Dialux evo 9 features an improved import filter for IFC (BIM) and DWG files.
The reporting engine has been redesigned. In Dialux evo 9, reports are no longer static images. They are interactive PDFs. A client opening your PDF can toggle between different scenes (Day/Night) and view calculation points by hovering over the PDF graphic. You can also export all calculation data to an Excel pivot table for detailed energy auditing.
DIALux evo 9 was a pivotal release that modernized the software for the next decade of lighting design. By discarding legacy calculation bottlenecks in favor of a physically based path tracer and modernizing the UI, DIAL successfully balanced ease of use with professional-grade precision.
It remains the industry standard not just because it is free for users (supported by manufacturer partnerships), but because it provides a complete workflow—from the first sketch to the final documentation—within a single, cohesive environment. For any professional involved in lighting, mastering evo 9 is not just an option; it is a necessity.
Redefining Lighting Documentation: What’s New in DIALux evo 9
The release of DIALux evo 9 marked a significant milestone for lighting designers, focusing heavily on streamlining the transition from complex technical simulations to professional, client-ready documentation. While newer versions like DIALux evo 13 are now available, version 9 introduced the foundational "Documentation 2.0" workflow that remains central to the software's modern identity. A Complete Documentation Overhaul
The most prominent change in version 9 was the complete redesign of the project documentation. The software moved away from a rigid, page-by-page setup to a more flexible, visual-centric approach.
Revised Project Mode: A new dedicated project mode allows users to input global information—such as project names, descriptions, and participant contact details—in one central hub.
Visual Enhancements: Documentation now features larger fonts, more attractive cover pages, and better-structured project trees.
Integrated Room Lists: Designers can now generate a compact room list for an entire story, eliminating the need to create separate output pages for every individual room. Interactive Design Tools dialux evo 9
Beyond reporting, DIALux evo 9 introduced tools to help designers refine their projects in real-time.
Light Visualization Tool: A standout feature is the "show light visualization" tool. It allows users to see the light output of a single selected luminaire instantly. This is particularly useful for aiming adjustable downlights or track spots without waiting for a full project calculation.
Multi-Scene Management: Users can now select or deselect multiple light scenes directly within the project tree, removing the tedious need to switch back and forth between the light scenes tool and the documentation view.
Layout Alternatives: Many output pages now offer flexible layout options, allowing designers to combine images, value charts, and isoline curves into a single, cohesive floor plan view. Stability and Performance
To improve reliability with large-scale projects, DIALux evo 9 transitioned its internal graphic handling from vector to raster graphics. While this may lead to slightly larger PDF file sizes, it significantly increased the software's stability during the export process. Users can still manage file sizes by adjusting image quality settings before saving. Educational Impact
Since its release, DIALux evo 9 has been widely adopted in academic and professional studies to optimize energy consumption and visual comfort. Its simulation accuracy has been used to analyze everything from architectural studios to pedestrian path lighting, proving its versatility across different lighting standards.
DIALux evo 9, released in April 2020, marked a major evolution in lighting design software, primarily focusing on a complete overhaul of its documentation workflow and enhancing the efficiency of outdoor planning. The Documentation Revolution
The "full story" of version 9 is centered on making professional reports easier to generate and customize.
Total Redesign: The output section was completely rewritten for better clarity and structure. Dialux evo 9 features an improved import filter
Centralized Project Hub: Users can now insert project-wide information—such as descriptions, participant contact details, and a main project image—directly into a central "project mode".
Flexible Layouts: For the first time, users could choose from different layout alternatives for each page, allowing for better arrangement of images and text.
Consolidated Room Overview: A new room list allows designers to see all luminaires, energy data, and room elements in one compact summary, removing the need for individual room reports.
Visual Enhancements: Users can now show isoluminance curves, false colors, and value charts simultaneously on a single floor plan. Improved Design & Workflow Features
Beyond reporting, version 9 introduced several practical tools for the design phase:
Outdoor Planning Overhaul: The navigation bar was extended to include a specific outdoor view, and users can now visualize the contours of both indoor and outdoor spaces simultaneously during construction.
Precise Luminaire Placement: The software revised light lines and snap mechanisms (including angle and length snaps), enabling users to distribute luminaires along a line by either a specific number or a set distance.
Realistic Calculations: A new calculation method was implemented to visualize complex objects more realistically and speed up processing time.
Stability & Fixes: Version 9 resolved long-standing issues with complex geometries and improved the reliability of IFC file imports. Technical Evolution DIALux evo 9 was a pivotal release that
Platform Transition: As part of this release, DIALux moved toward converting vector graphics to raster for documentation to improve stability in large-scale projects, though this occasionally resulted in larger PDF file sizes.
Maintenance & Standards: The update restored the ability to reassign standards to existing road projects and fixed errors in the ROVL and EN 13201:2004 standard transitions.
While DIALux evo has since moved to version 13, version 9 remains a landmark update that defined the modern professional reporting standards used by designers today. DIALUX EVO 9 : DOCUMENTATION EXPLAINED
Introduction: Why Dialux evo 9 Changes the Game
In the world of professional lighting design, precision is paramount. For over two decades, the name Dialux has been synonymous with high-quality, free-of-charge lighting calculation software. With the release of Dialux evo 9, the developers at Dialux GmbH have not simply released an update; they have fundamentally redefined how designers interact with light, geometry, and data.
Dialux evo 9 bridges the gap between complex, engineering-level calculations and an intuitive, architectural workflow. Whether you are designing a retail storefront, an industrial warehouse, an office landscape, or a complex outdoor urban space, Dialux evo 9 offers the tools to visualize, calculate, and present your designs with unprecedented speed.
This article serves as a deep dive into Dialux evo 9. We will explore its new features, interface improvements, calculation engine, and practical applications to help you determine if now is the time to upgrade your workflow.
The Unified Glare Rating (UGR) calculation in Dialux evo 9 now supports real-time observer positioning. You can place a virtual chair and set an observer height. As you move the chair, the UGR value updates dynamically, allowing you to solve glare issues before installation.
| Update | Key Feature | |--------|--------------| | 9.0.1 | Fixed DWG import scaling bugs; improved outdoor render quality | | 9.0.2 | Added emergency lighting simulation (marking of escape routes) | | 9.0.3 | Direct export to DALI lighting control protocols | | 9.0.4 | Web-based light scene sharing (via DIALux Cloud) |
