Distant, Point and Spot Light Properties

Rendering

Define the light properties: intensity, is the light on or off, color, location, direction and shadows.

Dialog Box Options

On
Switch the light on (default) or off.
Use as OpenGL light
Switch the feature on or off (default). If you use the light as OpenGL light, it is seen also in workspace in addition to the Rendering space.
Name
You can name the light. It will be easier for you to recognize the light in the light table.
Intensity
The intensity can have values 0-1. If you change the value, you can see the change of the intensity in the model at once.
Light falloff
You can select this property for a point light and a spot light. Select one of the following:
  • Constant - The intensity of the light does not decrease with distance.
  • Linear - The intensity of the light is halved when the distance is doubled.
  • Square - The intensity of the light is reduced to one quarter when the distance is doubled.
Light color
White light is the default. You can define the color in the following ways:
  • Enter the color's RGB value in the Red, Green and Blue fields.
  • Click the Palette button and click a color in the palette. You can adjust a luminous of a color with the slide switch. Accept the color selection. The selected RGB value of the light color is displayed in the dialog box.
Shadows
Select whether the light creates shadows or not. Edit the variable values of the shadows by clicking the Values button. You can change three variables: resolution, softness and quality. Select a new value from the list or enter a numeric value in the field. Following numeric values are possible:
  • Resolution can have a value between 0 and 2048. With resolution 0 the shadows are sharp.
  • Softness can have a value between 0 and 5.5.
  • Quality can have a value between 0 and 9.
The best and sharpest image is achieved by using the values Resolution=0, Softness=1 and Quality=9.
Light cone
You can select this property for a spot light. Click the Values button, and enter numeric values in the fields. The numeric values are as follows:
  • Light cone angle - Defines the angle of the light cone in degrees (angle1).
  • Light cone delta angle - Defines the half-light area in degrees (angle2).
  • Beam distribution - Defines the distribution of the light beams. With large values such as 8, the light beams are concentrated in the middle of the light cone. With small values such as 0 and below, the light beams are concentrated at the edges of the light cone.
Binding
You can bind a point light and spot light into a point in a part model. This function is not active in an assembly model. You can select auxiliary functions for specifying the connection point.
Bind a Light
Location
You can define the position of an eye light and spot light in a model. You can select auxiliary functions for specifying the position.
Light Position
Direction
Point light illuminates spherically in all directions. Its beams begin from the position point and are evenly distributed.
You can define both the position and direction for a spot light. First, click the Position button, and click a point in the model. After this, click the Location button, and click a direction point in the model. The beams are spread conically from the position point towards the direction point. You can select auxiliary functions for specifying the direction.
Light Direction
Rotation, Height
Define the position and direction of distant light by moving the Rotation and Height sliders. Rotation is the direction of the incident sunlight. It can be adjusted 0 to 360 degrees around the model.
Height is the height angle of the light (sun) (-90) 0 -90. When the Height = 0, the sun is at the horizon line. When the Height = 90, the sun is straight above.
You can set the position and direction of a distant light to zero, whereupon the light direction is relative to an angle. The incidence angle of a relative distant light no longer needs to be edited, when the viewing direction to the model is changed.
Render
The model in the working window will be visualized, when you click the button.
Advanced
The function opens the Light Edit dialog box in which you can edit the shader properties of the light.
Light Shading Properties