Local Light dialog box

Displays the local light dialog so the light can be defined and positioned. The method is like defining individual lights in lighting styles. Point and Spot lights are supported as local light objects.

Access:

Ribbon: Render tab Scene panel Local Lights

Local Light

General tab

Controls the type and placement of a local light.

Type	Specifies one of the following light types to control the amount of illumination provided by the light. The default is Directional. Point Simulates light emitted in all directions from a single point in space, such as a light bulb. The target is used to create and edit point lights, and does not affect where the light falls. Spot Simulates a conical light emitted from a single point in space in a particular direction, such as a stage light.
On/Off	Light On Turns the light on in the lighting style. The default is On. Light Off Turn lights on or off. When you turn off a light, the light color face changes to black, and in the browser the light icon in the lighting style tree is disabled.
Placement	Target A click anywhere on the model sets a target point. A click in space sets the target on the view plane at the same view distance as the component. Move the mouse over a surface to display a preview of the new light target/direction. Position A click along the direction line of the light sets the position of the light. or Click anywhere on the model sets the position at the click point or in space sets the position on the view plane at the same view distance as the existing position.
Flip	Click the button to reverse the light direction. The position and target are reversed as long as the button on the right is pressed. All operations that change the target actually change the position. The default is Normal (not reversed).

Illumination tab

Determines how lights of any type emit their light.

Intensity	Specifies the amount of illumination provided by the light. The default is 0 in a range of 0 to 100.
Color	Specifies the color of the light. The default color is white.

Shadows tab

Defines the shadow casting qualities of the lighting.

Type	No Shadow. Sharp Shadows. Default. Soft Shadows. Take more time to compute, but are more realistic.
Quality	Low (256x256) resolution. Medium (512x512) resolution. Default. High (1024x1024) resolution. Available only if Soft Shadows is selected.
Density	Controls the intensity or amount of illumination from the light in the scene with a slider. In a range from 0 to 100, the default density is 0.
Light Parameters	Specifies the spherical diameter of the soft shadow effect. The diameter specified should be greater than the diameter of the part or assembly being rendered, or the area of interest being rendered.

Point tab

Sets properties for point lights. Available only when the light type on the General tab is set to Point.

Position	Specifies values for the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the position of the light. For new lights, available if an appropriate target and position are specified on the General tab. The default values are 0.0, 0.0, 0.0.
Decay	Specifies the method for diminishing light over distance from the source: None, Inverse, or Inverse Square.
Start Distance	Specifies the distance (a length value) from the light source, at which light decay begins. Disabled if the Decay value selected is None. The default value is None, and 0.0.

Spot tab

Sets properties for spot lights. Available only when the light type on the General tab is set to Spot.

Position	Specifies values for the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the position of the light. For new lights, available if an appropriate target and position are specified on the General tab. The default values are 0.0, 0.0, 0.0.
Target	Specifies values for the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the light target. For new lights, available if an appropriate target and position are specified on the General tab. The default values are 0.0, 0.0, 0.0.
Decay	Specifies a value from the list to describe how light diminishes with distance from the light: None, Inverse, or Inverse Square.
Start Distance	Specifies the distance (a length value) from the light source, at which light decay begins. Disabled if the Decay value selected is None. The default value is None, and 0.0.
Hotspot	Specifies the angle of the spot light. The default is 45 degrees in a range of 1.0 to 150.0 degrees.
Falloff	Specifies the falloff angle of the spot light. The default is 50.0 degrees in a range of 1.0 to 150.0 degrees.

Local Light folder, browser context menu commands

In the scene browser, right-click the Local Lights folder and access the following commands:

New Light	Temporarily opens the Light dialog box to create a new local light.
Enabled	When checked, the light is enabled and selectable, and it affects the scene. When not checked, the light is selectable in the browser and does not affect the scene
Visibility	Toggles the visibility of the light in the scene so there is less clutter. The effects of the lights are still visible in the scene.

Local Light object, browser context menu commands

In the Local Lights folder, you can right-click any light and access the following commands:

Copy Light	Copies selected light capturing all the parameters to make an identical new light. The light is placed in the graphics region slightly offset from the selected light. The copied light can be selected, moved, modified as with any other light. Copy Light makes duplicating lights with the same or similar parameters fast and easy,
Edit	Displays the Edit dialog box for the selected light. You can change light type, parameters, position, and so on.
Move	Activates the 3D Move/Rotate command with the selected light. The window zooms to the light extents to provide access to light handles and optimum spatial orientation for the task.
Enabled	When checked, the light is enabled, selectable, and effects the scene. When not checked, the light is selectable in the browser and does not affect the scene
Delete	Deletes selected light. The node is removed from the local light folder and from the graphics region.
Animate Light	Displays the Animate Light dialog. You define the light position and parameters for the end of the current animation action.
Visibility	Toggles the light geometry visibility in the scene. The effects of the light are still visible in the scene.