9

Free Spotlight 1291
See also
Lights (page 2–1272)
Name and Color Rollout (Lights) (page 2–1273)
General Lighting Parameters (page 2–1331)
Intensity/Color/Attenuation Par ameters (page
2–1345)
Advanced Effects Rollout (page 2–1341)
Shadow Parameters (page 2–1337)
Spotlight Parameters (page 2–1338)
Pr ocedur es
To create a free spotlight:
1.
OntheCreatepanel,clickLights.
Standard is the default choice of light type.
2. In the Object Type rollout, click Free Spot.
3. Click the viewport location where you want the
light to be.
The light is now part of the scene. It points away
from you in the viewport you clicked.
You can adjust the light’s direction with Move
and Rotate or by using a Light viewport.
4. Set the creat ion parameters.
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
You aim a free spotlight by adjusting its orientation
in a scene using Move and Rotate.
Thefreespotlightisusefulwhenyouwanta
spotlight to follow a path and either don’t want
to bother with linking a spotlight and target to a
dummy object (page 3–930), or you need banking
along the path.
Genera l Parameters rollout
When you c reate a Free Spot light, the Targeted
parameter is adjustable on the General Parameters
rollout (page 2–1331). Thisisafixedvaluefor
target lights.
Targeted—When on, 3ds Max sets a point to use
as an invisible target abou t which the Free Spot
can orbit. The spinner adjusts the distance to the
target.
The target distance is animatable.