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AtmospheresandEffectsforLights 1349
in the Rendering panel (page 3–826) of the
Preferences dialog. The falloff value can range
from 0 to 10,000 units.
When the hotspot and falloff values are equal,
the light casts a hard-edged beam.
To set the shape of the light beam:
1.
Choose either Rectangle or Circle.
Theshapeofthelight’sconechangestoreflect
the shape you chose.
2. If you chose Circle, you are done. If you chose
Rectangle, you can now adjust the aspect ratio
(page 3–911) of the rectangular light using the
spinner labeled Aspect.
To change a rectangular light’s aspect ratio:
1.
Choose Rectangle, as described above.
2. ChangetheAspectvaluetotheaspectratiothat
you want.
The Bitmap Fit button is another way to set the
aspect ratio. It is main ly used with projections.
Inter face
Light Cone group
These parameters control hotspots (page 3–954)
and falloff (page 3–954) for spotlights.
Show Cone—Turns display of the cone on or off.
Note: Theconeisalwaysvisiblewhenalightis
selected, so clear ing this check box has no apparent
effect until you deselect the light.
Overshoot—When O vershoot (page 3–988) is set,
the light casts light in all directions. However,
projections and shadows occur only within its
falloff cone.
Hotspot/Beam—Adjusts the size of a light’s cone.
The Hotspot value is measured in 3ds Max units.
Default=43.0.
Fa lloff/Field—Adjusts the size of a light’s fal loff.
TheFalloffvalueismeasuredin3dsMaxunits.
Default=45.0.
You can also adjust hotspot and falloff angles in a
Light viewport (page 2–1338) (looking at the scene
from the point of view of the spotlight).
Circle/R ectangle—De termine the shape of the
falloff and hotspot areas. S et Circle when you want
a standard, circular light. Set Rectangle when you
want a rectangular beam of light, such as lig ht cast
through a window or doorway.
Aspect—Sets the aspect ratio (page 3–911) for the
rectangular li ght be am. The Bitmap Fit button
lets you make the aspect ratio match a specified
bitmap. Default=1.0.
Bitmap Fit—If the light’s projection aspect is
rectangular, sets the aspect ratio to match a
particular bitmap. This is useful when you are
using t he light a s a projec tor light (page 3–998).
Atmospheres and Ef fects for
Lights
Modify panel > Selec t light object. > Atmospheres &
Effects rollout
The Atmospheres & Effects rollout lets you assi gn,
delete, and set up par ameters for atmospheres and
rendering effects associated with the light. This