Create panel > Lights > Create a target spotlight or free spotlight. > Spotlight Parameters rollout
The Spotlight Parameters rollout appears when you create or select a target spot or free spot light. These parameters control hotspots and falloff, shadow mapping, and in the case of free spotlights, the target distance.
Procedures
To see the spotlight cone in viewports:
The cone is always visible while the light is selected. This setting keeps the cone visible when the light is unselected.
Select the spotlight.
In the Spotlight Parameters rollout > Light Cone group, turn on Show Cone.
Select another object, deselecting the light.
A wireframe outline of the light's cone appears. The hotspot region is outlined in light blue, and the falloff region is outlined in dark gray.
The cone is always visible while the light is selected.
Tip: The hotspot and falloff borders are not visible in shaded viewports. Use controls in the Light Cone group to adjust hotspot and falloff in the viewport.
Spotlight cone displayed in a viewport
To adjust the hotspot and falloff, do one of the following:
Use the Hotspot and Falloff spinners to increase or decrease the size of the hotspot and falloff regions. For spotlights, Hotspot and Falloff are expressed in degrees.
Use manipulators to adjust hotspot and falloff by dragging in a viewport, as described in the procedure that follows.
By default, falloff value is always constrained to be at least two degrees or two units greater than the hotspot value.
When the hotspot and falloff values are equal, the light casts a hard-edged beam.
To use manipulators to control hotspot and falloff:
Select the spotlight.
Tip: When you select multiple spotlights, all their manipulators are accessible.
On the default main toolbar, click to turn on Select And Manipulate.
Now when you move the mouse over the hotspot or falloff circle, the circle turns red to show you can adjust it by dragging. Also, a tooltip displays the spotlight name, the parameter, and its value.
Drag the hotspot or falloff circle to adjust the value.
The hotspot and falloff constrain each other, as their spinner controls do.
Spotlight manipulators are described at the end of this topic.
To set the shape of the light beam:
Choose either Rectangle or Circle.
The shape of the light's cone changes to reflect the shape you chose.
If you chose Circle, you are done. If you chose Rectangle, you can now adjust the aspect ratio of the rectangular light in the Aspect field.
To change a rectangular light's aspect ratio:
Choose Rectangle, as described above.
Change the Aspect value to the aspect ratio that you want.
The Bitmap Fit button is another way to set the aspect ratio. It is mainly used with projections.
The Projector and Assign controls are also for setting up projections. The Overshoot control is mainly used when the light casts shadows.
Interface
Light Cone group
These parameters control hotspots and falloff for spotlights.
Show Cone: Turns display of the cone on or off.
Note: The cone is always visible when a light is selected, so clearing this check box has no apparent effect until you deselect the light.
Overshoot: When Overshoot is set, the light casts light in all directions. However, projections and shadows occur only within its falloff cone.
Hotspot: Adjusts the angle of a light's cone. The Hotspot value is measured in degrees. Default=43.0.
Falloff: Adjusts the angle of a light's falloff. The Falloff value is measured in degrees. Default=45.0.
You can manipulate the hotspot and falloff by dragging manipulators in viewports, as described in the previous procedures, and the later section "Manipulators for Spotlights."
You can also adjust hotspot and falloff angles in a Light viewport (looking at the scene from the point of view of the spotlight).
Circle/Rectangle: Determine the shape of the falloff and hotspot areas. Set Circle when you want a standard, circular light. Set Rectangle when you want a rectangular beam of light, such as light cast through a window or doorway.
Aspect: Sets the aspect ratio for the rectangular light beam. The Bitmap Fit button lets you make the aspect ratio match a specified bitmap. Default=1.0.
Bitmap Fit: If the light's projection aspect is rectangular, sets the aspect ratio to match a particular bitmap. This is useful when you are using the light as a projector light.. See Projection Parameters.
Projector Map group
These controls make the spotlight a projector. For procedures, see Projection Parameters.
Check box: Turn on to project the map selected by the Map button. Turn off to turn off projection.
Map: Names the map used for the projection. You can drag from any map specified in the Material Editor, or any other map button, and drop that map on the light's Map button. You can also click the Map button to display the Material/Map Browser, which lets you choose the map.
Target Distance: Displays the distance between the spotlight and its target. For a free spotlight, you can set this value. For a target spotlight, you can change it only by moving the light or the light's target object.
The spotlight cone has graphic manipulators to help you adjust the hotspot and falloff.
Manipulators are visible and usable while the Select and Manipulate button is turned on. This button is on the default main toolbar. When you move the mouse over a manipulator, the manipulator turns red to show that dragging or clicking it will have an effect. Also, a tooltip appears, showing the name of the object, the parameter, and its value.
Tip: When you select multiple spotlights, all their manipulators are accessible.
For more information on using the spotlight manipulators, see the Procedures section at the top of this topic.
Hotspot manipulator: In a viewport, drag the hotspot circle to adjust the hotspot value.
Falloff manipulator: In a viewport, drag the falloff to adjust the falloff value.
The hotspot and falloff constrain each other, as their spinner controls do.