Why creators use it
- Pre-visualise lights, modifiers, distances and angles in a 3D studio.
- Test looks before you book talent, crew or location.
- Export lighting diagrams for shoot day.
- Speed up learning and client approvals.
set.a.light 3D V3 · review · discount code · lighting previsualisation
Plan a photography or film shoot before you step onto set. set.a.light 3D V3 is a physics-based virtual lighting studio for testing lighting, modifiers, camera angles, subjects and complete scenes — then turning the result into clear previews, storyboards and production-ready set plans.
Quick answer
Simon Songhurst’s current set.a.light 3D discount code is SONGHURST-QFTQ, giving an eligible 10% saving. Use the partner link on this page, choose your edition and enter the code at checkout.
set.a.light 3D V3 is available for Mac and Windows in BASIC, STUDIO and CINEMA editions. Elixxier currently offers a fully featured 15-day trial, and purchased licences are lifetime licences rather than subscriptions.
Simon’s review
For me, the value is not simply drawing a lighting diagram. It is being able to explore the relationship between light, subject, camera and space before client time starts.
“I use set.a.light 3D to pre-plan studio shoots so I’m not experimenting on client time. It’s saved me hours and helps me walk in with a confident lighting plan.”
Studio lighting simulator
Updated for 2026
V3 officially launched in October 2025 and substantially expands the software beyond static studio lighting diagrams. Elixxier’s latest published release notes list V3.1.13, released 3 June 2026.
Plan outdoor scenes using real-world sun positioning, HDRI environments and real-time volumetric fog to study how natural and artificial light interact.
Animate cameras, lights, props and characters, create moving previs and export video where supported by your edition or add-on.
Turn planned viewpoints into storyboards and export production-ready set blueprints with lighting, positions, technical information and notes.
Work with a broad virtual equipment library including strobes, speedlights and continuous lights alongside more than 90 modifiers.
Preview depth of field, framing and camera choices, with cinema-oriented tools including LUT preview and exposure-evaluation options.
V3.1.13 added animation import to the 3D Object Importer, alongside faster importing and improvements to exported set-plan information.
V3.1.9 introduced a configurable camera dolly and rail system with straight and curved track sections and keyframe animation support.
Browse and download more than 10,000 community lighting setups for learning, inspiration and faster starting points.
Pre-production workflow
set.a.light 3D is most useful when you treat it as a previsualisation environment rather than a promise of pixel-identical reality. Build the room or location, position the subject and camera, establish focal length and exposure assumptions, then add one light at a time. You can assess direction, size, distance, light ratios, colour, shadow, reflections and the way the environment contributes to the result.
For commercial photography this gives the client something concrete to react to before the booking. For a crew, it creates a clearer reference for positions, equipment and intent. For education, it gives you a safe way to change one variable at a time and understand what that change does.
Real fixtures, rooms, surfaces, wardrobe, weather and subjects will always behave differently. I use the simulation to make better decisions and communicate them — then adjust to the real world on set.
Which edition?
The 15-day trial lets you test all three editions, so the best approach is to build a scene similar to your real work and compare the tools you actually need.
Designed for getting started with lighting and simple flash setups. It includes the core studio functions, sunlight and community access, with limits on lights and export compared with the larger editions.
The stronger fit for professional photography. It supports unlimited lights, the built-in light meter, more flexible studio creation and higher-resolution rendering.
Adds the broadest film and continuous-light workflow, including animation, MP4 output, the 3D Importer and tools for creating custom continuous light sources.
Partner offer
Use the partner button on this page to open the official set.a.light 3D store.
Select BASIC, STUDIO or CINEMA and enter SONGHURST-QFTQ in the promo-code field.
Confirm the eligible 10% discount is visible in the basket before completing your purchase.
What you get
Elixxier currently sells set.a.light 3D as a lifetime licence. One year of updates and upgrades is included after purchase; after that, renewal for future updates is optional. If you do not renew, you can continue using the version you own.
A licence can be activated on up to three computers across Mac and Windows, although simultaneous use on multiple computers is not permitted.
If you are undecided, use the fully featured 15-day trial first. At each launch of the trial you can choose BASIC, STUDIO or CINEMA and compare the editions directly.
Elixxier also provides official video tutorials and access to its community of shared lighting setups, giving you reference material to learn from and adapt to your own shoots.
View set.a.light 3D →Before you download
set.a.light 3D relies heavily on graphics performance for live rendering. Elixxier currently recommends modern hardware and 8GB or more of graphics memory for smooth operation.
OS: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
RAM: 8GB minimum; 16GB recommended
GPU: DirectX 11 compatible; current published V3 requirements specify at least 8GB VRAM, with 16GB ideal
Display: 1440 × 960 minimum
Storage: 10GB free space
Internet: Required for updates and add-ons
Hardware: Current published V3 requirements list Mac models from 2020 or newer
OS: macOS 13 Ventura or newer
Processor: Apple Silicon M1 / M2 / M3 / M4 / M5
RAM: 8GB minimum; 16GB recommended
GPU: 8GB VRAM-class graphics resources or better; 16GB ideal
Storage: 10GB free space
Set.a.Light 3D discount code
Looking for a set.a.light 3D discount code you can trust? Use SONGHURST-QFTQ at checkout for an eligible 10% off set.a.light 3D from Elixxier. I use set.a.light 3D to pre-visualise lighting setups, test modifiers and plan camera positions before I am on set, which can save production time and make the lighting conversation much clearer.
Begin with the room or location dimensions, surfaces and background. Place the subject and camera, set the aspect ratio, focal length and exposure assumptions, then introduce one source at a time. This makes it easier to understand what each light contributes.
Create variations for framing, lighting ratio, modifier choice and background treatment. Save approved frames in the storyboard, add production notes and export a set plan for the team. If the job changes, update the virtual setup before changing the equipment list.
On shoot day, rebuild the plan using measured positions, take a test frame and respond to the real subject and space. Afterward, keep the project with the job so a successful setup can be repeated or adapted rather than reconstructed from memory.
Open the official partner link, add your preferred edition to the basket, then apply the promo code SONGHURST-QFTQ. Confirm the 10% discount is visible before paying. If Elixxier is running another promotion, compare the checkout total and use the option that gives you the best eligible price.
Frequently asked questions
Use SONGHURST-QFTQ at checkout for an eligible 10% saving. Use the partner link on this page and confirm the discount is shown in your basket before completing payment.
set.a.light 3D is physics-based previsualisation software for photographers and filmmakers. It lets you plan cameras, lighting, modifiers, subjects, rooms, outdoor environments and complete scenes, then create renders, lighting diagrams, storyboards and set plans.
V3 expands set.a.light 3D with features including real-world sun positioning, HDRI environments, volumetric fog, animation, camera movement, expanded photo and cinema tools, storyboards, set blueprints and custom 3D workflows. Feature availability depends on edition and add-ons.
Elixxier’s latest published release notes currently list V3.1.13, released 3 June 2026. That release added animation import to the 3D Object Importer and included import-performance and set-plan improvements.
Promo conditions can change and discount codes may not combine with every site-wide offer. Check the basket total before paying and use the best eligible price available to you.
Yes. Elixxier currently provides a fully featured 15-day trial. Each time the trial starts, you can choose to test the BASIC, STUDIO or CINEMA edition. The demo requires an internet connection.
No. Elixxier currently sells it as a lifetime licence. One year of updates and upgrades is included after purchase; renewal for later updates is optional and the version you own continues to work if you do not renew.
Yes. Elixxier states that one licence works across Mac and Windows and can be activated on up to three computers. Simultaneous use on multiple computers is not permitted.
Yes. Elixxier states that users can upgrade from a smaller edition to a larger edition later through their customer account.
The software is graphics intensive. Current V3 guidance lists Windows 10/11 64-bit or a 2020-or-newer Mac with macOS 13+, at least 8GB RAM and 10GB free storage. Elixxier recommends modern graphics hardware and 8GB or more of graphics memory for smooth operation. Check the current download page because requirements can change.
Open the partner link, choose an eligible set.a.light 3D edition, enter SONGHURST-QFTQ in the promo-code field and confirm that the basket total shows the 10% saving before purchase.
Plan the next production
Use the free trial to decide which edition fits your photography or film workflow, then use my current partner code when you are ready to buy.