arc light?

[RevitGary]

Is it possible to make a photometric arc light? I see an option for creating a linear light ie a floursecent. Iis it possible to make a photometric curved light?

[artassoc]

I have always used a series of linear photometric lights if I need light in a scene. Then I put a model of the shape of the light in the scene (set the light model to not cast shadows), if I find it necessary.

 

There is also an "object light" plugin/shader on the net, but I never got it to work as reliably as I'd like (though the results were very good when it did work).

[RevitGary]

That is exactly what I tried to do last night. I have a a 5' radius arc I am trying to illuminate. I put the lights above a translucent lense. I made the linear photometric lights 6" long and parallel to the floor.

 

The light it is giving off does not look very realistic. It gives off a very bright uneven scalloped look. I would think if it was real halogens above a plastc lense it would be a much smoother glow. I am having major problems with realistic lighting and IES files. Do you know where I can get specific guides or instruction on creating realistic photometric lights?

[artassoc]

I usually use the "diffuse" distibution (I'm on max 9.....not 2009, but just 9 ... )

 

Did you use a web file for your short linear lights? Were there gaps between them (you would need to minimise those)?

 

I know you can download ies files from lighting manufacturers. As far as guidance... Max's documentation covers the functionality pretty well, but it's light on practicle examples.

 

Is this plastic lense opaque? maybe just make a mask and add it to the arch&design shader's "additional illumination" slot (there is much better functionality for this in 2008 and newer).