Analysis Output Panel (Lighting Analysis Assistant)

Command entry:Lighting Analysis menu

Lighting Analysis Assistant

Analysis Output tab

The Analysis Output panel of the Lighting Analysis Assistant helps you manage light meter objects and the image overlay render effect.

ImportantThe Lighting Analysis Assistant requires you to use the mental ray Renderer and mental ray materials with physically correct settings.

Interface

Light Meters rollout

Total Active Light Meters: Shows the number of light meters that are present and active in the scene.

If you change the Active status of a light meter, you must click Update Status to update this value.

Click to select all the light meters in the scene, whether active or not.
Create a Light Meter: Click to create a light meter.

Adjust Selected Light Meters group

Toggle Light Meters: When light meters are selected, use these buttons to toggle the meters on or off.
Display Values in Viewport: When light meters are selected, use these buttons to toggle viewport display of light meter values.

You have to calculate the light meters before values appear in viewports.

Calculation group

Calculate All Light Meters Now: Click to calculate all the active light meters in the scene.

After you click Calculate, light meter values are displayed in viewports.
Batch Export Light Meter Data to File(s): Click to export light meter values to Comma-Separated Value (CSV) files.

If CSV files for the light meters already exist, 3ds Max opens a dialog that asks whether you want to confirm overwriting them.

The path for CSV files is C:\users\<username>\my documents\3dsmax\export (for Windows 7), C:\users\<username>\documents\3dsmax\export (for Vista), or C:\documents and settings\<username>\my documents\3dsmax\export (for Windows XP).

Image Overlay rollout

Create image Overlay Render Effect: Click to create an Image Overlay render effect.

If the scene already contains an Image Overlay effect, this button is disabled. If you use the button to create one, it becomes disabled after you click Update Status.
Validate Image Overlay Settings: Lists the current Image Overlay settings.

Edit Click to open an Environment And Effects dialog so you can edit the Image Overlay settings.
Validate Image Output Settings: Lists the current output settings and exposure control status.

Edit Click to open the Render Setup dialog. Output settings are on the Common panel Common Parameters rollout.

NoteExposure control settings are on the Environment And Effects dialog Environment panel, which this button does not open.

Light Meter Helper Object
A Light Meter is a helper object that calculates and displays lighting levels in viewports. You can also export the lighting information to a text file.
Image Overlay Render Effect
An Image Overlay is a render effect that calculates and displays lighting levels when you render the scene. Values from the Image Overlay measurement are displayed as an overlay above the rendered scene. The colors depend on the pseudo color controls that appear on the Lighting analysis Assistant Lighting analysis Assistant General panel General panel Lighting analysis Assistant General panel Analysis Value Color Coding rollout