The General Device Type Format (GDTF) file format was originally conceived and jointly developed by MA Lighting, Vectorworks, and Robe Lighting to be an open standards technology to facilitate interoperability and data exchange between manufacturers and their designer base.

GDTF-share provides tools to help you to build GDTF files, however, many find this task well suited to outsource to those who know how and are well prepared to keep up with the constant changes.

That's where Crescit comes in to simplify the process for you.

If you’re a Manufacturer or Distributor of DMX controlled Lighting Fixtures then you know how important it is to provide fixture profiles for popular Lighting Consoles so your customers can control your gear. You also know that you can spend countless hours creating these fixture profiles. It’s an endless, time consuming task.

Crescit can automate your GDTF profile database for use in popular consoles as well as for keeping current in distributor databases.

Generally, the files need to be updated when any of the following happen:

• Firmware Updates
• Release of New Product Features (ie. Lens Options, Gobo Wheel Changes)
• Omissions
• Corrections
• GDTF Specification Updates

Crescit has developed core competencies in various areas of Online Research, Graphics Design, Data Capture, eCommerce Web Design, Cloud Application Development, and Cloud connected Mobile development for iOS and Android.

Since 2019, we have been developing a service to create and maintain Fixture and DMX Device GDTF files. Based on our experience with GDTF, as well as monitoring the ongoing work by ESTA for its own Universal Device Format, we have come to understand that the ongoing maintenance or more correctly ongoing improvement is required as the GDTF standard is itself a work in progress.

We can add them to GDTF-Share on behalf of your company as your official file database. If you chose the subscription level that includes this, we'll reach out to coordinate this the first time and notify you each time we push updates to GDTF-Share.

If you don't have this as part of your subscription but would like us to upload to GDTF-Share, please reach out to support@crescit.com

Yes!

Click here to download a sample GDTF file built by Crescit for the Vari-Lite VL5 LED Wash fixture.

To see the file on GDTF-Share, click here.

No, not if you provide our team with the sufficient info and files. Crescit can produce 2D symbols and 3D models for your fixtures.

Some of our clients like to provide their own models if they're already building them for other reasons but most use our service to produce them in a consistent manner.

Yes, that's not a problem! Please reach out to our team at support@crescit.com with any requests like this and we'll get it sorted asap.

To import one or more .gdtf files in Vectorworks:

1. Select the command.
2. The Import GDTF dialog box opens.
3. Select the files to import.
4. GDTF files are imported as resources in the Resource Manager.

Click here for Vectorworks support.

Bonus: Lightwright can sync from Vectorworks pulling your GDTF data in.

Yes! Anyone can request access.

If you are a console or control manufacturer/developer, we offer custom integration to supply your product with an extensive fixture database, well beyond GDTF files.

Please provide your email address and request access here.

Conventional lighting fixtures are used in Lighting Designs so they need Symbols and 3D Models and are assigned in the DMX patch and included in drawings, reports, cue files and visualizations (MVR). The same is true for all DMX controllable devices.