The following light source options allow you to create your own light sources rather than using already-defined presets:
Active
Toggle on if you want the light source to cast light in the scene.
Visible
Toggle on if you want to see a glyph representing the light source in the scene.
Glyph Size
Sets the size of the glyph if the light source is visible.
Type
Set the light source type. The light source types are:
Directional
This light source is defined by a direction and does not attenuate with distance. You will still have the option to specify a Ray end location for the light, but this is used only for the purpose of specifying a direction - it has no effect on the lighting model. Directional lights often simulate the effect of sunlight, a light source that is effectively infinitely away from the scene.
Spot
This light source is defined as a location, direction, and an angle for the spot. The light attenuates such that the farther away the light is from the geometry, the less effect the light will have (distance squared attenuation).
Point
This light type emits from the light’s location in all directions. Light attenuates based on distance from the light source to the geometry (same attenuation as a spot light). You still define a light direction and ray end location, but these are used only for the purpose of defining the light attenuation distance.
Quad
This light type has light emitting from a quadrilateral area into the half space it faces. The light is defined as a location, direction, and X and Y sizes of the quad in the local model space. The light attenuates such that the farther away the light is from the geometry, the less effect the light will have (distance squared attenuation).
Intensity
Specifies the intensity of the light as a value between 0 to 1.
Color
Selecting the color swatch next to the Intensity slider will bring up a color chooser, allowing you to set the color of the light.
Casts shadows for raytracing
Toggle on if you wish this light source to cast shadows in ray traced image generation.
Location
The coordinate location in model space of the light source.
Get cursor tool position
To simplify source location setup, it is possible to use the current position of the cursor tool (which has options of picking, dragging, and editing via the transformation dialog) to specify either the light’s location or the ray end position.
Ray Normal Direction
The direction of the light ray. For a point light source, the ray direction is used only for the purpose of defining the Ray end location, which in turn defines the distance to the light source for light attenuation.
Ray End
The point the light is pointing towards and defines the light radius used for light attenuation.