The invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting device to produce user customizable realistic lighting effects while compensating for rolling shutter, the method comprising: calculating a time varying lighting value based on at least one simulation parameter, said parameter comprising a user selectable camera frequency; and outputting said time varying lighting value thereby to simulate a realistic lighting effect, wherein the minimum pulse width of said time varying lighting value is determined by said camera frequency so as to avoid rolling shutter artefacts.