting | ✅ Create venue layouts in 2D and instantly visualize them in 3D; every change updates automatically. | ⚠️ Separate 2D/3D workflows; slow to update. |
| Advanced Event Modeling | ✅ Design custom stages, mandaps, pavilions, booths, and décor using Loft, Deform, and Subdivision tools. | ⚠️ Limited tools; only basic shapes and structures. |
| Extensive Libraries | ✅ Ready-to-use décor, furniture, lighting, and vendor-supplied symbols available at your fingertips. | ⚠️ Minimal libraries; requires manual insertion. |
| Photorealistic Visualization | ✅ Showcase proposals with stunning renders and real lighting simulations (Renderworks, Enscape, Twinmotion). | ⚠️ Basic visuals; low realism. |
| Interactive Presentations & AR/VR | ✅ Walk clients through venues with immersive panoramas, VR, and AR previews. | ⚠️ Often unsupported or very limited. |
| Data-Driven Documentation | ✅ Auto-generate seating charts, décor lists, supplier details, and budgets with real-time updates. | ⚠️ Manual tracking; risk of errors. |
| Collaboration & Cloud Tools | ✅ Share layouts and designs instantly with clients and vendors; collaborate in real time. | ⚠️ No real-time collaboration options. |
| Revision Efficiency | ✅ Last-minute changes update across layouts, seating charts, and renders automatically. | ⚠️ Manual updates; delays in revisions. |
| Target Users | ✅ Wedding planners, exhibition designers, event production houses. | ⚠️ General CAD users; not built for event workflows. |
Have questions? Look here
Get clear answers to your most common questions about Vectorworks Spotlight features, updates, and support.