Chapter 23: On a Render Bender 529

You can also control how objects themselves affect shadows. Select a 3D object, right-click, and choose Properties. In the 3D Visualization category of the Properties palette, click the Shadow Display drop-down; you can configure your objects to cast shadows, receive shadows, cast and receive shadows, or ignore shadows altogether.

The Lights in Model palette

In a complex drawing or one in which you might have added a distant light, you’ll want to use the Lights in Model palette (see Figure 23-9). The Lights in Model palette allows you to select, delete, and access the Properties palette for selected lights. To display the Lights in Model palette, click the Lights panel launcher (the little arrow at the right end of the Lights panel label).

Figure 23-9: Ah, yes, you’re on the lights list.

Sunlight

You can simulate sunlight via the Sun Properties palette (see Figure 23-10). Adding sunlight to a drawing allows you to perform sunlight studies, as well as add some realism to both indoor and outdoor renderings.

The Sun Properties palette allows you to locate the sun’s position based on the nearest large city, or by entering latitude and longitude values. You can also use Google Earth KML or KMZ files to specify your location. In addition to location, you can designate the northern direction in your drawing to get the correct daily movement of the sunlight in your drawing. To adjust the sunlight in a drawing, open the Sun Properties palette by clicking the Sun & Location panel launcher (the little arrow on the panel label).

www.it-ebooks.info