2013

Use Distant Lights
Distant lights are useful for lighting objects or as a backdrop.
Distant Lights in Standard Lighting Workflow
A distant light emits uniform parallel light rays in one direction only. You
specify a FROM point and a TO point anywhere in the viewport to define the
direction of the light. Spotlights and point lights are each represented by a
different light glyph. Distant lights are not represented by glyphs in the
drawing because they do not have a discrete position and affect the entire
scene.
The intensity of a distant light does not diminish over distance; it is as bright
at each face it strikes as it is at the source. Distant lights are useful for lighting
objects or for lighting a backdrop uniformly.
NOTE It is recommended that you do not use distant lights in blocks.
Distant Lights in Photometric Workflow
Distant lights are not physically accurate. It is recommended that you do not
use them in a photometric workflow.
Assigning a Shape to a Light
Assigning a shape to a light modifies the illumination of a scene.
Area and Linear Lights
The Area parameter on the light is a property of a light. Just as a light can have
a color, it can also be assigned a shape. For example, you can shape it like a
rectangle so that it acts like panel lighting in a ceiling. Or you can shape it
like a line, so it acts like a narrow fluorescent light tube. The area light is a
way to assign a shape to the light. The shape affects the rendering and shadows
in the same way that a panel light casts different light than a tube light in the
real world.
Add Lighting to Your Model | 727