Spotlight Distribution (Photometric Lights)

To create a light with a spotlight distribution:

1. On the Create panel, click Lights.

2. Choose Photometric from the drop-down list. (Standard is the default.)

3. In the Object Type rollout, click Target Point or Free Point.

4. In the Intensity/Color/Distribution rollout, select Spotlight from the Distribution list.

5. If you are creating a Target Point light, drag in a viewport. The initial point of the drag is the location of the light, and the point where you release the mouse is the location of the target. If you are creating a Free Point light, click in a Viewport to position the light.

   The light is now part of the scene.

6. Set the creation parameters.

   You can use the Move transform to adjust the light.

   You can also use the Place Highlight command to change a light's position.

To adjust a target point spotlight:

1. Select the light.

2. Use Move on the Main toolbar to adjust the light.

   Because the spotlight is always aimed at its target, you can't rotate it about its local X or Y axis. However, you can select and move the target object as well as the light itself. When you move either the light or the target, the light's orientation changes so it always points at the target.

   You can use the Place Highlight command to change a light's position. Another way to adjust a spotlight is to use a Light viewport.

To select the target:

If the spotlight distribution is on a target point light, you can move the target to adjust the direction of the spotlight. The target, displayed as a small square, is often in the same area as objects that you want to illuminate. It can be difficult to select it by clicking.

1. First select the spotlight itself.

2. Right-click the light and choose Select Target from the pop-up menu. Clicking the line that connects the light and its target selects both objects.

To change a viewport to a light view:

1. Right-click the viewport label.

   The Viewport Right-Click menu is displayed.

2. Choose Views.

   The name of each light is displayed in the Views list. By default, photometric lights are named Point01, Point02, and so on.

3. Choose the name of the light you want.

   The viewport now shows the light's point of view. You can use the Light viewport controls to adjust the light.

   The default keyboard shortcut for Light viewports is $.