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HP ZBook Workstation PCs - Using Z Light Space

Z Light Space allows you to customize and synchronize RGB lighting for a personalized lighting experience. You can color-code your keyboard shortcuts for applications, accurately color grade by enhancing your perception of on-screen color, and stimulate different moods.

Note:

Z Light Space is available on select HP ZBook Workstations.

Install Z Light Space

Z Light Space is a standalone app that is preinstalled on HP ZBook G8 and later PCs. For all other products, you can download Z Light Space from the Microsoft Store.

To install from the Microsoft Store:

  1. Open Microsoft Store.

  2. Search for Z Light Space, and then click Get.

After the installation is complete, the Launch option is displayed. You can autoenable updates from the Microsoft Store to keep Z Light Space updated.

Open Z Light Space

You can open Z Light Space using one of the following methods.

  • Start menu

  • Taskbar

Note:

Z Light Space is preinstalled and automatically pinned to the taskbar on HP G9 workstations. On all other computers, you can pin Z Light Space to the taskbar.

Tutorials

When you first open Z Light Space, a step-by-step tutorial opens.

The tutorial includes an overview of the Z Light Space UI and features. You can view the tutorial again at any time by clicking the Help icon to open the Help menu.

Lighting Options tab

When you open Z Light Space, the Lighting Options tab is displayed.

By default, supported and connected devices are set to the Night Mode mood. If you changed your settings, the devices and settings display your custom settings.

The main components in the Lighting Options tab are as follows:

  • Layers

  • Zone Selection

  • Tools & Effects

Layers panel

Z Light Space lighting options are layer based. Each layer holds one set of selected zones and one effect setting.

Layers panel of the lighting options tab

Multiple layers can be used with different zones and effect settings to create complex lighting effect for your devices.

To create a layer, click Create a new layer. Then, select a zone and an effect for the layer.

When you hover the cursor over a layer, four icons appear. You can use these icons to do the following:

  • Rename a new layer.

  • Duplicate a layer.

  • Delete the layer.

  • Reorder the layer.

The layers are prioritized. If a layer has an overlapping zone with a layer beneath it, the effect in the top layer is used. To rearrange the layers, click the menu icon on the far right, and then drag the layer to the correct place in the layer order.

You can create and delete as many layers as you want, but you cannot delete the final layer. You must have at least one layer in the Layers panel.

By default, each new layer is named Mood and uses the Night Mode preset. Layers can have duplicate names, and the name can be empty.

New layer named Mood

The icon to the left of the layer name indicates the type of effect selected for the layer. To show or hide layers, click the view icon on the far left.

Hiding the Mood layer

Zone Selection panel

In the Lighting Options tab, the Zone Selection panel enables you to choose the lighting zones for each layer.

There are three types of zone selection methods:

  • Per-zone

  • Marquee

  • Per device

Per-zone selection

To select a zone using the per-zone method, click the Per-zone icon and then do one of the following.

Note:

If a selection overlaps with a previously selected zone, the selection inverts.

  • Click a zone or key in the user interface.

  • Press and hold the ctrl key, and then click multiple zones or keys in the user interface.

  • Click and drag an area to select a group of zones or keys.

Selecting a zone using the Per zone selection method in Z Light Space

Marquee selection

To select a zone using the marquee method, click the Marquee icon, and then move or resize the rectangular area.

Note:

The rectangular area is associated with the canvas, not the device. If you move the device, the selected zone in the rectangular area remains in effect.

Selecting a zone using the marquee method in Z Light Space

Per-device selection

To select a zone using the per-device method, click the Per-device icon, and then select the devices from the drop-down list.

Selecting a zone using the per-device method in Z Light Space

Tools & Effects panel

In the Lighting Options tab, the Tools & Effects panel enables you to select the effect type and customize the effect settings for a layer.

Note:

If you change the effect for a layer, all settings revert to default. Each layer saves only the most recent effect and settings.

Most effects allow you to choose a custom color. If you select Custom, a color editor opens and allows you to do the following:

  • Use the color wheel to choose a color.

  • Adjust the brightness of the color.

  • Manually enter the RGB values.

  • Adjust the opacity of the color.

In addition, you can customize a gradient color.

Note:

The custom gradient is not available in static color mode.

  • Choose from linear or circular gradient modes.

  • Add, delete, or move a gradient stop.

  • Edit the color of each gradient stop.

You can also select the colors from recent or preset colors.

Shortcut Colors

You can color code your most used single-key shortcuts for all applications.

Shortcut Colors allows you to do the following:

  • Click the insert icon to create a sublayer.

  • Click the default color under Shortcut Group to assign a color to the sublayer.

  • Click the +Add Shortcut button to add keys to each sublayer and group shortcuts based on function.

    Note:

    After clicking the + Add Shortcut button, you can select keys in the central canvas that displays the keyboard. You can select keys one by one, or press and hold the ctrl key to click multiple keys.

Color coding your most used single-key shortcuts for all applications

Shortcut Color presets are available for photo editing, video editing, and motion graphics software applications.

Mood effect

Mood allows you to use lighting settings to elicit specific moods or feelings.

In the Themes tab, there are multiple presets available. You cannot edit or delete these presets.

In the Custom tab, you can personalize your mood lighting using the following settings.

Note:

You can save up to five custom mood themes.

  • Color: Select the colors using the RGB or HEX values or using the RGB slider.

  • Opacity

Color Production effect

Color production provides you with one preset named Neutral (D65).

You cannot delete or edit this preset.

Wave effect

Wave moves from one selected color to the next in a linear motion. You can choose from a present theme or custom color.

Also, you can change the speed and the direction (360 degrees) of the wave motion.

Color Cycle effect

The Color Cycle effect seamlessly cycles through a selected series of colors.

You can choose from a preset theme, or customize the color theme using the color editor. You can also change the speed of the color cycling animation.

Breathing effect or Blinking effect

The Breathing effect fades out one color, and then fades in the next. The Blinking effect switches directly between colors.

For either effect, you can choose two colors or select Random Color. When Random Color is selected, the color editor is disabled.

Also, you can change the speed of the animation.

Interactive effect

The Interactive effect starts when you press a selected key.

Note:

The Interactive effect is available only on RGB keyboards. Also, the per-zone method must be used to select the Interactive effect zone.

You can choose two colors or select Random Color.

There are four types of interactive effects:

  • Key Wave: A circular ripple animation expands from the position of the selected key.

  • Key Fade: The selected key lights up, and then slowly fades.

  • Key Wave (Filled): A circular ripple animation expands from the position of the selected key to fill a selected area.

  • Key Wave (Rainbow): A circular, rainbow-colored ripple animation expands from the selected key. The color options are disabled.

You can adjust the speed and size of any key wave animation.

Effects triggered by the interactive layer move across all available zones, depending on the placement of your devices. The zone selection selects the keys that activate the effect, not the active lighting zones.

Audio Visualizer effect

Audio Visualizer animates the lighting zone based on the sound and frequency range of the system audio output.

Note:

The marquee method must be used to select the Audio Visualizer zone.

You can choose between Waveform and Power Bar mode.

If you select SOLID, you can select two main colors and a background color. If you select GRADIENT, you can use the color editor to create a custom gradient.

Ambient effect

Ambient takes a sample from the current display, and then uses the sample color to animate the selected lighting zone.

Note:

The marquee method must be used to select the Ambient zone.

You can choose either to sample the entire screen or only the active window. If you select Entire Screen and are using multiple displays, you can select which display to take the sample from.

To balance quality and performance, you can change the Image Quality and Updates Per Second settings.

Ambient effect supports Marquee selection only.

Image effect

The Image effect takes a sample from a selected image file, and then uses the sample color to animate the selected lighting zone.

You can select a still image or an animated GIF.

Profiles

You can create and save a lighting configuration to your profile. Profiles are saved locally, and allow you to export and import profiles through a JSON file. There are two types of profiles.

  • Default (all applications)

  • Application based (specific application)

To select a profile, click the down arrow icon in the top-right corner of Z Light Space. To switch automatically between profiles, enable Auto Profile Switching. This detects the active window and enables the appropriate profile.

Default profile

The default profile type allows you to have multiple default profiles that are not tied to an application.

You can edit, rename, duplicate, and delete these profiles.

Default application profile screen

Application-based profile

You can have multiple application-based profiles, but you can only have one profile per application. These profiles are automatically detected and after the application is opened, the application-specific lighting configuration is displayed on the hardware.

You can edit, duplicate, and delete application-based profiles. You cannot rename application-specific profiles.

Application-based profile screen

Workspace tab

In the Workspace tab, you can click and drag each device to rearrange the device positions and layout to match your physical workspace.

You can also rotate the orientation of each device by clicking the corner of the box surrounding the device.

In this mode, the Layer and Tools & Effect panels are not displayed.

To navigate the canvas, you can use the scroll bars, scroll the mouse wheel, click and drag the empty space on the canvas, or click the Recenter button.

To zoom in or out of the canvas, use one of the following options:

  • Press ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel.

  • Use the zoom in or out buttons, or enter a percentage to zoom in or out.

  • Click the fit-to-screen button.

No devices connected

If no supported devices are found when you open Z Light Space or if you disconnect all supported devices, the following message is displayed in the device layout area.

No devices connected for Z Light Space

If you click the provided link, your default browser opens and lists all HP hardware compatible with Z Light Space.

This message disappears after a supported device is connected.

Z Light Space navigation menu

On the left side of the screen, there is a navigation menu. The icons represent the following functions.

  1. Help: Opens a dialog box that allows you to see the tutorials or open the Z Light Space support page.

  2. About: Displays the version information when you hover the cursor over the icon.

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