Apple Motion 5.1.1 - Manual (Page 940)

Chapter 21 3D compositing 940
If you add a light to a project with no existing 3D groups, the following dialog appears:
If you select Keep as 2D, a light at the root level has no effect until you have at least one root-
level 3D group. By default, 3D groups and objects display the shading from lights as soon as
lights are added.
A light is activated when it is a child of the following objects:
•
The project (for example, a light is at the root level of the project)
•
An unflattened 3D group
Properties affecting the appearance of lights
When you add lights to a scene, two groups of properties contribute to the appearance of lights:
light properties and object lighting properties. You can adjust light properties by selecting a light
object in the project and then modifying the parameter values in the Light pane in the Inspector.
You can manipulate object lighting properties by selecting a nonlight layer in your project (an
image, movie clip, shape, and so on) and then adjusting the Lighting parameters in that object’s
Properties pane.
Light properties—the quality of the light source itself—fall into the following categories: the
type of light, its intensity, and its color. A light bulb, the sun, and lighting in a dance club have
different appearances. You can use lighting properties to simulate these differences.
You can use multiple lights to mix color. If one red and one blue spot light are pointed at a
white object, they mix to make magenta. Each type of light has its own attributes. It may take a
combination of light types to achieve a specific effect. For example, you might want to include a
dim ambient light with a spot light to add depth or prevent total darkness where the spot light’s
effect drops off.
Light controls
When you create a light, or select a light object in the Layers list, the Light pane becomes
available in the Inspector.
Parameters in the Inspector
•
Light Type: A pop-up menu that lets you choose from four categories of light.
•
Ambient: An ambient light emits light in all directions, illuminating all objects in the scene
from all directions equally. This type of light has no position and no representation in the
Canvas. The most common use for ambient lights is to add an overall fill effect or color cast.
Note: There is no global ambience property in Motion, so you may have to add an ambient
light to prevent total blackness.
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