Compare two to four IES files

Comparison is where you make the final call: two fixtures with similar lumens can spread light very differently. Lining up the polar curves, the spec table, and the floor patterns side by side makes the trade-offs obvious before you build them into a layout.

1. Start a comparison from the library

   In the Library, click Compare to enter selection mode, tick the files you want, then click Compare Selected in the bar that appears at the bottom. You can compare between 2 and 4 files at once.

2. Or add files from a detail page

   You can also build a comparison from any luminaire's detail page: click Compare, Add This File, and then Compare Now. Once you're on the comparison page, the Add File search lets you pull in more luminaires, and each one gets a colored badge (with an X to remove it).

3. Read the candela distribution

   At the top, the Candela Distribution polar charts overlay all your selected luminaires using matching colors — one chart for the 0°/180° plane and, where the data exists, one for the 90°/270° plane. This is the quickest way to see which fixture throws light wider or more tightly.

4. Compare the specifications

   The Specification Comparison table lines up the key numbers for each fixture: manufacturer, catalog number, lumens, watts, efficacy (lm/W), and physical dimensions — so you can weigh output against energy use at a glance.

5. Compare floor coverage

   The Isoilluminance Comparison shows each fixture's light pattern on the floor, with the peak level labeled in your active units (fc or lux). Drag the Mounting Height and Floor Size sliders to put every fixture on the same footing, and watch how the patterns — and the peak values — change together.