# Lights · SketchUp

Place lights and adjust their settings in SketchUp, then check the light coverage and shadows in the Lite render viewport.

## Open the light panel {#opening-and-using}

1. Open the light tool from the toolbar at the bottom of Lite, or choose **Light Editor** from the D5 Lite menu in SketchUp.
2. Choose a light type.
3. Place the light in the SketchUp scene.
4. Select a light to edit its parameters in the light panel.
5. Check the result in the Lite viewport. Changes to the light appear in real time.

![Light types and light settings in the Lite panel for SketchUp](/lite/Attachments/figma/lights-sketchup.png)

You can use the light tool without opening the Lite render window. Light positions and parameters are saved with the SketchUp file.

## Light types

| Light | Notes |
| --- | --- |
| Point Light | Emits in all directions from a point; good for bulbs and local fill. |
| Spot Light | A directional cone of light; the beam angle is adjustable. |
| Strip Light | A linear light; good for coves and linear lighting. |
| Rectangle Light | A rectangular area light; good for window fill and soft lighting. |
| Disc Light | A circular area light; good for round fixtures or local soft light. |

## Place and edit lights {#creation-and-editing}

Use the table below to place each light type. As you place it, a translucent preview in the SketchUp viewport shows its position and range.

| Light | How to create |
| --- | --- |
| Point Light | Click once in the scene to place it. |
| Spot Light | Click to set the light position, then click a target point to set the direction and create the light. |
| Strip Light | Click the start and end points to set the length, then click to confirm the emission direction. |
| Rectangle Light | Click two opposite corners to set the rectangular area, then click to confirm the emission direction. |
| Disc Light | Click to set the center, click to confirm the emission direction, then click to set the radius. |

After creation, use control points to adjust the Spot Light beam angle, Strip Light and Rectangle Light size, Disc Light radius, and more:

1. Double-click the light to enter editing mode.
2. Click a control point, move the mouse to preview the adjustment, then click again to confirm.
3. Press Esc to leave editing mode when finished, and check the lighting in Lite.

You can also drag Gizmo handles in editing mode. Press Ctrl to switch between stretching from one side and stretching symmetrically about the center. The SketchUp status bar shows the current mode, and your choice is remembered.

While moving a light, the arrow keys temporarily lock the X / Y / Z axis. During creation or editing, you can enter precise values in the SketchUp status bar (VCB). When creating a Strip Light, press Tab to cycle the alignment reference (far edge / center / near edge).

## Adjustable parameters

| Parameter | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| Intensity | Adjust how strong the light is; drag the slider or enter a value. |
| Light Radius | Controls how soft or hard the shadow edge is for Point Lights and Spot Lights; the higher the value, the softer the edge (range 0–10, default 5). |
| Color | Supports HSV / RGB / HEX and a color picker. |
| Temperature | Adjust how warm or cool the light looks; the default is close to daylight white. |
| Beam Angle | Control the Spot Light's coverage, shown as the full angle (range 1°–160°, default 60° for new spotlights). |
| Reflection Visibility | Control how visible the light source is in reflections and refractions; 0 hides it, 1 shows it fully (range 0–1, default 1). It does not affect illumination and can be set for each light. |

Light changes appear immediately in the Lite viewport. Sync the model to D5 Render to continue editing its lights.

## Batch editing

Select multiple lights of the same type in SketchUp, then use the light panel to adjust their shared parameters, such as intensity, color temperature, and color.

## Show and hide lights

Use **All Lights Visibility** in the light panel to show or hide lights. Click **Hide Existing** to evaluate the scene without its current lights, or **Show All** to restore them. Lights created after hiding remain visible. Press **Ctrl + Z** to undo the visibility change. Light visibility syncs to D5 Render.