Light Manager — Light Properties

Overview UI List Collection Properties Light Properties World Properties

The Light Properties tab within the Main Panel UI expands Blender's native light data blocks, providing a centralized control panel for adjustments, photometric IES files, geographic sun rigs, and custom studio Softbox node modifiers.

1. Selected Light Tabs

When you select a light in the SLM list, the properties editor displays three main context tabs at the top:

Properties

Displays advanced settings, custom shader node groups, Cycles/EEVEE engines override settings, and object transformations.

Light Linking

Configure which objects or collections in the scene are affected by (receive light from) the selected emitter.

Shadow Linking

Configure which objects or collections block shadows cast by this light, bypassing standard viewport constraints.

2. The Properties Tab Sub-Panels

The main Properties tab contains four collapsible sub-sections designed to group related operations logically:

A. Light Settings (Physical Parameters)

Controls the physical attributes, coordinates, and shape profiles of the active emitter:

Type & Kelvin Temperature

Switch type between Point, Sun, Spot, and Area. Toggle Use Temp to adjust the output using photorealistic Kelvin scales (e.g., 3200K to 5500K).

Energy & Exposure

Adjust basic power in Watts and exposure in stops. Exposure values are disabled if locked under a collection override.

IES Profiles & Spawning

Spawn IES lights directly using the exclusive IES Light operator in the + Add... menu, or assign photometrically calibrated IES profiles (.ies files) onto existing Point lights using the interactive profile selector.

Ray Visibility (Cycles)

Selectively filter which ray paths (Camera, Diffuse, Glossy, Transmission, Volume) this light responds to.

B. Shader Nodes Settings (Softbox Engine)

Allows replacing default nodes with advanced, procedurally map-driven shader configurations:

Softbox Node Group Integration

Assign the custom SLM-Soft_Box shader to replace standard nodes, or update the group definitions from external libraries dynamically.

Viewport Shader Preview

Generate and cache real-time 2D thumbnails of active emission trees. Includes toggles for auto-refreshing viewport indicators.

Gobo & Light Maps

Map photographic textures to project structured studio reflections or shadow gobos (blinds, trees, windows) directly from the list interface.

Clearing / Library Sync

Instantly wipe map textures or synchronize the active node structure with the core global settings in a single click.

C. Render Engine Optimizations

Contains specific properties optimized based on which rendering engine is active:

Cycles Specific Settings

Fine-tune performance-heavy render branches:

Max Bounces: Restrict recursive light paths.
Cast Shadows / Multiple Importance: Balance noise ratios.
Shadow Caustics / Portals: Guidance optimizations.

EEVEE Specific Settings

Configure rasterized screen shadow offsets:

Jitter & Filter Radius: Smooth pixel shadows.
Resolution Limit: Caps memory usage on large scenes.
Custom Distance: Culls light calculations beyond a boundary.

D. Object Transforms & Hierarchy

Provides convenient spatial controls without leaving the main manager list:

Transform Data

Translate location coordinates, orientation Euler rotations, and scales.

Parent Tracking

Displays what item this emitter is currently constrained to.

Hierarchy Setup

Link and parent standard objects, helper flags, or rigs to targeted bones/empties.

3. Custom Softbox Node Group (SLM-Soft_Box)

The SLM-Soft_Box custom node group simulates physical modifiers (honeycomb grids, frames, diffusers) directly inside Cycles shading paths. Below is the structural layout of the group inputs:

SLM-Soft_Box Shader Node Group Layout Diagram

Core Emission Parameters

Mode: Selects the softbox shape (Square, Disk, Strip, Spheric).
Falloff: Toggles decay math between physical Quadratic and custom curves.
Border: Adjusts edge interpolation hardness between Soft and Sharp.
Spread Angle: Controls beam throw coordinates from 180° down to 2° (gridded honeycombs).
Power / Exposure / Smooth: Fine-tune core brightness, stops, and highlight noise specular.

Coloring & Gradient Systems

Coloring Modes: Toggle inputs between standard RGB, Kelvin, and Near/Far gradients.
Color Temperature: Driven using physics-based Blackbody temperature vectors.
Gradient Mapping: Configure primary Near and secondary Far coordinates.
Contrast & Transitions: Tweak Hardness and Middle Point Distance bias values.

Expandable Softbox Foldout Panels

Ring & Strip v2

Controls ring-shaped reflectors and custom coordinate rotations:

Ring Scale & Thickness
Strip Rotation Angle (0° to 90°)
Slide & Black Value Cutoffs

Grids & Distortions

Subdivides the emitter area into grids or bends spherical shapes:

Subdivisions & Subdiv Mixer
Spheric Coordinates (X, Y Bias)
Linear Smoothness Adjustments

Noise & Transparency

Adds organic textures and manages ray tracing visibility:

Noise Mask Offset & Detail Roughness
Per-ray visibility factors (Camera, Diffuse)
Backfacing Cull & Transmission Depth limits

Softbox Shape Profiles

Square

Sphere

Ring

Strip

Strip V2

Linear

HDR Light Textures

HDR Texture 1

HDR Texture 2

HDR Texture 3

HDR Texture 4

HDR Texture 5

Photographic Gobo Projections

Caustics

Foliage

Blinds

*Note: The images above show only a few examples of the wide range of HDR textures and Gobo projections included with the addon.*

4. Calibrated IES Light Profiles

When the active light is a Point Light (or when you spawn a new IES Light via the Add menu), the properties panel displays an interactive IES Profile library. This library provides photometrically calibrated light shapes to simulate realistic architectural illumination (downlights, spotlights, bollards, wall washes, etc.).