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1186 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
The Material Editor is where you adjust the
map’s parameters.
2. Use an unused sample slot to display a map.
3. Drag the map from the Material Editor to the
light’ s Map button in the Advanced Effects
rollout. A dialog asks if the projection map
shouldbeacopyoraninstance. Choose
Instance. If you choose Copy, adjusting the
mapintheMaterialEditorhasnoeffectonthe
projected map.
You can also drag from any other used map
button, as in the Environment dialog.
Assigning the map displays the map name in
the button, and turns on the Projector toggle.
After you have set up the map, you can tur n off
Projec tor to test rendering the scene without
the projected image.
AnalternativeistoclicktheMapbutton.
This displays the
Material/Map Browser (page
2–1256)
, which lets you choose the map type.
At this point, the lig ht behaves as a projector.
To assign a m ap or adjust its parameters, you
need to use the Material Editor.
Note: Lights project maps only within t heir
cone, even if Overshoot is turned on.
To put t he map in the M ateri al Ed itor:
• Dragfromthelight’sMapbuttontoanunused
sample slot in the Material Editor.
Note: Sample slots with white triangles in the
corners indicate materials that are used in the
current scene.
Yo u c a n a d j u s t t h e m a p i n t h e M a t e r i a l E d i t o r
by changing the map ’s parameters.
To blur a projection map:
• IncreasethevalueofBlurOffsetinthemap’s
Coordinates rollout in the Material Editor.
You can animate Blur Offset to have a projected
map go in or out of focus.
To mak e the s hape of the light f it t he proj ected
bitm ap :
Note:
This procedure only applies to standard spot
and direct lights.
1. Choo se a bitmap to project, as described in the
preceding procedures.
2. Makesurethelight’sshapeissettoRectangular,
and then click Bitmap Fit.
A file selection dialog is displayed.
3. Choosethesamebitmapyouchoseforthe
standalone map, and then click OK.
You can also choose a bitmap other than the
one the lig ht projects.
Interfa ce
Affect Surfa ces group
Co ntrast—Adjusts the contrast between the diffuse
and ambient areas of the surface. Leave this set to 0
for normal contrast. Increase the value to increase
the contrast for special effects: for example, the
harsh light of outer space. Default=0.0.
Soften Diffuse Edge—Increasing the value of Soften
DiffuseEdgesoftenstheedgebetweenthediffuse
and ambient portions of a surface. This helps
eliminateedgesthatcanappearonasurfaceunder
certain circumstances. Default=50.