Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4-3:
Spot Lights with no Soft Edge (top) and with Soft Edge set to 5ยบ (bottom). Note that the shad-
ows are unchanged because the radius has not been changed.
Area Light
The
Area Light
offers a great degree of realism but is also one of the more expensive types of lights to
render. By default, the Area Light (as the name suggests) casts light not from a single point in space but
from a defined area. By adding dimensionality to the projection area of the light, the Area Light produces
even lighting and soft shadows more easily than other light types. Area Lights can be either rectangular or
elliptical in shape. Width and height of these lights can be set with the corresponding fields or by dragging
on the handles on the light in 3D space (see
Figure 4-4
).
