Setting Spotlight rendering options

The Set Spotlight Rendering Options command globally controls the lighting and rendering options for the model. The settings apply to all light sources in all new and existing lighting devices and all layers in the file.

Many of the parameters in the Set Spotlight Rendering Options dialog box are also available from the Set Lighting Options command and the Set Renderworks Background command. However, these commands apply to the active layer only. Their layer-specific settings are overridden by the Set Spotlight Rendering Options command, to create a unified result when rendering.

Viewport settings are not modified by this command. It is recommended that you apply Renderworks styles to viewports; see Renderworks styles. The viewports will use the specified Renderworks background and lighting options from the active layer.

Set the parameters for the desired rendering effects; the dialog box defaults to the most commonly used settings for Spotlight rendering. For best results, it is recommended that you render the scene using the default Renderworks styles created for Spotlight: Preview Spotlight or Realistic Spotlight.

Parameter	Description
Lighting Device Options	Sets the lighting options for all new and existing lighting devices in the drawing
Cast shadows	Creates shadows
Soft shadows	Creates more realistic shadows by decreasing hard edges; shadows appear softer the farther they travel. Gobos are not rendered. Rendering is slower with this option enabled.
Lit fog	Creates volumetric lighting effects, such as a shaft of light in fog, haze, or smoke. A point light or spot light must be inserted in the drawing, and Lit Fog must be selected on the Object Info palette for the light source object. Lit fog can be used with a Renderworks background for special effects; see Creating Renderworks backgrounds.
Distance Falloff	Select the distance falloff function (rate of intensity change while moving along the beam away from the light source) for a point, spot, custom, area, or line light
Reset Renderworks background for all layers	Uses the specified Background as the Renderworks background for all layers currently in the drawing. If deselected, the setting applies only to the active layer.
Background	Select the Renderworks background to apply
Reset lighting options for all layers	Applies the settings for Indirect Lighting, Ambient Light, and Emitter Options to all layers currently in the drawing. If deselected, the settings apply only to the active layer.
Indirect lighting	Indirect lighting models the transfer of light energy among drawing objects, as the light bounces around and affects the surroundings. The more bounces specified, the more realistic the rendering, but also the more time required to render. Select the level of indirect lighting to use for rendering: ● None: Direct lighting only, for quick rendering. ● Immediate Preview, Slow Resolve, 2 Bounces: If Fullscreen Preview is selected for Custom Renderworks Options or Renderworks Styles, provides an immediate full-screen preview at a very low resolution that is slow to resolve to final resolution; this is useful when working interactively on a design layer, but is not appropriate for producing final renderings. ● Exterior, 3 Bounces: Three bounces of lighting is often enough to enhance exterior views. ● Normal, 4 Bounces: Four bounces of indirect lighting is appropriate for exterior scenes and well-lit interiors. ● Interior, 16 Bounces: Sixteen bounces of indirect lighting is suited for darkened or partially-lit interior scenes, or very detailed and complete indirect lighting. Individual textures can override the indirect lighting settings to enhance a scene while reducing the rendering time required.
Ambient Light	Controls the ambient light options
On/Off	Turns the ambient light settings on or off
Color	Sets a default color for the ambient light; click the color box to select a color
Brightness (%)	Sets the ambient light brightness; drag the slider or enter a percentage value
Emitter Options	Controls the emitter options
Emitter Brightness (%)	Adjusts the brightness of all light objects with Use Emitter selected. A recommended alternative method of adjusting all lights is to keep this setting at 100% and adjust the image exposure using the Renderworks Camera tool options instead.
White Color Temperature	Sets the white balance for any light sources with a color temperature. Select a color temperature that will appear white when rendered. Temperatures that are lower than the selected value will have an orange cast, while higher temperatures will have a blue tint. Select Custom to specify a temperature.
Custom (K)	If a Custom White Color Temperature is selected, enter the temperature in Kelvin
Notes	Provides tips and reminders for best results when rendering

Command	Path
Set Spotlight Rendering Options	Spotlight > Visualization