Focusing lighting devices

The focus of a lighting device determines where its light beams are pointing. A focus is required to draw light beam representations (see Drawing light beam representations) and render the lit scene (see Setting Spotlight rendering options).

There are several ways to focus lighting devices:

Focusing lighting devices from the Object Info palette

Creating a focus point object

Fanning the focus of lighting devices

Focusing lighting devices along a path

If the focus locations need to be documented, use focus points. The Focus Point tool creates a focus point that you can assign to one or more lighting devices. You can also create focus points automatically for a selection of lighting devices when fanning the focus or distributing it along a path.

In 3D views, lighting devices rotate automatically to aim at the focus point. For the same behavior in 2D views, select Automatically rotate 2D to focus point on the Spotlight preferences: Lighting Devices: Parameters pane.

Focusing lighting devices from the Object Info palette

Creating a focus point object

Fanning the focus of lighting devices

Focusing lighting devices along a path