This is the recommended first exercise for every new TracePro user. It takes you from opening a model to interpreting simulation results: the core loop of every TracePro workflow.
What you'll do:
Using the included elliptical reflector model, the exercise walks through the fundamentals: navigating the model tree and 3D view, understanding sources and surface properties, running a ray trace, and reading the results: rays in the model view and flux distributions in the irradiance/illuminance maps.
An elliptical reflector is an ideal teaching geometry: light from a source at one focus concentrates at the second focus, so you can immediately see, and measure, whether your simulation behaves as optics says it should.
What you'll need:
Where to go next:
Once you're comfortable with the trace-and-analyze loop, continue with the Integrating Sphere and Lightpipe introductory tutorials, then the feature tutorials for deeper capabilities like ray files, luminance maps, and importance sampling.
Questions during the exercise? The TracePro support center has tutorials, examples, and the support inquiry form.
