The Light Effect Dialog Box
February 12, 2001
Inside the dialog box you'll find quite a selection of options.
We'll look at each option separately.
The Darkness value determines the darkness of the non-illuminated
areas of the image, the higher the number the darker the area.
Each individual light source may be positioned in one of two ways.
Either click and drag the light spot, or enter a value in the numeric
edit controls. The center of the image is 0, positive values move
the light up and to the right while negative values move it down
and to the left.
Specify the direction in which the light shines by clicking and
dragging the knob at the end of the center arm of the light spot.
Alternately, the direction may be changed by editing the numeric
Direction settings or dragging the arm inside of the Direction
circle. Direction is measured in degrees, 360° in fact, hence the
Direction 'circle'.
The Cone size determines the width of the light. Each light
spot, in addition to having a center arm, has two side arms with
handles. To adjust the cone size, drag these handles toward or away
from the center. Cone size may also be adjusted numerically. The
higher the number, the wider the cone or ray of light; the smaller
the number the narrower the cone.
Asymmetry is the width and the length of the cones, or more
accurately, width over length. The width of the cone
is always less than or equal to the length, and the length is always
greater than or equal to the width. Or so the PSP7 Help files say,
but it sounds like Greek to me. An easy translation is the lower
the numerical setting the shorter the spots center arm is and the
more light hits the subject. The larger the numerical setting, the
longer the arm is and the less light hits the subject.
| Asymmetry settings |
1 |
500 |
1000 |
Smoothness controls the transition between the light and dark
areas of the image. The lower the setting the sharper the edge;
higher settings generate a softer, more gradual transition.
The Scale value determines how large of an area the light
will cover. The higher the number, the greater the area covered.
Now that we know what we can do with lights, lets look at
mixing selections with Feedback and see what we get.
Let There Be Light!
Getting the Most From Your Effects
Selective Effects
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