There are presently three primary genres of software for designing in virtual reality: freehand sculpture, freehand drawing, and constraint-based. Freehand drawing and sculpting applications seek to extend traditional techniques by replacing the artist’s slab of clay or paintbrush dipped in paint with a virtual counterpart that transcends the intrinsic restrictions of the physical world. Constraint-based applications endeavor to augment traditional Computer Aided Design philosophy, with its existing reliance on virtual tools, to incorporate the immersion and spatial freedom of virtual reality.

While the organic design philosophy embodied in the first two genres permits unprecedented flexibility in the immersive space of virtual reality, it can quickly become an insurmountable encumbrance to freedom of expression if the desired design does not compel such spatial liberty. If the focus is on artistic, rather than physically based expression, then the flowing, almost instinctual, forms of freehand design are preferable to the predefined primitives and snap-to-grid doctrine of constraint-based design. In freehand drawing and sculpting applications, freedom is precisely the focus, and the lack of facilities for geometric shapes is not a restriction. However, the moment the focus shifts to physically based design, heavily dependant on geometric constructions, organic design becomes a significant hindrance to manifestation. Constructing a perfectly flat wall by sketching in three dimensions is an enormously intricate and time-consuming task.

Constraint-based applications seek to address the unique needs of geometric design, but do so by sacrificing much of the spatial freedom of freehand design and often limit their collections of tools to design-centric manipulators. The focus is on assembly, rather than the multifaceted conundrum of creation.

ShadowLight-Mirage seeks to mediate amongst these three genres, combining the fluidity and intuitiveness afforded by freehand design, while offering the rigidity and control unique to constraint-based applications. The designer defines his or her world by “drawing” forms in space, but is free to constrain or liberate them as is seen fit. As a constraint-based application, ShadowLight includes a plethora of design-centric tools, but simultaneously as a freehand application, affords the designer the flexibility to adjust their results.

However, ShadowLight-Mirage goes beyond the design stage, incorporating modalities specifically directed towards the process of creation. When ready to add vibrancy, a rich selection of colors and textures wait at the designer's beck-and-call. For the final touch, finishing tools, combined with special features of the user interface, create an ambiance intimately conducive to innovation and creation.