Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Summary
This chapter explored lighting in Maya, beginning with basic concepts that included the
three-point lighting technique. You then learned about the different lights in Maya, how
they work, and how you can use light linking to control your scene better. Shadows are
an important part of lighting and were covered next in this chapter, followed by a quick
exploration of the Physical Sun and Sky system with mental ray and then lighting effects
such as lens flare and light glows. You then created a simple lighting for the decorative
box for a still rendering. Finally, you learned how to begin animating lights for use in
your scenes.
Lighting is truly the linchpin of CG. It can make or break a scene with the flick of a
switch. As you'll see in the next chapter, lighting goes hand in hand with rendering and
shading, and the more you understand about all three functions, the better your scenes
will look.
As mentioned, the trick to lighting is understanding how light works in the real world
and how to approximate its effects in Maya. That comes with practice, so don't be afraid
to experiment with lighting and shading schemes on all your projects.
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