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Tips on setting spots in a VERY big scene
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Tips on setting spots in a VERY big scene // Tech Forum
Post by RichLevy // Oct 6, 2008, 9:21am
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RichLevy
Total Posts: 1140
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I am working on a big enviroment, I am starting to setup some lights, the problem is they are VERY tiny, it is very hit or miss trying to grab them, zooming in that far is a pain because than I have to zoom back out... Any tips that might make this easier?
Thanks
Rich |
Post by Finis // Oct 6, 2008, 9:59am
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Finis
Total Posts: 386
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In TS 6 and before I use the Key Frame Editor to select small objects or ones that are off screen. You can get to edit from the right click menu on the KFE item. For TS 7.6 I don't know. Is there some thing similar to KFE?
How about having another view that is fixed on the light? Then you can adjust it from there and see the results in your main view with no zooming. |
Post by spacekdet // Oct 6, 2008, 10:01am
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spacekdet
Total Posts: 1360
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Try the 'Scene View' window (it's in the small toolbar along with the Library Browser) , look under 'Project->Space 3D->and you'll find all your objects/spotlights listed there. It may help to rename them to something more memorable than 'Spotlight,1', 'Spotlight,2', etc.
Otherwise, dive into the spaghetti bowl, uh, I mean the LE.
I sure do miss the simplicity of a DROP DOWN LIST in the Object Info box, but maybe that's just me. |
Post by RichLevy // Oct 6, 2008, 10:27am
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RichLevy
Total Posts: 1140
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Thanks guys, sorry I did not mention I am on the WS side Finis.
Thanks SpaceJdet, your tips will do fine... also I can set another 3D window to allow to get into the light and make adjustments, that I had not thought of... I use the Default Perspective so much I don't often think of the other views.
Thanks
Rich |
Post by trueBlue // Oct 6, 2008, 11:14am
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trueBlue
Total Posts: 1761
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You can also use the Arrow Keys to select your objects. |
Post by RichLevy // Oct 6, 2008, 11:48am
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RichLevy
Total Posts: 1140
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Mostly I was needing to adjust the spots (make the light bigger and rotate the spot) They tend to be very small to grab with the mouse pointer, I set up another 3D window and I can use that when I get something like this to work with.
Thanks
Rich |
Post by Nez // Oct 6, 2008, 10:25pm
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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I've no idea whether this approach would work as I've not yet used Workspace, but could you 'attach' a larger non-rendering object to each light as a 'handle' to make it easier to grab and manipulate - sort of like you have all those little handles in rigging animation?
I believe there also use to be a plug-in for the model side that allowed you to zoom in on part of the screen, but then to zoom back out to your previous view (don't recall what it was as I've not used it) but sounds like something similar on Workspace side could be handy... |
Post by transient // Oct 6, 2008, 10:32pm
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transient
Total Posts: 977
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Eyezoom and FindCamera can both save and reload views. Light Manager is a plug-in that is great for managing large numbers of lights. |
Post by W!ZARD // Oct 6, 2008, 10:51pm
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Nez's solution is what I usually do. 'Encapsulate In 3d' or glue your spotlight to a cube, in the cubes Render Attributes you can set it to invisible. Rename your Encapsulated object to something useful.
Now you can easily select it in the LE or Scene View. This can be very handy for positioning and aiming your spots as the Encapsulated object will have an Object Nav Widget.
The Downside is you have an extra level to go through in the LE if you want to edit the spots parameters numerically. Not a big issue though, just one more mouseclick
HTH |
Post by scapino // Oct 7, 2008, 5:51am
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scapino
Total Posts: 101
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I usually just scale the light object. This doesnt seem to effect the falloff, or spot size, which can be adjusted sepperatly in any case.
Kurt |
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