ArchvizTools has released Spotlight Generator, a free script for 3ds Max that focuses entirely on automating IES spotlight creation. The concept is straightforward. Artists select geometry, run the script, and Spotlight Generator produces renderer-ready IES spotlights aligned to the scene. The tool supports 3ds Max from version 2018 onward and works with both Corona Renderer and V-Ray, which makes it directly relevant for most arch-viz and lighting workflows.
The developer describes Spotlight Generator as an efficient way to generate IES lights without building rigs from scratch. It is aimed primarily at arch-viz projects where large amounts of lighting often need to be placed quickly and consistently. Version 1.0 is free to download and free to use in any project (Name a fair price, though!) .
In practical use, Spotlight Generator produces the initial light placement, leaving artists to handle exposure, falloff and intensity adjustments according to their renderer settings or studio conventions. The core time-saver lies in automating the first step: producing multiple IES lights that fit the scene’s geometry. For Corona and V-Ray users, the automatic setup can shorten look-dev time, especially when dealing with repetitive architectural lighting or scenes with heavy spotlight usage.
Pipeline-wise, Spotlight Generator remains a simple script. It does not claim deep integration into larger toolchains and it does not impose renderer-specific defaults beyond placing the IES lights. Teams should therefore test how its results align with their established lighting guidelines. Like all automation in lighting, the output remains dependent on clean scene geometry and on the creative requirements of the shot. More stylised productions may still need manual refinement, but Spotlight Generator covers the repetitive groundwork.
Because the script is new, the long-term support isn’t defined yet. Version 1.0 functions as a compact productivity tool rather than a full pipeline component. For many artists, that’s exactly the point. It removes a small but persistent friction point in 3ds Max lighting, and it does so without cost and without over-complication.
