Add Light

Default Shortcut: None

Menu Path: Display > Add Light

Description

The Add Light command will create a custom light at the center of the work grid, based on parameters that you specify in the options window. The light will affect the scene when Use Custom Lighting is enabled (see Use Scene Lights).

Options

Type

Lights can be one of three types. Point lights are a single point in space which emits light in all directions. Directional lights are like the sun in that they emit parallel light in one direction only, no matter where they are placed in the scene (it's as if they're infinitely far away and have no falloff). Spot lights are like directional lights except that their light is restricted to a certain area by a cone, much like a spotlight in a theater.

Diffuse Color

This button sets the diffuse color component of the selected light.

Ambient Color

This button sets the ambient color component of the selected light.

Specular Color

This button sets the specular color component of the selected light.

Constant Falloff

This setting affects the intensity of the light. Higher numbers make the light more dim.

Linear Falloff

This setting affects the intensity of the light as objects get further away from it. This falloff has a linear effect, i.e. an object twice as far away will receive half as much light. Higher numbers make the light more dim.

Quadratic Falloff

Same as linear falloff, except the effect is amplified so that moving twice the distance away from the light will cause the object to receive several times less light, depending on the number entered.

Spot Cutoff

This setting adjusts how wide the angle of a spotlight will be.

Spot Exponent

This setting adjusts how the light of a spot light fades as it gets further from the center of where the spot light is aiming. Higher numbers make the light fade quicker as it goes from the center to the edges. Play around with it to find a good value for the effect you're trying to achieve.

Lock Lights to Camera

Shortcut to Lock Scene Lighting to Camera command.

Use Custom Lights

Shortcut to Use Scene Lights command.

Show Lights

Shortcut to Show Lights command.

Notes

• Once a light is created, you can edit its type and settings using the Light Options or Object Properties dialog.
• You can enter vertex selection mode while a light is selected to change its direction for directional and spot lights.
• See Lock Scene Lighting to Camera, Use Scene Lights, and Show Lights.