The Cone Angle manipulator is a cone whose base you can adjust. By wiring its Angle value to a parameter of another object, you can create a custom control, with visual feedback, within a scene.
Cone angle manipulator
Cone angle manipulators are used by a spotlight's Hotspot and Falloff controls.
To create a cone angle manipulator:
The cone angle manipulator is created along the negative Z axis of the viewport in which you drag. In other words, its initial position points away from you.
To change the angle of a cone angle manipulator:
The manipulator turns red when the mouse is over it and it is available to be manipulated. Also, a tooltip appears, showing the name of the manipulator and its current value.
The Angle value changes as you drag the manipulator. This value can range between 0.0 and 180.0.
To select a cone angle manipulator:
You can also use (Select And Move), (Select And Rotate), and the scale options on a cone angle manipulator.
If you don't turn off Select And Manipulate, you adjust the manipulator's Angle value without affecting its properties.
To connect a cone angle manipulator so it controls another object:
You can also right-click the manipulator and choose Wire Parameters from the Transform (lower-right) quadrant of the quad menu.
A pop-up menu appears over the manipulator.
A pop-up menu appears over the object.
3ds Max opens the Parameter Wiring dialog.
Now when you turn on (Select And Manipulate) and use the manipulator, the object updates under the manipulator's control.
The initial angle of the manipulator.
The length of the manipulator, in 3ds Max units. Default=the distance of mouse drag when the manipulator was created.
When on, the base of the cone is square or rectangular, rather than circular. Default=off.
When Use Square is on, adjusts the aspect ratio of the rectangular cone base. Default=1.0.