Apple Motion 4 - Manual (Page 1225)

If you add a light to a project with no existing 3D groups, the following dialog appears:
If you select Keep as 2D, a light at the root level has no effect until you have at least one
root-level 3D group. By default, 3D groups and objects display the shading from lights
as soon as lights are added.
A light is activated when it is a child of the following objects:
• The project (for example, a light is at the root level of the project)
• An unflattened 3D group
Properties Affecting the Appearance of Lights
When you add lights to a scene, two groups of properties contribute to the appearance
of lights: light properties and object lighting properties. You can adjust light properties
by selecting a light object in your project, then modifying the parameter values in the
Light tab in the Inspector. You can manipulate object lighting properties by selecting a
nonlight object in your project (an image, movie clip, shape, and so on), then adjusting
the Lighting parameters in that object’s Properties tab.
Light properties—the quality of the light source itself—fall into the following categories:
the type of light, its intensity, and its color. A light bulb, the sun, and lighting in a dance
club each have a different appearance, and lighting properties can be used to simulate
these differences.
Combining Multiple Light Types
Like real-world lights, you can use multiple lights to mix color. If one red and one blue
spot light are pointed at a white object, they mix to make magenta.
Each type of light has its own unique attributes. It may take a combination of light types
to achieve your desired effect. Most scenes with lights should include an ambient light
to add depth or prevent total darkness.
Light Parameters
When you create a light, or select a light object in the Layers tab, the Light tab becomes
available in the Inspector.
1225 Chapter 18 3D Compositing