[sdiy] RE: light pipe design?

[Barry Klein]

Given the experience and occupations of those here are so varied, I wonder
if any of you have experience with light pipe design for front panels and
user interfaces.
What software packages if any can perhaps take Solidworks models or crude
first generation models and represent lighting effects?  Something that
takes losses due to dispertion angles, types of materials, tranparencies,
etc. and helps you learn the basics of appropriate light pipe design?  This
is often a last thought of aspect of product design and yet it is so
critical to the success of the overall product look...

Barry