SamIWas Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 I'm getting deeper into modifying my 3D fixture symbols. I want to make sure I'm correct in the thought that Spotlight lighting fixtures contain a default simple spotlight, and that's it. You can't really customize that light too much? I've gotten some results I like by placing a spotlight object inside the fixture, but then it's not controllable from the visualization palette. I don't mind the automatic light for some things, but when it's a tiny spot in the middle of a large lens, it looks ridiculous. Trying to find the best balance. What are others doing? Quote Link to comment
C. Andrew Dunning Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Sam - The Symbols the Spotlight Lighting Device PIO uses do not contain Light sources - and, yours shouldn't, either. The PIO code is looking for the 3D Locus that is top-most in the stacking order - more than likely at the fixture body pivot-point - to use as a reference as to where to place the Light source. (I have multiple Loci in my fixture Symbols - all assigned to the NonPlot-Loci Class - Insertion Point, convenience snaps, pivot point(s), etc. - and all works just fine because of where they each are in the stacking order.) There really isn't a way around the large lens/small source issue. Making the lens glow will fix SOME of that but projected beams will still show the difference. Quote Link to comment
Sebastiaan Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 I believe you should be able to add IES files to a lighting device from the edit light button in the OIP. I have not yet gotten around to do this myself yet but I think that should bring some improvement. Quote Link to comment
SamIWas Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 2 hours ago, C. Andrew Dunning said: Sam - The Symbols the Spotlight Lighting Device PIO uses do not contain Light sources - and, yours shouldn't, either. The PIO code is looking for the 3D Locus that is top-most in the stacking order - more than likely at the fixture body pivot-point - to use as a reference as to where to place the Light source. (I have multiple Loci in my fixture Symbols - all assigned to the NonPlot-Loci Class - Insertion Point, convenience snaps, pivot point(s), etc. - and all works just fine because of where they each are in the stacking order.) There really isn't a way around the large lens/small source issue. Making the lens glow will fix SOME of that but projected beams will still show the difference. Thanks, Andrew. This is exactly what I thought. I have added light sources into my symbols for visualizations not related to stage looks, and put them into a class of their own so I can turn them off at other times. They're bright enough to glow the lens, but not bright enough to put much out on stage. One s the Spotlight default light and the other is my custom one. The spotlight one looks ridiculous, even moreso when the pivot point isn't in the center of the head! 1 Quote Link to comment
scottmoore Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 I've abandoned using Spotlight symbols for rendering for this reason. I developed a series of simple lighting symbols I use for this purpose that solve the beam origination issue. Still doesn't solve the fall-off issue, but better than nothing and definitely speed up the period of time it takes to get renderings together. Here is an image of a generic profile, a "sharpy" type fixture and a "Bee-Eye" type fixture to give you an idea. 1 Quote Link to comment
SamIWas Posted June 24, 2020 Author Share Posted June 24, 2020 1 minute ago, scottmoore said: I've abandoned using Spotlight symbols for rendering for this reason. I developed a series of simple lighting symbols I use for this purpose that solve the beam origination issue. Still doesn't solve the fall-off issue, but better than nothing and definitely speed up the period of time it takes to get renderings together. Here is an image of a generic profile, a "sharpy" type fixture and a "Bee-Eye" type fixture to give you an idea. Yep...I got ya. I still want my symbols to be able to take on Spotlight info, so I'm making them "hybrid" symbols for now. They have a spotlight light in them, but for some renderings, I'll turn that off and turn my visual light on. Curious...how do you focus them? Quote Link to comment
scottmoore Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 I just build them at various tilt angles and insert the symbols I need. Then it’s just a question of rotating the hybrid symbol in plan view to give me what I want. For most renderings it seems fixtures seem to end up in straight and/or fan focuses so this works pretty well and I don’t have to waste any time on focus positions. Quote Link to comment
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