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1148 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
downwards, outside the boundary box of the scene
geometry.
Note: The mental ray renderer assumes that a ll
directional lights come from infinity, so objects
thatarebehindthedirectlightobjectinthe
3dsMaxscenewillalsobeilluminated. In
addition, with the mental ray renderer, directional
lights cannot generate area shadows, and do not
work with the Beam shader (in the lume library).
See also
Lights (page 2–1126)
Name and Color Rollout (Lights) (p age 2–1127)
General Lighting Parameters (page 2–1175)
Intensity/Color/Attenuation Parameters (page
2–1190)
Advanced Effects Rollout (page 2–1185)
Shadow Parameters (page 2–1181)
Directional Par ameters (page 2–1193)
Pr ocedur es
To create a free direct light:
1.
OntheCreatepanel,clickLights.
Standard is the default choice of light type.
2. IntheObjectTyperollout,clickFreeDirect.
3. Click a viewport.
The light is now part of the scene. It points away
from you in the viewport you clicked.
4. Set the creation parameters.
To adjust the light’s direction, you can rotate it
as you would any object.
To change a viewpor t to a Light view:
1.
Right-click the viewport label.
The viewport right-click menu is displayed.
2. Cho ose Views.
Thenameofeachspotlightordirectionallight
appearsintheViewslist.
3. Choosethenameofthelightyouwant.
The viewport now shows the light’s point of
view. You can use the
Light Viewport Controls
(page 3–792)
to adjust the light.
The default k eyboard shortcut for switching to
aLightviewportis$.
Interfa ce
Directional Parameters rollout
When you create a Free Direct light, the Targeted
parameter is adjustable on the
General Parameters
rollout (page 2–1175)
. Thisisafixedvaluefor
target lights.
Targeted—When on, 3ds Max sets a point to use
as an invisible t arget about which the Free Direct
light can orbit. The spinner adjusts the distance to
the target.
This parameter also affects the length of the li ght’s
cone display.
Omni L ight
Create panel > Lights > Standard > O m ni button
Create menu > Standard Lights > Omni Light