AutoCAD 2008 User's Guide > Create Realistic Images and Graphics > Add Lighting to Your Model > Illuminate a Scene > Assigning a shape to a light > 
Assigning a shape to a light
Concept Procedure
 
 
 

To create a point light in photometric workflow and assign a rectangular shape to the light

  1. At the Command prompt, enter lightingunits and set the value to 1 (International units) or 2 (American units) for photometric lighting.
  2. Click View menu Render Light New Point Light. At the Command prompt, enter pointlight.

    You can also drag a light from the Photometric Lights tab of the Tool palettes window.

  3. Click in the drawing to specify a location for the light.
  4. At the Command prompt, enter n and enter a name. This name will appear in the properties and in the Lights in Model window ( LIGHTLIST).

    You can continue to specify properties by entering options, or you can exit and set properties interactively. When you use the interactive method, you can see the results of your changes as you work.

  5. Press ENTER twice to exit the command.

    Select the light and use grip tools to change the light.

  6. Right-click the light and click Properties. Use the Lighting Properties palette to change its properties.
  7. Under the General panel, verify that the Type of distribution for the light is Point.
  8. Scroll down the Lighting Properties palette to the Rendered Shadow details.
  9. Change the Type property to Soft (sampled).
  10. Change the Shape property to Rectangular. Add dimensions to the Length and Width properties.
  11. Change the Visible Render property to Yes.
  12. Render the image. You will see the light represented as a rectangle.
     Toolbar: Lights 
     Command entry: POINTLIGHT
     Dashboard: Lights panel (click to expand), Create a Point Light