Home of RAYTRACE

 A geometrical optics tool with GUI interface written for optical designers and teachers of optics.

There's not much to this web site but there's a lot more to Raytrace.

Raytrace allows you to set up and trace rays through arbitrarily complex optical systems. Rays may be one of three colours (wavelengths). Both real and idealised optical elements are supported. A scripting facility allows for automated design tasks or for student exercises and demos to be set up and played at the click of the mouse button. Ray diagrams can be animated by dragging with the mouse or under script control and ray paths are updated automatically as you drag - invaluable for checking out design ideas or for answering "What if" questions. Protractor and tape measure tools allow accurate measurements which update automatically as diagrams are dragged or modified.

Some of Raytrace's features include:

• Full graphical interface under Windows 95 or later
• Comprehensive manuals and example files included
• Reproduce and animate standard text-book diagrams
• Libraries of pre-defined optical elements
• Create your own optical elements and libraries
• Powerful drawing and editing features
• Handles all the conic sections
• Handles transmission and reflection diffraction gratings.
• Set refracting properties of real materials or choose your own
• Scripting facility for "macros", tasks and demos
• Make accurate measurements of angles and distances
• Zoom in to see detail or out to see the broad picture
• Many more to numerous to mention
• Comprehensive Tutorial, Reference and Script manuals provided in PDF format
• Lots, lots more...

Download now and evaluate...

Raytrace V2.22 executable and support files (Self extracting zip file 560kb)

As above but including the PDF manuals (Self extracting zip file 1.9Mb)

^*Tutorial manual (PDF file 1Mb) 

^*Reference manual (PDF file 580kb)

^*Script reference manual (PDF file 880kb)

^* Depending on your settings, your browser may automatically open a PDF viewer when you follow these links. If this happens then don't forget to save the file in the same folder as the Raytrace.exe file from the viewer.)

Prices & Ordering:

You can purchase either a single user licence or a site licence. There's nothing complicated about the licences - a single user licence means you agree to use the software either on one computer, a site licence means you can install the software on any number of computers at the physical address as described in the licence key. Since you are given the opportunity to evaluate the software before purchasing, the software is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantee as to its fitness for any particular purpose which you may have in mind. IME Software will not be held liable for any adverse outcomes arising from the use of its software. Every attempt is made to address genuine bug reports and to issue updated files as necessary.

Single user licences cost US$65.00

Site licences cost US$195.00

The downloaded software provides a facility for generating an order which you can email or fax to us. Payment must be by credit card - Mastercard or Visa accepted.

There are no shipping charges, delivery of the licence is via a key file sent by email. We no longer supply hard copy manuals for Raytrace. Free upgrades are allowed for a minimum of 12 months from the date of purchase but usually we will upgrade your licence free of charge. 

Email contact details:    This address is non-textual and is not linked in an attempt to reduce robot generated SPAM.