The journal

Notes & guides

Practical guides, product updates and the occasional look behind the curtain.

UpdatesNew

Thank you. And what's coming next.

A personal thank-you to Lumen Tool's first members, plus a look at the Hand & Arm Reference Studio, 3D Set Builder and future studio ideas.

September 28, 2026 · 3 min read
UpdatesNew

Introducing Color Lab: play with colored light on a 3D model

Studio 6 is live. Color Lab lets Lumen Tool members mix colored lights around a full 3D model, plus an update on the Studio 5 3D Set Builder.

September 24, 2026 · 4 min read
Updates

A clearer Lumen Tool

Lumen Tool now has separate spaces for photographers, videographers and artists, while Studio 5 moves toward a browser-based 3D room.

September 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Guides

Lumen Tool vs set.a.light 3D: which one is right for you?

A practical comparison of Lumen Tool and set.a.light 3D for photographers, videographers and creators planning portrait lighting setups.

September 14, 2026 · 5 min read
Updates

Introducing the Archive: save your lighting setups in Lumen Tool

The Archive lets Lumen Tool members save, organise, preview, back up and restore lighting setups and Reference Lab work across computers.

September 13, 2026 · 4 min read
Updates

A few days behind the paywall

A short update on moving Lumen Tool behind a Stripe-powered paywall, the mixed feelings around charging for it, and the first paying users signing up.

September 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Updates

Why Lumen Tool is paid

Why Lumen Tool is a paid product and what the subscription supports.

September 4, 2026 · 3 min read
Updates

Introducing Reference Lab

Reference Lab analyses portrait lighting in your browser and gives you a practical starting setup to refine in the Lumen Tool Lighting Simulator.

September 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Updates

The next step: Lumen Tool

Lumen Tool is growing into a bigger software package with several focused studios and modules.

August 26, 2026 · 2 min read
Updates

Compare saved lighting setups

A new Compare Saved Setups view lets you line up to four setups side by side in Advanced Mode.

May 21, 2026 · 1 min read
Updates

A quick update on Lumen Tool

The tool moved to its own domain and got a proper identity - plus a look at the roadmap ideas on my mind.

March 31, 2026 · 3 min read