Double clicking on a light source opens a dialog box that displays the selected light’s characteristics. You can modify these characteristics depending on the type of light selected. You will also be able to change the light type.
q Moving a light source
You can select and move a light in the scene as if it were an object.
q Changing a light source name
Click on the light name and enter a new one.
q Changing a light source type
You can change a light source type as follows: scroll the list of available light types and select a different type to assign to the light.
q Setting the characteristics of a “sun” light
¨ Specifying a sun light color
1. Double click on the sun light source you want to assign a color to.
2. A dialog box appears: click on the color sample rectangle.
3. A color picker dialog box opens, allowing you to select a color.
4. Click on “OK” to validate the new color choice or click on “Cancel” to simply exit the dialog box.
5. You are back to the previous dialog box: click on “OK” to apply or on “Cancel” to simply exit the dialog box.
¨ Switching off a sun light
Check the corresponding box to switch a light source on and off.
q Setting the characteristics of a “bulb” light
¨ Assigning a color to the halo of light
Proceed as we saw for the sun light source to define the color of the halo of light.
¨ Setting the radius of the halo of light
The bulb’s halo of light propagates evenly around the bulb: click in the numerical input area and enter a radius length to define the size of the halo.
Or you can interactively define the size of the halo using the “Stretch” tool in the Modeling palette. See chapter User Manual/Tools/Modeling/Stretch.
¨ Switching a bulb on and off
Check the corresponding box to switch a light source on and off.
q Setting the characteristics of a “spot” light
¨ Assigning a color to the beam of light
Proceed as we saw for the sun light source to specify the color of the beam of light.
¨ Specifying the direction of the beam of light
Specify the direction of the beam of light using the “Stretch” tool in the Modeling palette. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Modeling/Stretch).
¨ Specifying the beam’s angle
Specify the angle of the beam of light using the “Stretch” tool in the Modeling palette. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Modeling/Stretch).
¨ Specifying the area of decreasing light propagation
Use the “Stretch” tool of the Modeling tools palette to interactively define the area of decreasing light propagation. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/ Modeling/Stretch).
¨ Casting shadows and shadow quality
You can have the light produced by a light source cast shadows and define the grain of the shadow. NOTE: This greatly increases the rendering time.
¨ Switching a spot on and off
Check the corresponding box to switch the light source on and off.