The ZMX file format is the file format of the ZEMAX lens design program widely used on Windows computers. LensForge can both read and write ZMX files.

Very many lens designs are available on the internet in the ZMX file format, making this file format the de facto standard for the dissemination of lens designs on the world-wide web.

Existing lens designs are always a good source of ideas and starting points for new lens designs. One place to find ZEMAX format lens designs is the ZEMAX file exchange, where you can find designs contributed by users of ZEMAX. You can even buy ZEBASE, a collection of designs in ZMX format.

It is a virtual certainty that the ZEBASE CD can be read by a Mac. Testing this is on our "to do" list.

Supported surface types

These are the ZEMAX surface types that are presently supported by LensForge:

The majority of lens and telescope designs use a subset of these four surfaces. Other surfaces of a more "exotic" nature will be supported in the future, according to the interests of our customers.

See also: