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Spot Light Properties

A Spot light comes from a restricted, focused light with a cone-shaped beam that is brightest at its center. A Spot light can be aimed at a specific area of the model. You can modify the intensity, color, and position of the light source, and you can adjust the angle through which the beam spreads.

To modify properties of a Spot light:

  1. In the FeatureManager design tree, click to expand Lights, Cameras and Scene .

  2. Right-click Spot and select Properties.

    The Spot PropertyManager appears, and a manipulator and target appear in the graphics area.

The appearance of the manipulator varies, depending on the zoom scale of the graphics area and the position of the light.

  1. In the PropertyManager, set the following options, then click .

Basic

  • On/Off . Switches the light off or on in the model.

  • Edit Color. Displays the Color palette, so you can select colored light rather than the default white light.

  • Ambient . Controls the intensity of the light source. Move the slider or type a value between 0 and 1. A higher value results in more light. The level changes equally on all sides of the model.

  • Brightness . Controls the brightness of the light source. Move the slider or type a value between 0 and 1. A higher value results in more light on the side of the model closest to the source.

  • Specularity . Controls the extent to which shiny surfaces exhibit bright highlights where the light strikes them. Move the slider or type a value between 0 and 1. A higher value results in more dramatic highlights and a shinier appearance.

Light Position

  • Lock to model. When selected, the position of the light relative to the model is maintained. When cleared, the light remains fixed in the model space.

  • Coordinate System.

    • Spherical. Uses a spherical coordinate system to specify the position of the light source. Drag the manipulator in the graphics area or type values or move the sliders in the PropertyManager for the following:

      • Longitude

      • Latitude

      • Distance

    • Cartesian. Uses a Cartesian coordinate system to specify the position of the light source. Drag the manipulator in the graphics area or enter values in the PropertyManager for the following:

      • X coordinate

      • Y coordinate

      • Z coordinate

TIPS:

      • Move the pointer over the manipulator. When the pointer changes to , you can drag the manipulator.

      • Press Tab to flip the light source 180° about the model origin.

 

The target is the point on the model at which the spot light is aimed. Drag the target in the graphics area or enter values in the PropertyManager for the following:

      • Target X coordinate

      • Target Y coordinate

      • Target Z coordinate

As you drag the target over the model, the target snaps to various entities such as vertices and edges. The pointer changes to indicate the type of entity being snapped to. To override the snap, press Ctrl while dragging.

      • Cone angle . Specifies the angle through which the beam spreads. A small angle produces a narrow beam of light. Move the slider or enter a value in the PropertyManager.

Move the pointer over the circle that defines the base of the cone. When the pointer changes to and the circle changes color, you can drag the circle to change the cone angle.

Advanced

  • Exponent . Controls how tightly the beam of light is concentrated.

A low exponent value produces a focused, cone-shaped beam of light with sharp edges. The intensity of the light is similar at the center of the beam and at the edges.

art\lt_exp2_shg.gif

With a high exponent value, the beam is brightest at the center. The intensity decreases toward the edges of the beam, and the edges of the beam appear softer.

art\lt_exp1_shg.gif

  • Attenuation. Decreases the intensity of the light as the distance increases. The values A, B, and C are multipliers in the following equation (D is the distance):

attenuation = 1 / (A + (B * D) + (C * D2))

As the values for A, B, and C increase, the amount of light that reaches the target decreases.

      art\lt_atn2_shg.gif

      art\lt_atn1_shg.gif

      Low values

      High values

Configurations

Applies the lighting adjustments to specific configurations. Select This configuration, All configurations, or Specify configurations.

Related Topics

Basic Lighting Controls

Lighting Overview

 



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