This article describes how to modeled a turreted lens system using the multi-configuration capabilities of ZEMAX. A number of IGNR operands are necessary for ignoring the turreted lens in one of the configurations, and are added with a ZPL macro.

This article describes the use of vignetting factors in modeling a system with fixed apertures. Vignetting factors can be used to determine the size and shape of the beam which passes through the system unobscured. These factors also provide a mechanism for efficient optimization of such systems.

Question: ZEMAX is well known for modeling visible, infrared, and ultraviolet applications, but is it accurate when using radio, x-ray, or other "non-optical" wavelengths?

The article explains how to tell if your key is currently eligible for technical support and upgrades to the software.

Question: What is the normalization radius used by diffractive surfaces for?

Question: ZEMAX supports four birefringent mode flags on the Birefringent_In surface. What are they for, and when do I use them?

Question; ZEMAX supports both the Hn and Ln filter strings. How are these different, and when should I use one over the other? 

This article explains how to model an off-axis parabolic mirror when the source is a finite distance away from the mirror.

ZEMAX Development Corporation supports the teaching of optical design at University level by lending licenses for use in qualified classes. This article describes the ZEMAX Educational Support Program and gives details of how to apply for support.

This article provides a list of the extensions used by all of the files that are a part of ZEMAX. The necessary location for each file type is also provided.