Analysis Output Panel (Lighting Analysis Assistant)

The Analysis Output panel of the Lighting Analysis Assistant helps you manage light meter objects and the image overlay render effect.

Attention: The Lighting Analysis Assistant requires you to use the mental ray Renderer and mental ray materials with physically correct settings.

Interface

Light Meters rollout

Total Active Light Meters
Shows the number of light meters that are present and active in the scene.

If you change the Active status of a light meter, you must click Update Status to update this value.

Click to select all the light meters in the scene, whether active or not.

Create a Light Meter
Click to create a light meter.
Adjust Selected Light Meters group
Toggle Light Meters
When light meters are selected, use these buttons to toggle the meters on or off.
Display Values in Viewport
When light meters are selected, use these buttons to toggle viewport display of light meter values.

You have to calculate the light meters before values appear in viewports.

Calculate All Light Meters Now
Click to calculate all the active light meters in the scene.

After you click Calculate, light meter values are displayed in viewports.

Batch Export Light Meter Data to File(s)
Click to export light meter values to Comma-Separated Value (CSV) files.

If CSV files for the light meters already exist, 3ds Max opens a dialog that asks whether you want to confirm overwriting them.

The path for CSV files is C:\users\<username>\my documents\3dsmax\export (for Windows 7 and Windows 8).

Image Overlay rollout

Create image Overlay Render Effect
Click to create an Image Overlay render effect.

If the scene already contains an Image Overlay effect, this button is disabled. If you use the button to create one, it becomes disabled after you click Update Status.

Validate Image Overlay Settings
Lists the current Image Overlay settings.

Edit Click to open an Environment And Effects dialog so you can edit the Image Overlay settings.

Validate Image Output Settings
Lists the current output settings and exposure control status.

Edit Click to open the Render Setup dialog. Output settings are on the Common panel Common Parameters rollout.

Note: Exposure control settings are on the Environment And Effects dialog Environment panel, which this button does not open.