Maya: Basic Lighting Knowledge Check

A lamp, streetlight and overhead lighting are examples of ______ light.

• Point

• Directional

• Spot

• Area

What type of light is this picture displaying?

• Directional

• Area

• Spot

• Point

Brightens all parts of the scene uniformly

• Point Light

• Area Light

• Volume Light

• Ambient Light

Even illumination of a scene using parallel rays of light

useful for extremely far away sources

ex. sunlight

• Directional Light

• Volume Light

• Area Light

• Spot Light

A flashlight and a light house are examples of which type of light?

(creating a cone of light in one direction, useful for beams of light)

• Directional

• Ambient

• Spot

• Volume

What is a real life example of Area light?

(longer render time and is great for 2D rectangular light sources)

• Windows & Ceiling Lights

• Light Bulbs and Lamps

• Light Houses and Flashlights

• The Sun

The INTENSITY of light is referring to....

• width of the lights cone of influence - area outside cone not illuminated

• how much light emitted from the light source

• how much light diminishes away from the source

• how much the light diminishes at the outer edges

The DECAY of light is referring to....

• width of the lights cone of influence - area outside cone not illuminated

• how much light emitted from the light source

• how much light diminishes away from the source (fall off)

• how much the light diminishes at the outer edges

What geometric shape do you manipulate to control lighting in Maya?

What are some good ways to use light and look for influence while animating light in a scene?

Answer explanation

- Look to photographers for good techniques

- Think in terms of balance.

- Avoid the overly dramatic.

- Look at natural lighting.

- Avoid saturated lights and hues

- Normally only need a few lights.

- Avoid disco colors and effects.