This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
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.
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.
)
Figure
11.93 The Light viewport controls navigate Light viewports.
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).
The view in the viewport changes to the Light view (Figure 11.95).
)
Figure
11.94 The Select Light dialog box prompts you to choose a light.
)
Figure
11.95 The Light viewport shows how the scene looks from the standpoint of
the light.
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.
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).
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.
)
Figure
11.96 Open the Spotlight viewport.
)
Figure
11.97 The scene enlarges in the viewport after you dolly the light
closer to its target.
)
Figure
11.98 The pool of illumination shrinks.
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.
-
Click the Truck Light button.
-
Drag the panning hand across the Light viewport.
The Light viewport moves across the scene (Figure 11.100).
The cone of illumination moves as well (Figure 11.101).
)
Figure
11.99 The scene before you truck the light.
)
Figure
11.100 Use the panning hand to truck the light.
)
Figure
11.101 After moving the cone of illumination to the right.
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 11.102).
-
Change a view to a Light view.
-
Click Roll Light.
-
Drag the roll cursor across the Light viewport.
The light rotates around its depth axis (Figure 11.103).
The pool of illumination, and any maps that are being projected, roll with the light (Figure 11.104).
)
Figure
11.102 Using a rectangular cone of illumination, the light projects a Brick
map onto the scene.
)
Figure
11.103 After rolling the light about 50°.
)
Figure
11.104 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 11.105).
-
Change a viewport to a Light view.
-
Click the Orbit Light button in the Light viewport controls.
-
Drag the cursor in the Light viewport.
The light rotates around its target (Figure 11.106).
The light orbits around the scene (Figure 11.107).
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 surface normal at the point where you clicked in order to set the highlight there. It remains at the same distance from the object. For more information on controlling highlights, see Chapter 13, "Materials."
)
Figure
11.105 This scene is mainly lit from above and to the left.
)
Figure
11.106 Orbiting the light around its target.
)
Figure
11.107 The scene is now illuminated from above and to the right.
Pan Light 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 11.108).
-
Change a view to a Light view.
-
Click the Pan Light button in the Light viewport controls, located on the Orbit Light flyout.
-
Drag the cursor across the Light viewport.
The Light view pans across the scene (Figure 11.109).
The light sweeps across the scene (Figure 11.110).
)
Figure
11.108 The light initially falls on the left front corner of the scene.
)
Figure
11.109 Panning the light across the scene.
)
Figure
11.110 The light sweeps across the scene.