Create a Maya light source

When you create a light, it is automatically added to the center of a scene. A light’s default options determine how the light affects the scene and whether or not it casts shadows, but you can (and typically do) change most of these options on a per-light basis by adjusting the light’s attributes (see Adjust a light source’s attributes).

You can make a one-time change to the default options of a type of light before you add the light, or you can adjust the options to change the way all subsequent lights you create look and work.

To create a light

1. Do one of the following:
   • From the Create > Lights menu, select the type of light you want to create. The light is automatically added to your scene.
   • In the Hypershade, select Maya > Lights, then select the type of light you want to create.
   • Click the light icon on the Rendering shelf.

To set light options before you create the light

1. From the Create > Lights menu, click the next to the name of the light for which you want to set options.

   For a description of the light options, see the following for the light you want to create:

   • Create > Lights > Directional Light
   • Create > Lights > Ambient Light
   • Create > Lights > Area Light
   • Create > Lights > Point Light
   • Create > Lights > Spot Light
   • Create > Lights > Volume Light