SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS

Designer 2
Pharos Designer 2, our best software yet, is a powerful program with an intuitive graphical user interface that allows even new users to start work immediately and takes them through each stage of their lighting project. It also has a vast array of precise control options and features for advanced users to experiment with on their larger lighting and video installations.
Current release: 2.9.3
If you are upgrading from an earlier version of Designer 2, please ensure you have read the Tips and Tricks covering the changes to authentication.
Download Designer 2.9.3 for Windows 7/8/10
Download Designer 2.9.3 for macOS Includes security improvements – Pharos is now an ‘Identified Developer’
Designer 2.9 is the next major evolution of the Designer 2 software, bringing many new features, improvements, tweaks, and bug fixes. For a full list of all the new features and improvements in the Designer 2.9 software, see below or the New In 2.9 tab within the software. Full system requirements are given below.
New in Designer 2.9
Hardware
Pharos Designer TPS 5
The Pharos Designer TPS 5 (Touch Panel Station 5″) is a new, updated, elegant interface with a customisable, 5″ capacitive touch screen, compatible with any Pharos Designer Controller.
- Install is easy and convenient with just a single Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) network connection.
- Provides a user interface to any Pharos Designer control system.
The functionality is similar to the existing TPS, although with greater responsiveness, resolution and enhanced hardware.
More information can be found here.
Security
Authentication
2.9 includes a major overhaul to the authentication system for Designer Controllers.
The Controller login and the Web Interface user accounts have been unified, meaning user accounts can now be created on the controller, with the same user groups as the Web Interface user accounts, with the option to expand these in future.
Key features include:
- The creation of an admin user account will be encouraged on first usage or after a factory reset
- Web Interface user accounts have been replaced by Controller user accounts
- .htaccess files have been replaced with .webconfig files (more information available in the Help or from the Authentication application note)
- A new API version, v6, that has improved and updated authentication functionality
- Include username in the Log when an action is fired from the Web Interface
- Print to the Log when a user is created or signs in
- Improved resilience against brute forcing the unit’s password
More information can be found here.
Triggers
Cloud Connection Status Triggers
New functionality has been implemented to allow controllers to trigger off the Cloud Connection status.
These include:
- A condition to check if the controller has an active connection to a Cloud Site or not
- A trigger that fires on Cloud Site connection status change
- An http and lua API query for Cloud connection status
Beta Features*
RDM Polling (Beta)
A framework for RDM Polling has been included in this release, allowing the controller to scan for RDM fixtures and report information back through an IO Module or through a web server. This feature itself is currently still in beta, so please contact Support if you are interested in trying this functionality.
Please note: this feature is offered as a technical preview for experimentation only, and is therefore not actively recommended for live projects. Documentation and full support will become available at a later date.
General
Designer Enchancements
We continue to make improvements throughout the software, with some of the highlights in v2.9 including:
- Improved Direct Colour simulation
- Allow user to force running of dropped project after 5 failed loads
- Create common authentication endpoint for API v6.0
- Upgrade jQuery to resolve vulnerabilities
- Remove legacy (api == 0) user api support
- Log when users are created, logged in and logged out on the Web Interface
- Allow a discovered controller to be associated with a project controller as long as patch capacity is known
- Clearing a controller’s log from Designer should require entry of the admin password
- Log username of user who triggers action on the Web Interface
- Single Controller Project files shouldn’t send multicast trigger messages
- Rename .htaccess file
*Please note: beta features are offered as a technical preview for evaluation only, and are therefore not actively supported nor recommended for live projects. Documentation and full support will become available at a later date.
Minimum Hardware Requirements
- Intel Core i3 processor or above
- 2GB RAM
- 1GB free hard disk space
- 1024×768 screen resolution
- OpenCL 1.2 graphics support (for VLC/VLC+ simulation)
- Network connection (for connecting to Pharos hardware)
Supported Operating Systems
- Microsoft Windows 7/8/10 (64bit)
- Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave) – 12.0.x (Monterey)
Recommended Hardware
- Intel Core i5 processor or above
- 8GB RAM
- 1920×1080 screen resolution

Director
Pharos Director is a commercial lighting control software tool for managing and controlling lighting installations across large sites, such as campus and city-wide installations, which span multiple Pharos Designer lighting control systems.
Current release: 2.9.3
Download Director 2.9.3 for Windows 7/8/10
Download Director 2.9.3 for macOS
Director 2.9 is the next major evolution of the Director software, bringing new features, improvements, tweaks, and bug fixes. For a full list of all the new features and improvements in the Director 2.9 software, see below. Full system requirements are given below.
Minimum Hardware Requirements
- Intel Core i3 processor or above
- 2GB RAM
- 1GB free hard disk space
- 1024×768 screen resolution
- OpenCL 1.2 graphics support (for VLC/VLC+ simulation)
- Network connection (for connecting to Pharos hardware)
Supported Operating Systems
- Microsoft Windows 7/8/10 (64bit)
- Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave) – 12.0.x (Monterey)
Recommended Hardware
- Intel Core i5 processor or above
- 8GB RAM
- 1920×1080 screen resolution

Software Archive
For new projects or evaluation, please download the current release of Designer 2.
Old releases are provided here in case a project requires additional programming or maintenance, and it is not desirable to upgrade to the current release. If you need a version that is not provided below, please contact Support.
Designer 2
Windows
macOS
Director
Windows
macOS
Legacy Migration Tools
Migrating installations and programming from Designer v1 to v2 requires these utility tools, the firmware tool for moving controller hardware between the two versions, and the Project tool for converting a Designer v1 file so it can be opened in Designer v2. More information available in this Tips & Tricks.
These tools are no longer maintained. The downloads below only convert and update v1 project files and controllers up to v2.5.2.
Legacy Designer Version 1
macOS
Please note: Installation Manager and Dynamic Media Manager are not recognised by OS X Gatekeeper in Mountain Lion. Please switch off Gatekeeper in System Preferences in order to install either of them.
If the software version you require is not listed, please contact support, or if you know the exact version number you need, you can copy and edit the URL of another link, eg https://dl.pharoscontrols.com/software/software_archive/pharos_designer_1.12.1_installer.exe and edit the version number in your browser.

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