In 3ds Max 2009 and higher, all Photometric Lights share the same set of properties. Every Photometric Light type can be freely switched to any other type. See the .type property in the LightProperties interface.

See Photometric Light Classes for details.

Properties:

General Parameters Rollout

Light Properties

<Photometric_Light>.on Boolean default: true -- boolean           

Toggle light emission on and off.

<Photometric_Light>.targetDistance Float default: 240.0 -- animatable; float; Target_Distance         

Get/set the distance to the light's target.

Shadows

<Photometric_Light>.castShadows BooleanClass default: true -- boolean; Cast_Shadows      

Toggle shadow casting on and off.

<Photometric_Light>.useGlobalShadowSettings BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Use_Global_Params   

When set to true, the shadow generator will use the global shadow settings. When set to false, the local settings will be used.

<Photometric_Light>.shadowGenerator shadowMap default: shadowMap:shadowMap -- value; SubAnim 

Get/Set the Shadow Generator as class instance.

Exposed by the LightProperties interface.

<Photometric_Light>.shadowGeneratorByName String default: "Shadow Map" -- value 

Get/Set the Shadow Generator by name.

Exposed by the LightProperties interface.

<Photometric_Light>.raytracedShadows BooleanClass default: false -- value 

Get/Set use of raytraced shadows. Exposed by the LightProperties interface.

This property should not be used in 3ds Max 5 and higher. Please use the .shadowGenerator property to assign a shadow generator.

The property is exposed for backwards compatibility only. In versions prior to 3ds Max 5, the only possible shadow generator types were Shadow Maps and Raytraced Shadows. Setting this property will switch the shadow generator internally. Currently, the number of possible shadow generators is much higher (including 3rd party plug-ins), so this property is obsolete.

<Photometric_Light>.maxDepth     Integer    default: 7   --  animatable; integer; Max_Quadtree_Depth

The maximum quadtree depth setting for ray traced shadows.

<Photometric_Light>.raytraceBias     Float    default: 0.2   --  animatable; float; Bias

The Ray Bias amount for ray traced shadows.

<Photometric_Light>.twoSidedShadows     BooleanClass    default: false   --  boolean

Get/set the 2 Sided Shadows setting for ray traced shadows.

Include/Exclude Lists

<Photometric_Light>.excludeList Array default: #() -- value 

Get/Set the exclusion list as an array on objects. When setting the value, the Include/Exclude option will be set to Exclude.

Exposed by the LightProperties interface .

<Photometric_Light>.includeList UndefinedClass default: undefined -- value; !error setting value! 

Get/Set an array of objects to be included in the illumination by the light. When setting the value, the Include/Exclude option will be set to Include.

Exposed by the LightProperties interface.

Light Distribution (Type)

<Photometric_Light>.distribution Integer default: 0 -- value 

Get/Set the distribution type.

Possible values are:

0 - Uniform Spherical

1 - Spotlight (not valid for Sphere and Cylinder types)

2 - Uniform Hemispherical (not valid for Sphere and Cylinder types)

3 - Photometric Web File (not valid for Sphere and Cylinder types)

Exposed by the LightProperties interface .

Intensity/Color/Attenuation Rollout

Color

<Photometric_Light>.color Color default:(color 265.933 250.885 263.562)-- color by value 

The RGB Color of the light. Alias for .rgb and .Light_Color.

Exposed by the LightProperties interface .

<Photometric_Light>.useKelvin BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Use_Kelvin 

Get/set the state of the Kelvin/Color radio button. When set to true , the color temperature in Kelvin will be used. When false , the RGB Color will be used instead.

<Photometric_Light>.kelvin Float default: 3600.0 -- animatable; float 

Get/set the color temperature in Kelvin.

<Photometric_Light>.rgbFilter Color default: (color 255 255 255) -- animatable; RGB color; Filter_Color; Controller Scaling: ([1,1,1] : (color 255 255 255)) ) 

Get/set the Filter Color.

Intensity

<Photometric_Light>.intensityType Integer default: 1 -- integer; Intensity_Type 

Get/set the Intensity type.

Possible values are:

0 - lm

1 - cd

2 - lx at

<Photometric_Light>.intensityFloat default: 1500.0 -- animatable; float 

Get/set the Intensity value.

<Photometric_Light>.intensityAt Float default: 39.3701 -- float; Intensity_At 

Get/Set the Distance at which the intensity is measured when intensityType is set to 2 - lx at.

<Photometric_Light>.flux Float default: 0.0 -- float 

Set the Light Intensity in lm.

<Photometric_Light>.originalFlux Float default: 0.0 -- float 

<Photometric_Light>.originalIntensity Float default: 0.0 -- float; Shape_Area_Shadows 

Dimming

<Photometric_Light>.useMultiplier BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Use_Dimmer 

Get/set the state of the Dimming checkbox.

<Photometric_Light>.Multiplier Float default: 100.0 -- animatable; float 

Get/set the Dimming multiplier value in percent.

<Photometric_Light>.shiftColorWhenDimming BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Shift_Color_When_Dimming 

Get/set the state of the "Incandescent lamp color shift when dimming" checkbox.

Far Attenuation

<Photometric_Light>.useFarAttenuation BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Use_Far_Attenuation 

Get/set the state of the Use Far Attenuation checkbox.

<Photometric_Light>.displayFarAttenuationGizmo BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Display_Far_Attenuation_Gizmo 

Get/set the state of the Show Far Attenuation checkbox.

<Photometric_Light>.startFarAttenuation Float default: 80.0 -- animatable; worldUnits; Start_Far_Attenuation 

Get/set the Start Far Attenuation value.

<Photometric_Light>.endFarAttenuation Float default: 200.0 -- animatable; worldUnits;Vertical_Circle_Facing_Photometric_Horizontal 

Get/set the End Far Attenuation value.

Shape / Area Shadows Rollout

<Photometric_Light>.type Name default: #Free_Point -- value 

Get/Set the Type of the Photometric Light.

Possible values are:

#Free_Point

#Free_Line

#Free_Rectangle

#Free_Disc

#Free_Sphere

#Free_Cylinder

#Target_Point

#Target_Line

#Target_Rectangle

#Target_Disc

#Target_Sphere

#Target_Cylinder

Exposed by LightProperties interface .

<Photometric_Light>.light_length Float default:122.0 -- animatable; worldUnits 

Get/set the length of the Area light where applicable.

<Photometric_Light>.light_width Float default:61.0 -- animatable; worldUnits 

Get/set the width of the Area light where applicable.

<Photometric_Area>.light_radius Float default: 13.0 -- animatable; worldUnits 

Get/set the radius of the Area light where applicable.

<Photometric_Light>.length Float default:122.0 --float 

Get/set the length of the Area light.

<Photometric_Light>.width Float default: 61.0 -- float 

Get/set the width of the Area light.

Distribution (Spotlight) Rollout

<Photometric_Light>.showCone BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Cone_Display 

Get/set the state of the "Cone visible in viewport when unselected" checkbox.

<Photometric_Light>.hotSpot Float default: 30.0 -- animatable; float; Beam_Angle 

Get/set the Hotspot/Beam angle. Used only when .distribution is set to 1 - Spotlight.

<Photometric_Light>.falloff Float default: 60.0 -- animatable; float; Field_Angle 

Get/set the Hotspot/Beam angle. Used only when .distribution is set to 1 - Spotlight.

Distribution (Photometric File) Rollout

<Photometric_Light>.webFile String default: "" -- filename; Web_Filename 

The Web file used when .distribution is set to 0 - Web.

<Photometric_Light>.xRotation Float default: 0.0 -- float; X_Rotation 

The Photometric Web X rotation value. Used only when .distribution is set to 0 - Web.

<Photometric_Light>.yRotation Float default: 0.0 -- float; Y_Rotation 

The Photometric Web Y rotation value. Used only when .distribution is set to 0 - Web.

<Photometric_Light>.zRotation Float default: 0.0 -- float; Z_Rotation 

The Photometric Web Z rotation value. Used only when .distribution is set to 0 - Web.

Shadow Parameters Rollout

Object Shadows

<Photometric_Light>.shadowColor Color default: (color 0 0 0) -- animatable; RGB color; Shadow_Color; Controller Scaling: ([1,1,1] : (color 255 255 255)) 

Get/set the shadow color value.

<Photometric_Light>.shadowMultiplier Float default: 1.0 -- animatable; float; Shadow_Density

Get/set the Shadow Density value.

<Photometric_Light>.shadowColorMapEnable BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Use_Shadow_Color_Map 

Get/set the state of the Shadow Map enable checkbox.

<Photometric_Light>.shadowProjectorMap UndefinedClass default: undefined -- texturemap; Shadow_Projector_Map 

Get/set the Shadow Projector Map.

<Photometric_Light>.lightAffectsShadow BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Light_Affects_Shadow 

Get/set the state of the "Light Affects Shadow Color" checkbox.

Atmospheric Shadows

<Photometric_Light>.atmosShadows BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Atmospheric_Shadows_On 

Toggle atmosphere shadows on/off.

<Photometric_Light>.atmosColorAmt Float default: 100.0 -- animatable; float; Atmospheric_Color_Amount 

Get/Set the atmosphere shadows color value.

<Photometric_Light>.atmosOpacity Float default: 100.0 -- animatable; float; Atmospheric_Opacity 

Get/Set the atmosphere shadows opacity value.

Advanced Effects Rollout

<Photometric_Light>.contrast Float default: 0.0 -- animatable; float; Light_Contrast 

Get/Set the Light Contrast value.

<Photometric_Light>.softenDiffuseEdge Float default: 0.0 -- animatable; float; Diffuse_Soften 

Get/Set the Soften Diff. Edge value.

<Photometric_Light>.affectDiffuse BooleanClass default: true -- boolean; Affect_Diffuse 

When true , the light affects the diffuse color.

<Photometric_Light>.affectSpecular BooleanClass default: true -- boolean; Affect_Diffuse 

When true , the light affects the specular color.

<Photometric_Light>.ambientOnly BooleanClass default: false -- boolean; Ambient_Only 

When set to true, the light affects the Ambient color only. 

<Photometric_Light>.projector BooleanClass default: false -- boolean 

Toggle the projector map on/off.

<Photometric_Light>.projectorMap UndefinedClass default: undefined -- texturemap; Projector_Map 

Get/Set the projector map.

The following interface is exposed by all Photometric Lights:

Interface:LightProperties 

Properties:

.type: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set the Type of the Photometric Light.

Possible values are:

#Free_Point

#Free_Line

#Free_Rectangle

#Free_Disc

#Free_Sphere

#Free_Cylinder

#Target_Point

#Target_Line

#Target_Rectangle

#Target_Disc

#Target_Sphere

#Target_Cylinder

.distribution: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set the distribution type.

Possible values are:

0 - Uniform Spherical

1 - Spotlight (not valid for Sphere and Cylinder types)

2 - Uniform Hemispherical (not valid for Sphere and Cylinder types)

3 - Photometric Web File (not valid for Sphere and Cylinder types)

.excludeList: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set the exclusion list as an array on objects. When setting the value, the Include/Exclude option will be set to Exclude.

.includeList: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set an array of objects to be included in the illumination by the light. When setting the value, the Include/Exclude option will be set to Include.

.shadowGenerator: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set the Shadow Generator as class instance.

.shadowGeneratorByName: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set the Shadow Generator by name.

.raytracedShadows: value : Read|Write 

Get/Set use of raytraced shadows.

This property should not be used in 3ds Max 5 and higher. Please use the .shadowGenerator property to assign a shadow generator.

The property is exposed for backwards compatibility only. In versions prior to 3ds Max 5, the only possible shadow generator types were Shadow Maps and Raytraced Shadows. Setting this property will switch the shadow generator internally. Currently, the number of possible shadow generators is much higher (including 3rd party plug-ins), so this property is obsolete.

.color: color by value : Read|Write 

Get/Set the color.

.enabled: boolean : Read|Write 

Get/Set the enabled state.