Chapter 3: mental ray and lights Let's learn a little bit about the placement and adjustment of a few basic parameters of photometric lights to see some of the ways they differ from standard lights. In the following exercises you'll also make some further adjustments in Exposure Control. 3.3.1 Targetphotometriclights With Target photometric lights, you must set both a light source and the target for the light to "look at" much the same as you would with standard target spotlights. There are some differences, however, in the distribution pattern of this photometric light; you can change to have it simulate a spotlight or an actual light fixture, for example. In the next exercise you will place a Free light, which is similar to a standard Omni light, and align it to the center of the lampshade in the scene. You'll then add a Target light near the ceiling above the chair and then make adjustments to turn it into a spotlight to control the range of coverage of the light, Next, you'll change the parameters that are specific to photometric lights. When you add the first photometric light to a scene, 3ds Max will ask if you want to apply mr Photographic Exposure Control similar to when you applied the Daylight system. You'll then learn more about making adjust- ments that are appropriate to this interior scene without the influence of any bright daylight. 3.3.1.1 Exercise:Addingandadjustingphotometriclights