8

1154 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
See also
mr Area Omni Lig ht (page 2–1152)
Pr ocedur es
To create an area spotlight:
1.
Go to the Cre ate panel and click
Lights.
2. OntheObjectTyperollout,clickmrAreaSpot.
3. Drag in a viewport. The initial point of the
drag is the location of the light, and the point
whereyoureleasethemouseisthelocationof
the target.
The mental ray renderer will ignore the
spotlight cone, but the location of the spotlight
target determines the orientation of the plane
of the area light, and the direction in which it’s
projected.
4. Set the shape and size of the area light in the
Area Light Parameters rollout.
While you use the spinners to adjust the size
of the area l ight, a gizmo (yellow by default)
appears in v iewports to show the adjusted
size. This gizmo disappears once you finish
adjusting the value.
To convert a standard 3ds M ax light to an area light:
1.
Select one or more lights.
2. Go to the Utilities panel.
3. On the Utilities rollout, click MAXScript.
The MAXScr ipt rollout is displayed.
4. On the MAX Scr ipt rollout, choose Convert To
Area Lights f rom the Utilities drop-down list.
The Convert To Area Lights rollout is displayed.
5. On the Convert To Area Lights rollout, click
Convert Selected Lights. A MA X Script alert is
displayed, that says "Delete Converted Lig hts?"
Click Yes to delete the original light and replace
it with the area light. Click No to leave the
original lig ht in place. If you click No there are
now two lights in the scene: the original light,
and the area light based on it.
6. Click C lose to dismiss the Conver t To Area
Lights and MAXScript rollouts.
Interfa ce
On—Tur ns the are a li ght on and of f. When On
is on, the mental ray renderer uses the light to
illuminate the scene. When On is off, the mental
ray renderer doe sn’t use the light. Default=on.
Show Icon i n R enderer —When on, the mental ray
renderer renders a dark shape where the area light
is. When off, the area light is invisible. Default=off.
Ty pe—Changes the shape of the area light. Can be
either Rect angle, for a rectangular area, or Disc,
for a circular area. Default=Rectangle.
Radius—Available only when Disc is the active
type of area lig ht. Sets the radius of the circular
light area, in 3ds Max units. Default=20.0.
Height a nd Width—Available only when Rectangle
istheactivetypeofarealight.Settheheightand
w idth of the rectangular light area, in 3ds Max
units. Default=20.0 for both Height and Width.