Creates a spot light, which casts a narrow beam towards a target point.
Accessing the Command
command bar: spotlight
menu bar: View | Rendering | Lights | New spot light
ribbon: View | Lights | Create | New spot light
toolbar: Lights |
: Spotlight
Prompts you in the command bar:
Specify source position <0,0,0>: (Pick a point in the drawing to position of the light, or enter an x,y,z coordinate)
Specify target position <0,0,-10>: (Specify the target point for the light)
- When LIGHTINGUNITS variable is 0 (no lighting units specified), the following prompt is displayed next:
Enter an option to change [Name/ Intensity/ Status/ Hotspot/ Falloff/ shadoW/ Attenuation/ Color/eXit] <eXit>: (Enter an option, or press Enter to exit the command)
- When LIGHTINGUNITS system variable is 1 (American lighting units) or 2 (international lighting units), the following prompt is displayed next:
Enter an option to change [Name/Intensity factor/Status/ Photometry/ Hotspot/ Falloff/ shadoW/ Attenuation/filterColor/eXit] <eXit>: (Enter an option, or press Enter to exit the command)
Command Options
Option |
Description |
Specify source position |
Specifies the location of the light in 3D space:
|
Specify target position |
Specifies the location of the target, the point at which the spotlight is focussed:
|
Name |
Specifies a name for the spotlight; prompts you: Enter light name <Spotlight1> - (enter a name or press Enter to accept the default name.) |
Intensity or Intensity factor |
Specifies the intensity of the light; prompts you: Enter intensity (0.00 - max float) <1.0> - (enter an option:)
When LightingUnits variable is 0, this option is named Intensity; when 1 or 2, Intensity factor. |
Status |
Toggles the use of this light; prompts you: Enter status [ON/OFf] <ON> - (enter an option:)
|
Hotspot
|
Enter hotspot angle (0.00-160.00) <45.0>: (Enter a value between 0.00 degrees and 160.00 degrees). Enter falloff angle (0.00-160.00) <50.0>: (Enter a value between 0.00 degrees and 160.00 degrees). If yout enter a Falloff angle that is smaller than the Hotspot angle, the latter is set equal to the Falloff angle. When a surface is illuminated by a spotlight, there is an area of maximum illumination (hotspot) that is surrounded by an area of lesser intensity (falloff).
The difference between the hotspot angle and the falloff angle defines the area of lesser light intensity. If the falloff angle and the hotspot angle are almost equal the edge of light cone is rather sharp. The greater the difference between both angles, the softer the edge of the light cone. |
Photometry |
(This option is available only when LightingUnits is 1 or 2.) Specifies the photometric properties of the light; prompts you: Enter a photometric option to change [Intensity/Color/eXit] <Intensity> - (enter an option:)
|
Hotspot |
Specifies the angle of the hotspot, the area of light concentration; the angle determines the size of the hotspot, irregardless the distance of target. Prompts you: Enter hotspot angle (0.00-160.00) <45> - (enter an angle, or press Enter to accept the default) |
Falloff |
Specifies the the angle of weaker illuminations surrounding the hotspot; out side of the falloff, there is no light. Prompts you: Enter falloff angle (0.00-160.00) <50> - (enter an angle, or press Enter to accept the default.) |
shadoW |
Specifies the look of shadows cast by this light; prompts you: Enter shadow settings [Off/Sharp/soFt mapped/soft sAmpled] <Sharp> - (enter an option:)
|
Attenuation |
Specifies how the illumination falls off with distance from the light: Enter an option to change [attenuation Type/Use limits/attenuation start Limit/attenuation End limit/eXit] <eXit> - (enter an option:)
|
Color or filterColor |
Specifies the color of the light; prompts you: Enter true color (R,G,B) or enter an option [Index color/Hsl]:<255,255,255> - (enter an option:)
When LightingUnits variable is 0, this option is named Color; when 1 or 2, filterColor. |
Exit |
Concludes the command and creates the light. |
Related Commands
Distantlight - creates a distant light.
Light - creates a new light in the drawing.
Lightlist - displays the Drawing Explorer - Lights dialog window.
Pointlight - creates a point light.
Render - calculates a photorealistic image of the 3D model.
Sunproperties - displays the Sun Properties of the Active Viewport editor in the Drawing Explorer - Lights dialog.
Weblight - creates a web light.