Chapter 7. Light and Shadow

Up until now, you've been concentrating on methods of constructing models and scenes in 3ds Max. In this chapter, you'll learn some of the ways you can control the appearance of the objects you build by manipulating light and shadow.

After your model is built, three main elements affect the look of your models: materials, cameras, and lighting. This chapter will introduce you to the influence of lighting.

Lighting is one of the more interesting subjects in 3ds Max. You can use lighting to create effects, emphasize parts of your model, or simply set up a daytime scene. Through lighting, you can control shadows, manipulate reflective color, calculate the bending of light passing through a transparent material, and simulate ...

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