Ies size problem

[Sergio BarreraOro]

Hello, i'm having a bit of trouble with some IES lighting. I'm using a vray ies light in but i'm posting in the 3ds max forum because maybe my problem can be solved with a regular light(altough i tried and it didn't work).
I set the light and it look quite good, the only problem is that it's too small, it should be between two and three times bigger than it is, and i wasn't able to find a way to fix that. There's no size parameter in the modify panel and scaling kind of messes it up without making it bigger.

Here i attach an image that shows my problem:


I would apreciate any kind of help or advise.
Thank you

Sergio

[Salvador Jimenez]

Did you by any chance scaled the lights?

check your system / file units, then check your geometry scale and if it's been resized, use "reset X form" for everything, then create a new vray ies light and see if it's ok. If you are using an IES file, then try changing it. IF you are not using an IES file, then try and use one.

If everything fails, try making a fresh new scene (units well checked) make a box the size of a room and create a new vray ies light to rule out it's a light creation problem.

Just my fast off thoughts. Hope it helps.

[Peter Gruhn]

Some kind of units mix up? The model is in cm and the lights are in inches?

[Salvador Jimenez]

Not quite.

Units have to be consistent. Max units can be inches, meters, etc., and the model has to be consistente with max units, e.g. if you imported your model from AutoCAD, you have make sure CAD units are consistent with max or else you have to rescale (option in the import dialog) before importing. This way max reads the units accordingly and you can rule out this issue.

How did you start your model, Sergio?

[Sergio BarreraOro]

I always make a point of checking that both the imported Autocad file and 3dmax units in meters. Maybe the ies file is in inches, is there a way of knowing?. anyway, I downloaded some kind of IES editor but it seems kind of hard to use. Even if the pattern from the IES file was to small(i'm using one), could there be a way to modify the size of the pattern form 3dsmax?

[iceboy .]

is it possible to scale ies lights ?

[Umesh Raut]

The best way (best practice, you may read as) is always to import with correct translation between CAD and MAX units (trans-unitization?), since its the common of CAD drafters and architects to use meters there. If not done during import process, you ought to check it immediately before adding ANYTHING in Max to avoid such issues.

[Salvador Jimenez]

That's why I mentioned it in the first place. I've never read or heared of IES files with a "units" property embedded or baked in. Just try another IES from antoher collection and see whta happens.

[Sergio BarreraOro]

I ended up modyfing the scale of the whole scene to match the ies size i wanted. Not proud, but it will work for now. Next time ill do what you are suggesting Salvador. Thanks to all for the advice, ill upload the finished result once i have it(if anyone is interested).