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Create and edit lights

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>:\Program Files\Autodesk\Mudbox2009\textures\Lightprobes
- (Mac OS X) /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/Mudbox 2009/textures/Lightprobes

TipKeep the number of lights in the 3D View to a minimum to improve interactive performance.

Create a light

1. 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.

   NoteThe total number of lights in a scene cannot exceed eight. For a description of the different light types, see Point light properties, Directional light properties, and Image-based light properties.

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

1. Right-click the light in the Object List and select Rename Light from the menu that appears.
2. Type a new name for the light in the window that appears and click OK.

Delete a light

1. 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.

Related topics

Point light properties

Directional light properties

Image-based light properties

Display shadows on a model

Display a model without lights and shading