Page 586 - Kitab3DsMax

Part IV: Materials, Cameras, and Lighting Basics

Artificial light is typically produced with multiple lights of lower intensity. The Omni light is usually a good
choice for indoor lighting because it casts light rays in all directions from a single source. Standard white
fluorescent lights usually have a light green or light blue tint.

A standard lighting method
When lighting a scene, not relying on a single light is best. A good lighting method includes one key light
and several secondary lights.
A spotlight is good to use for the main key light. It should be positioned in front of and slightly above the
subject, and it should usually be set to cast shadows, because it will be the main shadow-casting light in the
scene.
The secondary lights fill in the lighting gaps and holes. You can position these at floor level on either side of
the subject, with the intensity set at considerably less than the key light and set to cast no shadows. You can
place one additional light behind the scene to backlight the subjects. This light should be very dim and also
cast no shadows. From the user’s perspective, all the objects in the scene will be illuminated, but the casual
user will identify only the main spotlight as the light source, because it casts shadows.
Figure 20.1 shows the position of the lights on an elk model that are included in the standard lighting
model using a key light, two secondary lights, and a backlight. This model works for most standard scenes,
but if you want to highlight a specific object, additional lights are needed.

FIGURE 20.1
A standard lighting model includes a key light, two secondary lights, and a backlight.

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