Capture is pro software for designing lighting, making the paperwork and showing how a show will look. It is made by Capture Visualisation AB (Sweden). It runs natively on macOS and Windows.
It supports 2D/3D plotting, real-time rendering, DMX connectivity, video, laser and moving scenery design. Capture 2026, the latest release, brings a modernized UI, new smoke visualization, better bloom and lens flare effects, and improved fixture editing.
Pricing starts at €395 for Solo and goes up to €2,195 for Symphony (unlimited). It is a one-time license with no required yearly subscription. Upgrades from any version within 5 years cost the same.
Key Takeaways
- Capture 2026 is a native macOS and Windows lighting design app. It needs no browser and no cloud.
- It supports lighting, video, laser, moving scenery, and water elements in one shared workspace.
- Four license tiers: Solo (€395), Duet (€795), Quartet (€1,295), Symphony (€2,195). Each is a one-time purchase, with no subscription.
- Capture 2026 new features: a modern UI with new property tables, new smoke effects, better bloom, a new lens flare effect, and image settings you can tweak for more lifelike renders.
- The rendering engine uses a wide-color ACEScg pipeline with DirectX (Windows) and Metal (macOS), so colors look very true to life.
- Each license is for one person and can be installed on two computers.
- Upgrade pricing is the same no matter which past version you own, up to 5 years back.
What Is Capture?
Capture is a pro tool for lighting design. It also handles the paperwork and shows previews of the show. It is built for lighting designers, production managers, event planners and touring pros. They work in concerts, theater, TV, festivals and company events.
Capture Visualisation AB in Sweden makes the software. It has been an industry standard for over a decade and gets a new version every year.
The platform does three core jobs in one app:
- design (2D plots and 3D layouts)
- documentation (reports and fixture lists made for you)
- visualization (live and rendered previews with true light and color data)
Doing it all in one place sets Capture apart from tools that do just one of these jobs.
Capture 2026 is the current release. Its new features focus on a modern UI and better renders.
Capture 2026: What’s New
The 2026 release focuses on two main areas: a modern user interface and better renders.
UI Improvements
In 2025, Capture replaced the Windows and macOS property lists with its own version. The 2026 release extends this work to property tables. These tables are the base of the Fixtures tab and the Layers category in the Design tab.
The result is faster, more consistent editing across platforms. Handling fixtures and managing universes and layers is also easier.
Rendering Enhancements
- New smoke visualization: more lifelike haze on stage
- Improved bloom: better simulation of the glow around bright lights
- New lens flare effect: adds photo-like realism to renders
- Tweakable image settings: exposure, contrast and color grading controls right in the render view
These changes help Capture 2026 renders compete with high-end preview tools. At the same time, the software keeps the live speed it is known for.
Core Features
Design
Capture gives you one shared space to design in 2D and 3D. Users work in top-down plan views (2D) and 3D views at the same time.
They place fixtures, trusses, LED panels, video projectors and stage scenery from a large built-in library. The workflow follows CAD drawing habits, so anyone with technical drawing experience can pick it up. But drag-and-drop fixture placement removes the steep learning curve of dedicated CAD tools.
Key design features include fixture grouping, focus planes and XYZ positioning where you type in numbers. There is also full layer control for big shows with many parts.
Documentation
Capture builds reports for you from the live design data. This keeps the paperwork in sync with the real rig.
Reports can include fixture lists, DMX patch lists, channel and address lists and custom layouts. The new report editor in recent versions can make almost any report without typing in data by hand.
This saves a lot of time on touring and installation projects, where accurate paperwork is a professional must.
Visualization
Capture’s rendering engine is built on a DirectX (Windows) and Metal (macOS) native pipeline. It uses a wide-color ACEScg color space, so light looks just as it should.
Light previews use data from the makers of each fixture. So beam angles, color temperatures and brightness match how real fixtures behave.
Renders can be saved as high-resolution still images or video files. Capture also exports interactive standalone presentations. This unique feature lets clients or collaborators explore the 3D design fully, without having the software installed.
Connectivity
Capture offers deep links with physical lighting consoles and control systems:
- DMX talkback: lets the console focus fixtures directly in the software
- CITP: console link for fixture selection and patch exchange
- ArtNet and sACN: standard protocols for live DMX control
- Avolites consoles: Capture comes built in as the default preview tool
- Capture Mobile: a phone and tablet app for checking designs on the go
- Capture Component: a version that can be embedded in third-party apps
Capture Edition Comparison and Pricing
Capture uses a perpetual license model with four editions. They differ mainly in how many DMX universes, video feeds and laser feeds they support:
| Edition | Price (New License) | Universes | Local Video | Streaming Video | Laser Feeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | €395 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Duet | €795 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Quartet | €1,295 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Symphony | €2,195 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Upgrade pricing
Upgrades to Capture 2026 cost the same no matter which earlier version you own, whether Capture 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 or 2025.
This “rolling 5-year upgrade window” makes Capture very cost-effective for pros who don’t need to upgrade every year. Upgrades usually cost 10 to 25% of the new license price.
Other license terms
- Upgrade between editions is priced as the difference between new license prices. For example, going from Solo to Duet costs the difference between €395 and €795, which is €400.
- Each license is personal and allows installation on two computers owned by the license holder.
- No mandatory subscription: once bought, the license stays valid forever on supported hardware.
Who Is Capture For?
Best fit:
- Pro lighting designers who work on concerts, theater, TV studios, festivals and company events
- Production firms that want design, paperwork and previews in one tool
- Touring pros who need reliable console links (especially Avolites users)
- Designers who need to show interactive 3D proposals to clients, without the client having to install software
Not the best fit for:
- Lighting plans for buildings or shops (dedicated tools like AGi32 or DIALux are better suited)
- Beginners on a zero budget (Capture is a paid tool, with no fully free tier for production work)
- Users who need advanced live VR integration (other tools offer more lifelike ways to show clients a design)
Capture vs. Alternatives
| Software | Starting Price | Platform | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capture | €395 (perpetual) | macOS, Windows | Entertainment lighting design + docs |
| MA 3D / grandMA Viz | Bundled with console | Windows | grandMA console users |
| WYSIWYG | ~$1,500+ (subscription) | Windows | Comprehensive CAD-based production |
| L8 | From €88 | macOS, Windows | Budget visualization |
| Vectorworks Spotlight | ~$3,000+/year | macOS, Windows | Full venue design + documentation |
Capture sits in the mid-market. It falls between entry-level visualizers like L8 and enterprise platforms like Vectorworks Spotlight. Its one-time pricing and flexible upgrades give it strong value against rivals that sell subscriptions.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- You buy the license once, with no forced yearly renewal
- Upgrade pricing stays the same however old your version is (up to 5 years)
- Very true colors thanks to the ACEScg pipeline
- Native macOS and Metal support, not just Windows-first
- Paperwork that stays in sync on its own, with no spreadsheets to fill in
- You can export a 3D presentation that clients can explore on their own
- Deep links with consoles (CITP, ArtNet, sACN, native Avolites integration). Full connectivity details are available at capture.se/Support/Connectivity.
- Capture 2026 makes renders look much better
Cons:
- Universe limits on lower tiers can be restrictive for complex rigs
- A learning curve for users without a CAD background
- Weaker for lighting plans in buildings and shops than for entertainment
- Symphony tier pricing (€2,195) is a lot for part-time users
- No fully free version for production work (a demo mode is available)
Verdict
Capture 2026 is one of the strongest all-around lighting design tools for entertainment production pros.
It runs fast on macOS and Windows. It renders light accurately. It builds the paperwork for you. And you buy the license once and keep it. Together, this makes it great value over the long run, especially next to rivals that only sell subscriptions.
The 2026 release adds a modern UI and better rendering (smoke, bloom, lens flare). These are welcome quality-of-life upgrades that keep the platform competitive. For lighting designers working on live events, theater or TV, Capture remains a top-tier choice.
Rating: 8.5/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Capture free?
Capture offers a free demo mode that lets users explore features, but saving work and full production functionality requires a paid license. Capture 2026 Solo starts at €395 as a one-time purchase. A demo version is available on the official Capture website at capture.se.
What is the difference between Capture Solo and Symphony?
The main difference is the number of DMX universes, local video feeds, streaming video feeds, and laser feeds supported. Solo supports 1 of each; Symphony supports unlimited. For most single-designer productions, Solo or Duet is sufficient. Symphony is targeted at large-scale touring and installation projects requiring many simultaneous universes.
Does Capture require an annual subscription?
No. Capture uses a perpetual license model — once purchased, the license is yours indefinitely. Upgrades to new annual versions are optional and priced affordably (typically 10–25% of the new license price), with the same upgrade price applying regardless of how many versions you skip (up to 5 years).
What consoles does Capture connect to?
Capture connects to a wide range of lighting consoles via CITP, ArtNet, sACN, and DMX. It is natively integrated as the default visualizer in Avolites consoles. It also supports grandMA, ETC Eos, ONYX, and many others. Full connectivity details are available at capture.se/Support/Connectivity.
What's new in Capture 2026?
Capture 2026 introduces redesigned property tables for faster fixture and layer editing, new smoke visualization, improved bloom effects, a new lens flare effect, and tweakable image settings for render output. It builds on the property list overhaul from Capture 2025 to complete the UI modernization initiative.
