2017

Basics Tab
Light Type box Select the type of light to apply to the scene.
Example:Description:Light Type:
A point light radiates light uniformly in all directions.
A spotlight radiates a cone of light centred along the
spotlight direction. Use the Spread field to change the
spread angle. A spread of 90° or less creates a spot-
light.
Point / Spot
A directional light shines evenly in one direction only.
The light icon in the scene displays an arrow showing
the direction of the light. Use a directional light to
simulate a very distant point light source (for example,
the sun as viewed from the surface of the Earth).
Directional
An ambient light shines in two ways—some of the
light shines evenly in all directions from the location
of the light (similar to a point light), and some of the
light shines evenly in all directions from all directions
(as if emitted from the inner surface of an infinitely
large sphere). Use the Shade field to set the percentage
on ambient light applied.
NOTE The ambient light type is not the same as the
global Scene Ambient lighting available for the whole
Action scene.
Ambient
A rectangle area light is similar to a point or spot light
except that it produces a hotspot based on the shape
of the rectangle. Use the area size fields to set the size
of the rectangle.
Rectangle
Area
An ellipse area light is similar to a point or spot light
light except that it produces a hotspot based on the
shape of the ellipse. Use the area size fields to set the
size of the ellipse
Ellipse Area
Different settings may appear directly below the Light Type box depending on the type selected.
Width field Displays the width of an area or directional light. Editable.
Height field Displays the height of an area or directional light. Editable.
540 | Chapter 15 Compositing in 3D Space with Action