About Creating a Light Source

In the Light Sources panel, the Light Sources area lets you create and manage different types of lights.

Icon	Command	Description
	Create Light	Lets you create a new light.
	Spot Light	Creates a more realistic conical light.
	Point Light	Creates a light situated at a given point and emits light isotropically with a more realistic aspect.
	Directional Light	Creates a light coming from a given direction. It generates constant intensity parallel lighting with a more realistic aspect.
	Photometric Light	Creates a conical light with a more realistic aspect. The light intensity is measured according to the light direction and it is stored by the manufacturer in an IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) or EULUMDAT file. To do so, use the Search box to search for a photometric file.
	Rectangle Area Light	Creates an area light with a rectangular shape. This light type simulates a rectangular spot light.
	Disk Area Light	Create an area light that tunes the lighting of each object individually. This light type simulates a spot light.
	Sphere Area Light	Create a spherical area light. This light type simulates a light bulb in a softer and more realistic way than the point light does.
	Cylinder Area Light	Create a cylindrical area light. This light type simulates a neon light.
	Duplicate Light	Duplicates the current light.
	Show Representation	Hides or shows the light symbol in the 3D area. Note that this does not deactivate the light.
	Delete	Deletes the selected light.
N/A	Active	Select or clear the check box to activate or deactivate the light.

You can create physical and nonphysical lights.

Light sources created in Rendering Scene Design are supported in:

• Reviews created using Design Synthesis. For more information, see Design Synthesis: Managing Reviews.
• Presentations created using Design Synthesis. For more information, see Design Synthesis: Managing Slides.

The following nonphysical lights are available:

Icon	Command	Description	Use
	Create Spot Light	Creates a light with a conical shape and emits the light isotropically inside a cone of influence. This cone is determined by the privileged direction of illumination (forming the axis of revolution) and the angle that the edge of the cone forms with this axis.	Simulates a spot light to tune the lighting of each object individually.
	Create Point Light	Creates a light situated at a given point and emits light isotropically.	Simulates a light bulb.
	Create Directional Light	Creates a light that comes from a given direction. It generates constant intensity parallel lighting.	Simulates a global lighting (the sun light, for example).
	Create Rectangle Area Light	Creates an area light with a rectangular shape.	Simulates a rectangular spot light.
	Create Disk Area Light	Create an area light that tunes the lighting of each object individually.	Simulates a spot light.
	Create Sphere Area Light	Create a spherical area light.	Simulates a light bulb in a softer and more realistic way than the point light does.
	Create Cylinder Area Light	Create a cylindrical area light.	Simulates a neon light.

In addition to the Light Sources panel, the following physical lights are available from the action bar.

Icon	Command	Description
	Create Physical Spot Light	Creates a more realistic conical light.
	Create Physical Point Light	Creates a light situated at a given point and emits light isotropically with a more realistic aspect.
	Create Physical Sun Light	Creates a light coming from a given direction. It generates constant intensity parallel lighting with a more realistic aspect.
	Create Photometric Light	Creates a conical light with a more realistic aspect.

Light symbols help you define the position of a created light.

When you click in the 3D area, you can see the following light symbols:

Spot	Point	Directional	Rectangle Area	Disk Area	Sphere Area	Cylinder Area	Photometric	Physical Sun

The direction vector represents the privileged direction of illumination of the source for spot and directional lights. It is visualized by an arrow whose origin is the anchoring point of the source.

The anchoring point is the position of the light. It is represented by a small star. When the source is characterized by a direction, the anchoring point coincides with the origin of the arrow. In the case of a spot or punctual light, the anchoring point physically localizes the source. In the case of a directional light, you can use it to define the illumination direction.

When you create a light, it is displayed in the 3D area with a source and target point, and handles that help you manipulate the light.

After creating a light, it is displayed in the 3D area:

• The source point rotates the spot around its target point.
• The target point rotates the spot around its source point.
• The upper green handle translates and rotates the spot around its target point.
• The lower green handle translates and rotates the spot around its source point. It also lets you modify the attenuation end.
• The green arrows let you modify the angle and the attenuation.

In the Light Sources panel, the Position area lets you define some position parameters for the lights in your scene.

Option	Description
Position	Defines the light position along the X, Y, and Z axes.
Target	Defines the point to which the source is directed.
Direction	Defines the position of the direction vector along the X, Y, and Z directions.
	Displays the light viewpoint.
	Adjusts the light when the viewpoint is modified.
	Attaches the light to the model or to the viewpoint. When you move the viewpoint, you move the light along the model.
	Positions the light along a perpendicular to the point you click the object in the work area. To position the light, left-click + move the pointer.
	Tunes the specular effect and analyzes surfaces. To position the light, left-click + move the pointer.
	Positions the light direction and manipulates the light along predefined circles that are centered on the light target. To move the light position step-by-step, press Ctrl + drag the pointer.

The Artistic Parameter area lets you activate realtime shadows.

Option	Description
Realtime Shadow	Lets you activate or deactivate real-time shadows of lights.

This context menu provides several options to view and position the selected light.

To display this context menu, right-click the light in the tree or in the 3D area.

The following options are available:

Icon	Command	Description
N/A	Light object > Hide/Show Representation	Hides or shows the light symbol in the 3D area. This does not deactivate the light.
	Light View	Displays the light viewpoint.
	Update from View	Adjusts the light when the viewpoint is modified.
	Attach/Detach to View	Attaches the light to the model or to the viewpoint. When you move the viewpoint, you move the light along the model.
	Position along Normal	Positions the light along a perpendicular to the point you click the object in the work area. To position the light, left-click + move the pointer.
	Position Specular	Tunes the specular effect and analyzes surfaces. To position the light, left-click + move the pointer.
	Position Direction	Positions the light direction and manipulates the light along predefined circles that are centered on the light target. To move the light position step-by-step, press Ctrl + drag the pointer.