Lightwork Design Ltd.

Lightworks was founded in Sheffield in 1989, with the goal to create a software toolkit for producing photorealistic renders from 3D geometry. While originally based in the Sheffield Science Park,[http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/many-users-make-lightwork-1-333602 Sheffield Star]. Retrieved 28 February 2014 Lightworks is now based in Rutledge House, a building situated next to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens and originally built in the 1850s as the Victoria Park Hotel.[http://www.broomhillonline.org.uk/archive/BANG_12.htm Rutledge House]. Retrieved 11 September 2013 The first Lightworks product was demonstrated at the 1990 Autofact exhibition in Detroit, USA. Sales of the initial Lightworks product commenced in early 1991, and the company signed their first major CAD developer, Unigraphics (now Siemens) in 1993.{{cite web|last=H.R|first=Britney|title=LightWorks Hits the Big 2-0!|date=6 February 2009 |url=http://architosh.com/2009/02/lightworks-hits-the-big-2-0/|publisher=Architosh}} The company signed their first international customer, CPU of Japan, in 1994.{{cite web|title=Software Introduction|url=http://www.cpu-net.co.jp/product/index.html|publisher=CPU}}

In 1995 Lightworks began to develop the MachineWorks toolkit. This led to the foundation of MachineWorks, which is now a separate company.{{cite web|title=Company: About Us|url=http://www.machineworks.com/company-about.htm|publisher=MachineWorks|access-date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611011744/http://www.machineworks.com/company-about.htm|archive-date=11 June 2012|url-status=dead}} In 1997, Lightworks launched a large model navigation system called Navisworks, which was sold in 2007 to Autodesk for $26 million.{{cite web|title=Autodesk Navisworks Products|url=http://usa.autodesk.com/navisworks/|publisher=Autodesk}}[http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=10035975&linkID=14271591 Autodesk press release]. Retrieved 10 April 2014 In 1999, Lightworks and Intel formed a partnership,{{cite web|title=Company Overview: Inspired Innovation that's Changing the World|url=http://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/company-overview/company-overview.html|publisher=Intel|accessdate=21 August 2012}} and the company started to develop their products for the Linux platform.

At SIGGRAPH 2013, Lightworks announced a new partnership with NVIDIA to develop an SDK to provide access to NVIDIA's Iray technology.[http://www.nvidia-arc.com/partners/lightwork-design.html nvidia-arc.com]. Retrieved 2 September 2013[http://architosh.com/2013/07/sig-lightwork-design-unveils-iray-and-partners-with-nvidia architosh.com]. Retrieved 2 September 2013 This SDK, called Iray+, is intended to provide physically accurate ray-tracing to clients who need to present their products to customers, and will have the ability to use cloud- and network-based rendering.[http://www.cgchannel.com/2013/08/iray-nitro-see-iray-running-on-260-nvidia-gpus/ www.cgchannel.com – Iray running on 260 Nvidia GPUs]. Retrieved 19 September 2013[http://www.renderosity.com/nvidia-transforms-product-design-with-iray-vca-replacing-physical-prototypes-with-interactive-photorealistic-digital-models-cms-17025 Renderosity – Nvidia transforms product design with iray VCA]. Retrieved 2 April 2014

Lightworks' current products are Lightworks Author and Iray+.

Lightworks Author was the first product launched by Lightwork Design.{{cite journal|last=Gurber|first=Elizabeth|title=3D Design Applications|journal=Modern Machine Shop|date=October 2001|volume=74|issue=5|pages=212|id={{ProQuest|213702503}}}} The main use of the product is in architectural design, interior design, engineering, and automotive design. The software works across Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, in 32- and 64-bit binaries.{{cite web|title=Lightworks Author|url=http://www.lightworkdesign.com/lightworks-author.html|publisher=Lightwork Design|accessdate=21 August 2012}}

Lightworks Iray+ was introduced at SIGGRAPH 2013. It uses the GPU-accelerated ray tracing engine developed by the NVIDIA Advanced Rendering Center to provide interactive product visualisations. Lightworks are also developing an Iray plugin for 3DS Max.

In its 20th year,{{cite web|title=LightWork Design Releases LightWorks 8.1|url=http://www.virtualworldlets.net/Archive/IndividualNews.php?News=5209|publisher=Virtual World Nets|accessdate=21 August 2012}}

Lightworks announced a new product called Lightworks Artisan at SIGGRAPH 2009.{{cite web|last=Hand|first=Randall|title=LightWorks Artisan and Author 8.2 at SIGGRAPH Asia|date=8 December 2009 |url=http://www.vizworld.com/2009/12/lightworks-artisan-author-82-siggraph-asia/|publisher=Viz World|accessdate=21 August 2012}} Also known as Renditioner for Trimble's SketchUp, this is a ready-to-deliver rendering product that is used alongside CAD/CAM programmes such as [https://GstarCAD.uk GstarCAD], ZWCAD,[https://ottawacitizen.com/business/ZWCAD+Partners+with+Lightworks+Release+Artisan+High+Quality+Rendering/8961994/story.html "ZWCAD partners with Lightworks" – Ottawa Citizen]. Retrieved 4 October 2013[http://www.zwsoft.com/ZW3D/partner-products/lightworks-overview/ Artisan for ZW3D 2012 Launched] retrieved 11 September 2013 BricsCAD,[http://www.bricsys.com/common/news.jsp?c=apps&item=109 Lightwork Design launches Artisan for BricsCAD]. Retrieved 11 September 2013 Kubotek's KeyCreator,[http://kubotek3d.com/Products/KeyCreator-Artisan.aspx KeyCreator Artisan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219045100/http://kubotek3d.com/Products/KeyCreator-Artisan.aspx |date=19 February 2014 }}. Retrieved 20 September 2013 and several others.

In 2010, Artisan was integrated with Ascon's Kompas 3D and BeLight Software.{{cite web|title=BeLight Software Company News Archive|url=http://www.belightsoft.com/company/news/newsarchive.php|publisher=BeLight|accessdate=21 August 2012}} The product introduced a number of new technologies including SnapShot capabilities and pre-loaded content libraries.{{cite journal|title=Software|journal=Computer Graphics World|year=2009|volume=32|issue=10|pages=47–48|url=http://search.ebscohost.com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=45152045&site=ehost-live}}

It is aimed towards 3D designers who want to create realistic images using a CAD programme. "SnapShot technology" refers to the ability to record the state of storage at any given moment.{{cite web|last=Garimella|first=Neeta|title=Understanding and Exploiting Snapshot Technology for Data Protection|url=http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/tivoli/library/t-snaptsm1/index.html|work=IBM|publisher=DeveloperWorks|accessdate=21 August 2012}} In Artisan, this allows users to save their renders at different stages, so that they may return to those stages and alter selected elements, such as textures, colour, or background images.{{cite web|last=Frausto-Robledo|first=Anthony|title=SIG: Lightwork Design Intros Lightworks Artisan|url=http://architosh.com/2009/08/sig-lightwork-design-intros-lightworks-artisan/|publisher=Architosh|accessdate=21 August 2012}} Since 2014, Artisan has been marketed and sold by Pictorex Ltd.[http://pictorex.com/ Pictorex Ltd]. Retrieved 11 March 2015

Partners include Siemens,[http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_gb/partners/partnerSearchResults.cfm?action=company&companyId=0013000000L5NGtAAN Siemens PLM]. Retrieved 28 February 2014 NVIDIA,[http://www.nvidia-arc.com/partners/lightwork-design.html Lightwork Design Ltd. and NVIDIA strategic partnership]. Retrieved 3 April 2014 and Spatial,[http://www.spatial.com/community/partners Spatial.com – Integrated Partners]. Retrieved 3 April 2014 while customers include PTC,[http://www.ptc.com/company/news/press/releases/19990920lightwork.htm PTC.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140510093509/http://www.ptc.com/company/news/press/releases/19990920lightwork.htm |date=10 May 2014 }}. Retrieved 28 February 2014 Graphisoft,[https://www.graphisoft.com/support/developer/ISV/ Graphisoft Developer Website]. Retrieved 28 February 2014 ACA,[http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/spanish-praise-sheffield-computer-graphics-designers-1-238819 "Spanish praise Sheffield computer graphics designers" – Sheffield Star]. Retrieved 4 October 2013 and Ascon.[http://isicad.net/articles.php?article_num=15323 Clive Davies: ASCON is proving to be the ideal partner for Lightwork Design]. Retrieved 11 September 2013

Every year, Lightworks selects a local charity to support through fundraising events. In 2013, Lightworks raised money for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, while in 2014 the company is sponsoring a week of breakfasts[http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/575986-charity-cathedral-archer-project-cap-cng-morrish-walker-morris-hull-amp-humber-chamber-of-commerce.html Yorkshire Business Desk]. Retrieved 28 February 2014 at the Cathedral Archer project, a homelessness charity.[https://www.lightworkdesign.com/article20_our-work-with-the-cathedral-archer-project.php Lightworks website]. Retrieved 28 February 2014 A team from Lightworks is undertaking the "Ben Nevis Challenge" in June 2014, while the Lightworks running team, "Runworks", competes in the yearly Sheffield Half Marathon corporate charity running challenge, most recently running the "cancelled" 2014 race.[http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/business/get-in-the-running-for-corporate-challenge-1-458434 Sheffield Telegraph]. Retrieved 28 February 2014[http://www.sheffieldmarathon.com/news/270 Sheffield Half Marathon 2014 News]. Retrieved 3 April 2014

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WyZQX7z8Jo Lightworks Iray+ demonstration using NVIDIA's Nitro]
• [https://www.lightworkdesign.com/index.php Lightworks Website]
• [https://GstarCAD.uk Best CAD alternative GstarCAD]

Category:1989 establishments in England

Category:Companies based in Sheffield

Category:Software companies of the United Kingdom