Modify Lights dialog

Use the Modify Lights dialog to customize the light set for your selected Light Studio.

An unused Custom light set contains a copy of the current light set. By default, this comprises:

You can add up to eight lights to each light set in any permutation, but you can have only one ambient light in a light set.

To create a customized light set:

  1. Enter a new name for the Light set.
  2. Alternatively, click the Import button to import a pre-existing light set. The Import dialog is displayed.
  3. Add lights to your light set by clicking a light button.

    The lights added to the light set are displayed in the list. To remove a selected light from the list, click the Delete button.

    Create an observer light. This light points in a straight line to infinity. The light is fixed and does not move with the model when rotated. You can specify the following:

    Colour

    Direction of the light.

    Enter the coordinates for the direction of the light or click to enter the coordinates using the Direction dialog. You can also use the tracker ball on the dialog to move the light over the model.

    Create a directional light (point). This light points in a straight line to infinity. The light is relative to the model and moves with the model when you rotate it. You can specify the following:

    Colour

    Direction of the light.

    Enter the coordinates for the direction of the light or click to enter the coordinates using the Direction dialog. You can also use the tracker ball on the dialog to move the light over the model.

    Create a positional light. This radiates light in all directions and is similar to a hanging light bulb. The light is relative to the model and moves with the model when rotated. You can specify the following:

    Colour

    Position of the light.

    The position of the light is indicated by the star symbol. Drag the star to change the position of the light. Alternatively, enter the coordinates for the position of the light or click to enter the coordinates using the Position dialog.

    Create a spotlight shines the light in a specified direction from a specified position. The light is relative to the model and moves with the model when you rotate it.

    Specify the following options:

    Colour.

    Position of the spotlight.

    Direction of the light.

    Angle of the pool of light. You can use the instrumentation to change the angle of the pool of light.

    Drag this point to move the spotlight's point of origin

    Drag this point to change the angle of the pool of light

    Drag this point to move the spotlight's destination point

    Concentration of the pool of light.

    Click to toggle between rotating the direction of the light around its point of origin and rotating the light’s origin around its destination point.

    Create an ambient light provides ambient lighting. You can only have one ambient light in a light set.

    Create sky light provides lighting to simulate sky light.

    Use the drop-down list to select the light to modify or remove.

    Click to remove the selected light from the light set.

    When selected, this option makes the light cast a shadow when the model is shaded. When deselected, no shadow is cast.

    This button is inactive until a lighting method is selected.

  4. Change the following options for your selected lights:

    Colour

    Choose a colour for the selected light. Use the slider to vary the luminosity of the selected colour.

    Position

    Enter coordinates for the position of the following:

    Positional light

    Spotlight

    Alternatively, click to display the Position dialog, where you enter the coordinates for the Light point position.

    Direction

    This option is available when you are creating one of the following:

    Directional light

    Spotlight

    Observer light

    Alternatively, click to display the Direction dialog, where you enter the coordinates for the Light point direction.

    Angle

    Specify the angle of the pool of light given by a spotlight, or use the slider to set the angle. The maximum angle is 90.

    Concentration

    Specify the concentration of the pool of light given by a spotlight, or use the slider to vary the concentration.

    Low concentration gives a steady spread of colour.

    High concentration fades the colour out towards the edge of the pool of light.

    The tracker ball is used to move a selected light over the model.

    A thick line on the tracker ball indicates the light is shining away from the observer.

    A thin line on the tracker ball indicates the light is shining towards the observer. For example, the light can be positioned behind the model to shine through it towards the front.

    The tracker ball can be used with the following lights:

    Directional light.

    Observer light.

    Spotlight.

    Click this button and use the tracker ball to rotate the direction of the spotlight around its point of origin. When clicked, this toggles so you can rotate the origin of the spotlight around its destination point.

  5. Click the Export button if you want to export this light set. The Export dialog is displayed.
  6. Click OK to accept the changes and close the dialog, or Cancel to cancel unapplied changes and close the dialog.