9

1300 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
Note:
In3dsMax,areaspotlightsarecreatedand
supported by a MAXScript script. Only the mental
ray renderer uses the parameters in the Area Light
Parameters rollout. See Enhancements to Standard
Features (page 3–84) for more details.
Tip: Area lights t ake longer to render than point
lights. To create a quick test (or draft) rendering,
youcanusetheArea/LinearLightsasPointLights
toggle on the Common Parameters rollout (page
3–27) of the Render Scene dia log to speed up your
rendering.
See also
mr Area Omni Light (page 2–1298)
Pr ocedur es
To create an area spotlight:
1.
Go to the Create 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 yo u use the spinners to adjust the size
of the area light, a gizmo (yellow by default)
appears in viewports to show the adjusted
size. This gizmo disappears once you finish
adjusting the value.
To convert a standa rd 3ds Max light to an area light:
1.
Select one or more lights.
2. Go to the Utilities panel.
3. On the Utilities rollout, click M AXScript.
The M AXScript rollout is displayed.
4. On the M AXScript rollout, choose Conver t To
Area Lights f rom the Util it ies drop-down list.
The Conv ert To Area Lights rollout is displayed.
5. On the C onvert To Area Lights rollout, click
Convert Selected Lights. A MAXScript 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 i n place. If you click No there are
now two li ghts in the scene: the original light,
and the area light b ased on it.
6. Click C lose to dismiss the Convert To Area
Lights and MAXScript rollouts.
Interfa ce
On—Tur ns the area lig ht on and off. When On
is on, the mental ray renderer uses the light to
illuminate the scene. When On is off, the mental
ray renderer doesn’t use the l i ght. Default=on.
Show Icon in R ender er —When on, the mental ray
renderer renders a dark shape where the area light
is. When off, the area light is invisible. Default=off.