Path Light
Path lights are placed individually on the canvas and emit light in all directions from their position. Use them to mark walkways, borders, and planting beds.
Path LightThe Path Light tool places individual omnidirectional fixtures that cast a soft glow in every direction from a single point on the canvas. Unlike spotlights, path lights have no beam cone to aim — they illuminate the ground around them in a 360° wash. Use them to mark walkway edges, define planting bed borders, and create safe, welcoming circulation through the garden at night. Each fixture can be independently styled, sized, and colored from the Inspector panel.
Activate the Path Light tool
Make sure the Select tool is active to open the Add Objects panel on the right side of the canvas, then click the Lights tab and select Path Light under Core Fixtures. Click once on the canvas to place the fixture at that position. The fixture appears immediately and the Inspector panel opens on the right side of the screen with all editable properties.
Choose a fixture style
In the Inspector, locate the Fixture Style dropdown and choose from Bollard, Mushroom Cap, Solar Stake, Lantern, or Lamp Post. Each style changes the 3D model shown in the perspective view so your presentation accurately reflects the intended product family. The style has no effect on the light's illumination calculations.
Set the fixture height
In the Location section, adjust the Height field to raise the fixture above the ground plane. Bollards and lamp posts look natural at taller heights, while mushroom caps and solar stakes typically sit low — around 0.3–0.6 m. The height positions the fixture model in 3D view and affects where the light origin sits relative to the garden surface.
Adjust brightness
In the Brightness section, set the lumen value using the numeric field or the slider. Path lights read best at low to moderate values — typically 100–400 lm for safety marking along a path. Higher values make the fixture act more like a garden accent light. The range available is 0–2000 lm.
Set the reach (falloff distance)
In the Location section, adjust the Reach field to control how far the light diminishes before fading out. A shorter reach — around 1–2 m — keeps each fixture's pool of light tight and distinct. Increasing the reach causes adjacent fixtures to blend together into a continuous wash, which suits wide-spaced bollards along a broad driveway.
Choose a light color
In the Light Color section, toggle between Custom Color (a color swatch picker) and Color Temperature (a Warm-to-Cool Kelvin slider). Color temperature is the more common choice for exterior lighting: slide toward Warm (amber, ~2700 K) for a welcoming residential feel, or toward Cool (blue-white, ~5000 K) for a crisp contemporary look. The chosen color is reflected in both the 3D view and the top-down plan glow indicator.
Name the fixture
At the top of the Inspector, edit the Name field to give this fixture a meaningful label such as "Entry Path — Left" or "Bed Border NW". Named fixtures appear clearly in the cost estimate, BoQ export, and layers panel, making it much easier to coordinate with an electrician or supplier.
Path lights are omnidirectional — they emit light equally in all directions from their placement point. The Beam Spread section shows a full-circle indicator rather than angle sliders because there is no cone to shape. If you need to direct light at a specific feature such as a tree or wall, use a Spotlight instead.
For a natural-looking path, space path lights 2–3 m apart and keep the Reach slightly less than half the spacing. This creates distinct pools of light with small shadow gaps between them — more atmospheric than a uniform wash. Use the 2D measure tool to verify spacing before placing multiple fixtures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there no beam angle sliders for path lights?
Path lights are omnidirectional point sources — they emit light equally in every direction from a single point. Because there is no directional cone, there is nothing to angle or shape. The Beam Spread section shows a full-circle indicator to confirm this behavior. If you need a shaped beam, switch to a Spotlight, which provides full horizontal and vertical angle controls.
What is the difference between Brightness and Reach?
Brightness (lumens) controls how intense the light source is — a higher lumen value makes the fixture appear brighter overall. Reach controls the falloff radius — how far the light extends before it fades to darkness. A very bright fixture with a short reach produces an intense, tight pool. A low-brightness fixture with a long reach produces a faint, wide wash. Adjust both together to get the effect you want.
How do I get a warm, welcoming amber glow?
Open the Light Color section, select Color Temperature, and drag the slider toward the Warm end. This sets the light to approximately 2700–3000 K, which produces the warm amber tone typical of halogen and warm LED path lights. Warm whites complement timber, stone, and foliage very naturally in both 3D view and AI renders.
Can I copy a path light to place multiples quickly?
Yes. Select the placed fixture and use the standard copy command (Ctrl/Cmd + D or the toolbar Copy action) to duplicate it. The copy inherits all Inspector settings — fixture style, brightness, reach, and color — so you only need to configure one fixture and then duplicate it along the path. You can also use the Repeat Along Path tool to distribute copies evenly along a drawn polyline.
Will path lights appear in the cost estimate?
Yes. Every placed light fixture appears in the Cost Estimation panel and the Bill of Quantities export. If you add a product name in the Name field, it will be used as the line item label. Fixture type and quantity are included automatically, making it straightforward to produce a lighting specification sheet for the client.