Lights illuminate
the objects in your scene and help you accurately evaluate the form
of your sculpted model. You can modify the brightness (intensity) and
color properties (diffuse color) for a light and define whether
it casts shadows. A default light exists in the 3D
View but you can create additional lights.
The three light types
are:
- Point - A
point light source emits light evenly in all directions from an infinitely
small point in space. A point light is often used to simulate an incandescent
light source.
- Directional -
A directional light source simulates a very distant point light source.
Its light rays are parallel to each other, as if emitted perpendicular to
an infinitely large plane. A directional light is often used to
simulate a light source like the sun.
- Image Based -
An image-based light source simulates lighting based on an environment
image you specify and generally provides a more even illumination
compared to other light types. You can have only one image based
light in the 3D View at a time. High Dynamic
Range Images (HDRI) are supported for this and a few sample HDR
images are provided in the following directories directory.
- (Windows) <drive>:\My Documents\Mudbox\2011\data\Textures\Lightprobes
- (Mac OS X) /Users/<username>/Library/Application
Support/Autodesk/Mudbox 2011/textures/Lightprobes
TipKeep the number of
lights in the 3D View to a minimum to improve
interactive performance.
Create a light
- Select Create > Lights and
select Point, Directional,
or Image Based from the list.
A light is created in
the 3D View and appears in the Object
List.
Edit a light’s properties
Do
any of the following:
- Select the light in the Object
List, then edit its properties in the Properties window.
- Right-click the light in the Object
List and select Properties.
Edit the properties in the Properties window.
Move or rotate a light
Do
any of the following:
- Edit the light’s transformation properties
- In the Object List window menu ensure
that the Transformation option is turned
on. In the Object List, click the light’s
name so its transformation properties appear in the Property window.
Edit its X, Y, Z Translate or Rotate properties
in the Transform section of the Properties window.
NoteEnsure you turn off
the Transformation option in the Object
List window menu when you are finished transforming an
item to return the Object List to its original
display state.
- Use the light’s transformation manipulator
- Select the light in the Object List then
turn on the Show Manipulator option in
the Properties window. Drag the
transform manipulator that appears in the 3D View to
move or rotate the light as required.
NoteA point light source
only has a move transform manipulator, while directional and image-based
lights have a rotate transform manipulator.
- Using hotkeys - Select the light in the Object
List then press L and click-drag
in the 3D View while pressing either
the left or right button on the stylus/mouse as follows:
The L +
left button hotkey lets you rotate a light (relative from its current position)
in the direction you drag. Rotating the light source is useful when
you want to backlight a model and is useful when you need to rotate an Image
Based light source.
The L +
right button hotkey lets you rotate the light so it immediately points
from the location you click in the 3D View.
This option is useful if you frequently tumble the model when sculpting
and want to quickly update the light’s direction to evaluate the
model’s surface.
Rename a light
- Right-click
the light in the Object List and select Rename
Light from the menu that appears.
- Type a new name for the light in the
window that appears and click OK.
Delete a light
- Right-click
the light in the Object List and select Delete
Light from the menu that appears.
NoteOne light source
must exist in the scene at all times. If you have only one light
in the scene (default or otherwise) it cannot be deleted.
