Rendering with mental ray and 3ds Max, 2nd Edition

3.3 Photometric lights

Photometric lights were created to simulate the physical characteristics of lights in the real world, such as intensity, attenuation, and shadow-casting capabilities. When you are creating new scenes in 3ds Max, it generally makes more sense to use photometric lights for the most control and compatibility with mental ray rendering and materials.

In this chapter you will learn to create and adjust several types of photometric lights or light objects:

•  Target lights

•  Free lights

•  Sky Portal

Tip: Sky Portal is not actually a light in itself. Its function is to focus the energy from a Daylight system through the area described by the size of the Sky Portal to more efficiently utilize the energy emitted from the sun. ...