9
1290 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
Becausethespotlightisalwaysaimedatits
target,youcan’trotateitaboutitslocalXorY
axis. However, you can select and move the
target object as well as the light itself. When you
move either the l ight or the target, the light’s
orientation changes so it always points at the
target.
Note: Thetarget’sdistancefromthelightdoes
notaffecttheattenuationorbrightnessofthe
light.
To select the target:
The target, displayed as a small square, is often
inthesameareaasobjectsthatyouwantto
illuminate. It can be difficult to select it by clicking.
1. Select the spotlight itself.
2. Right-click the light and choose Select Target
from the upper-left (Tools 1) quadrant of the
quad menu.
Clicking the line that connects the light and its
target selects both objects. However, region
selection doesn’t recognize the link line.
Another way to adjust a spotlight is to use a
Light viewport (page 2–1338).
To change a viewport to a Light view:
1.
Right-click a viewport label.
The viewport right-click menu is displayed.
2. Choose Views.
Thenameofeachspotlightordirectionallight
is displayed in the Views list.
3. Choosethenameofthelightyouwant.
Theviewportnowshowsthelight’spointof
view. You can use the Light V iewport Controls
(page 3–750) to adjust the light.
The default keyboard shortcut for switching to
aLightviewportis$.
Interfa ce
When you rename a target spotlight, the target is
automatically renamed to match. For example,
renaming Light01 to Klieg causes Light01.Target to
become Klieg.Target.Thetarget’snamemusthave
the extension .Target. Renaming the target object
doesnotrenamethelightobject.
Fr e e S p otl i g h t
Create panel > Lights > Sta ndard > Free Spot button
Create menu > Standard Lig hts > Free Spotlight
Top: Perspective view of a free spotlight
Bottom: Top view of the same lig ht
A spotlight casts a focused beam of light like a
flashlight, a follow spot in a theater, or a headlight.
Unlike a targeted spotlight, a Free Spot has no
target object. You can move and rotate the free
spot to aim it in any direction.