Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
source to the object or the scene can make it more
professional and create a better 3D experience.
The light can be either imported with the 3D object
or created from scratch in Photoshop. When you
create a light in Photoshop, you have four diferent
choices of light sources to use, based on your needs
and the nature of the project: point light, spot light,
image-based light, and ininite light (see Figure 2.5).
Light types and intensity varies from one object to
another, and even in the same object, based on the
3D scene or the efect applied to the object. This is
why Photoshop and other 3D programs allow you
to use multiple light types for the object to be able
to add diferent light efects to an object's sides.
However, it is a good practice to learn the best type
of light to use with the object to create the required
efect and expression.
Point Light
The point light works similar to a lightbulb; it shines
on the whole object, based on its location around
the object. The point light afects all of the object's
sides. When you use a point light, consider that this
type of light lights the whole object softly, but the
light intensity increases in the areas the face the
light more than other areas.
Spot Light
The spot light provides a light to the object on a
certain area; it is similar to a lashlight, as it focuses on certain areas in the
object. This type of light gives you more of a sharp light efect on objects.
Figure 2.5
The diferent types of
light in Photoshop. In the image, the
lights are (from top): ininite, spot,
point, and image-based light.
Image-based Light
This new light source in Photoshop CS5 allows you to create light based
on an image source, and the light intensity is calculated based on the
loaded image.
Ininite Light
When you create a 3D object, you may need to have to add a global light
that does not have a spot light or a focus on a speciic area of the object. The
ininite light is like sunlight that does not focus on a speciic area of the
object, like the other light types. The object's sides that are directed to
the light will still be brighter than the other sides, but it is similar to
sunlight when it faces an object.
