Navigating Lights
When you activate a light view, the viewport window controls change to a new set of navigation buttons called the light viewport controls (Figure 11.93). By navigating lights with the light viewport controls, you can fine-tune their placement and animate them over time.
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The names of light viewport controls are based on traditional terms for making movies. For a complete description of the light viewport controls, see Table 11.1.
Table 11.1 Light Viewport Controls
Icon |
Name |
Description |
|
Dolly Light |
Moves light along its local Z axis or line of sight. |
|
Dolly Light + Target |
Moves light and target along light's Z axis. |
|
Dolly Target |
Moves target along light's Z axis. |
|
Light Hotspot |
Changes the size of the hotspot. |
|
Light Falloff |
Changes the size of the falloff. |
|
Roll Light |
Rotates light around its Z axis. |
|
Zoom Extents All |
Centers objects in all non-fixed viewports. |
|
Zoom Extents All Selected |
Centers selected objects in all non-fixed viewports. |
|
Truck Light |
Moves light and target parallel to the view plane. |
|
Orbit Light |
Rotates light around its target. |
|
Pan Light |
Rotates light. Target rotates around light. |
|
Min/Max Toggle |
Toggles between viewport layout and full display. |
Note: Free lights use virtual targets for the Dolly, Truck, Pan, and Orbit commands.
You can look at a scene from the point of view of a spotlight or a directional light.
To change a view to a light view:
-
Open a scene that has a spotlight or directional light in it.
-
Activate the viewport you want to change.
-
Type $ (Shift + 4).
-
Select a light, and click OK.
The Select Light dialog box appears (Figure 11.94).
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The view in the viewport changes to the Light view (Figure 11.95).
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To dolly a light:
-
Change a view to a Light view (Figure 11.96).
-
Click the Dolly Light button in the light viewport controls.
-
Drag the dolly cursor up or down in the Light viewport.
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The light moves in or out along its local Z axis, or "line of shine" (Figure 11.97).
The pool of illumination shrinks or expands (Figure 11.98).
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Figure
11.98 The pool of illumination shrinks as a result.
TIP
To dolly a target, choose Dolly Target from the Dolly Light flyout.
To dolly a light and its target together, choose Dolly Light + Target from the same flyout.
The Truck command moves a light and its target across a scene parallel to the plane of the Light viewport.
To truck a light:
-
Open a scene with a light in it (Figure 11.99).
-
Change a view to a Light view (Figure 11.100).
-
Click the Truck Light button.
-
Drag the panning hand across the Light viewport.
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The Light viewport moves across the scene (Figure 11.101).
The cone of illumination moves as well (Figure 11.102).
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Figure
11.102 Compare the result to the Light viewport.
Roll rotates a light along its line of sight. This affects the scene only if the light casts a rectangular cone or uses a projector map.
To roll a light:
-
Open a scene that is lit by a rectangular cone of illumination (Figure 11.103).
-
Change a view to a Light view (Figure 11.104).
-
Click Roll Light.
-
Drag the roll cursor across the Light viewport.
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The light rotates around its depth axis (Figure 11.105).
The pool of illumination, and any maps that are being projected, roll with the light (Figure 11.106).
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Figure
11.106 The map rolls with the projector.
Orbit Light moves a spot or directional light around its target. If the light is a free light, it uses a virtual target located at the end of the light cone.
To orbit a light:
-
Open a scene (Figure 11.107).
-
Change a viewport to a Light view (Figure 11.108).
-
Click the Orbit Light button in the Light viewport controls.
-
Drag the cursor in the Light viewport.
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The light rotates around its target (Figure 11.109).
The light orbits around the scene (Figure 11.110).
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Figure
11.110 The scene is now illuminated from above and to the right.
TIP
To align a light to a surface normal, select the light and choose Place Highlight from the Align flyout. Then click the object. The light aligns to the normal and creates a highlight on the surface. It remains at the same distance from the object as it was before. For more information on controlling highlights, see Chapter 13, "Creating Materials."
Pan rotates a target around a light. If the light is a free light, it uses a virtual target located at the end of the light cone.
To pan a light:
-
Open a scene that is lit by a spotlight or a directional light (Figure 11.111).
-
Change a view to a Light view (Figure 11.112).
-
Click the Pan Light button in the Light viewport controls, located on the Orbit Light flyout.
-
Drag the cursor across the Light viewport.
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The Light view pans across the scene (Figure 11.113).
The light sweeps across the scene (Figure 11.114).
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Figure
11.114 The light sweeps across the scene.