To understand what effect light has on the surface of rendered 3D objects, three types of light can be defined. When using lights, it is important to understand the effect each type of light creates on the surface of a rendered 3D object.
Compatibility Note: This section applies to the Viz Classic Render Pipeline only. Lights in the Viz Engine Render Pipeline are explained here.
Light Type | Description |
|---|---|
Local Light | Local lights have color and position within a Scene, but no single direction. They give off light equally in all directions (isotropic light source). A light bulb is a good example of a local light. |
Spot Light | Spotlights have color, position, and direction in which they emit light. Light emitted from a spot light is made up of a bright inner cone and a larger outer cone, with the light intensity diminishing between the two. |
Infinite Light | Infinite lights have color and direction. They emit parallel light. This means that all light generated by infinite lights travels through a Scene in the same direction. Imagine a directional light as a light source at near infinite distance, such as the sun. |