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1128 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
Usi ng Li ghts
In general, these are the reasons to use light objects
(page 2–1126)
:
•Toimprovetheilluminationofascene.
The default illumination in view ports mig ht
notbebrightenough,oritmightnotilluminate
all faces of a complicated object.
• To enhance a scene’s realism through r ealistic
lighting effects.
Guidelines for Lighting (page 2–1134) has
suggestions about making lighting appear
realistic.
• To enhance a scene’s realism by having lights
cast shadows.
All kinds of lig hts can cast shadows. Also, you
can selectively control w hether an object casts
or receives shadows. See
Shadow Parameters
(page 2–1181)
.
• To cast projections in a scene.
All kinds of lights can project st ill or animated
maps. See the Projector Map group in the
Advanced Effects rollout (page 2–1185) .
• Tohelpmodelasourceofilluminationinthe
scene, such as a flashlight.
Lig ht objects don’t render, so to model a
source of illumination, you also need to create
geometry that corresponds to the light source.
Use a
self-illuminating (page 3–1103) material
to make the geometry appear as if it’s emitting
light.
• To create lig hting scenes using manufacturers’
IES (page 2–1172) , CIBSE (page 3–1015) ,or
LTLI (page 3–1058) files.
You can visualize commercially available
lighting in your model by creating
photometric
lights (page 2–1155)
based on manufacturer’s
photometric data files. By experimenting
w ith different fixtures, and varying the light
intensity and color temperature, you can
designalightingsystemthatproducesthe
results y ou want. See
Photometric Lights: Web
Distribution (page 2–1169)
.
See also
Working with Lights (page 2–1128)
Properties of Light (page 2–1130)
Lighting in 3ds Max (page 2–1133)
Guidelines for Lig hting (page 2–1134)
Positioning Light Objects (page 2–1136)
Animating Lights (page 2–1136)
Light Include/Exclude Tool (page 2–1137)
Light Lister (page 2–1139)
Wor k ing with Lights
The procedures in this topic apply to both standard
and photometric lights.
Here are some general tips about working with
lights:
• One simple way to light a scene is to conver t the
default lighting into light objects by using the
command
Add Default Lights To Scene (page
1–49)
.
Note: Add Default Lights To Scene works only
if you have used the
Viewport Configuration
dialog (page 3–896)
tohavethesceneusetwo
default lights.
• Youcanturnthedisplayoflightobjectsonand
offwithanoptioninthe
Display panel (page
3–818)
. S ee the “Procedures” sect ion, below.
•Youcanusethe
Place Highlight (page 1–452)
button to change a light’s position. See the
“Procedures” section, below.