Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
work in many scenarios, but at times you may need to use an alternative
hosting method.
Lighting Fixtures in a Ceiling
Face-hosted lighting fixture families are most commonly used because they
can be attached to ceilings in your model or ceilings within a linked file
in your model. You can use face-hosted fixtures to represent recessed,
surface-mounted, and pendant lights.
Cutting Holes in the Ceiling
Lighting fixture families can be made to cut the ceiling when they are
placed. If you are attaching them to a ceiling that is in a linked file, the
fixture does not cut the ceiling. This has no effect on lighting
calculations and affects only the appearance of the model. If your
architect is using your lighting model for a reflected ceiling plan, ceiling
grid lines will be visible through lighting fixtures that cross them.
The default hosting for a face-hosted family is to a vertical face. To place
lighting fixtures onto a ceiling, you need to select the Place On Face option,
located on the Placement panel of the contextual tab that appears when
placing a lighting fixture family. Lighting fixture families for
ceiling-mounted lights should have an insertion point at one corner of the
fixture. This lets you align the fixture to the ceiling grid on placement. If the
family you are using does not have an insertion point at a corner, place the
fixture on the ceiling and use the Move or Align tool to line it up with the
grid.
UsingtheAligntoolisgreatforliningupyourfixtureswithceilinggridlines,
but it is important that you do not lock the alignment. Face-hosted families
do not move with the grid lines when changes are made to the ceiling.
Locking the alignment causes constraint errors when the link is updated
after the grid has moved. Either way, the lighting fixture stays attached to
the ceiling if its elevation changes.
Once you have placed lighting fixtures onto a ceiling, you can copy them
where needed. It is important to copy only the fixtures within the ceiling by
which they are hosted. If you attempt to copy a face-hosted fixture from one
