Light Widget Version 1.0

[Digits]

Here is a update to an old script. Alot of 3D programs allow you to position your lights inside the scene using a visable control of some sort. This script provides this functionality to Zbrush.



To use it, load the Script, once loaded it provides a quick tool button in the Ztools menu.

1. Press "Select" this menu shows what lights are currently selected in your current Light setup.
2. Press the Light that you wish to Position.
3. The script will create a 3D sphere (if one isn't already present) and will place it at the current location that the light exists on the canvas. It will also color the light to the color of the selected light.
4. Manuver the sphere on the canvas and position it at your desired X Y Z location.
5. Press the "Position" button, this will set the currently selected light at that location of the sphere.
6. Repeat the above steps to position all the lights in your current light palette.

The display windows in the script will also report the Type, Intensity and Radius of each selected light for your information. Use the Light Pallette to modify or change any of the light parameters, add new lights etc... Then use the script to precisely position them in your scene.

Also I might mention that you can not position "SUN" type lights using this method, it will only position the Spot, Glow, and Point type lights.

[andreseloy]

Thanks again for this usefull tool¡¡¡ like your Zifclick¡¡
Congratulations
Andreseloy

[marcus_civis]

Cool script. Thanks!

[cameyo]

Hi Digit,
i know this useful script and i'm happy you post more often.
Thanks again.

cameyo

[aminuts]

You musta read my mind, I was just looking around for some of your old widgets to see if they worked at all as I thought there was one for lights!

Great timing and great script!!



Thank you!!

[wenna]

Thanks Digits for your time to do this for us. I know it will come in handy for me.

[Frenchy Pilou]

Pilou

[lemonnado]

I tried it today to overcome the absolutely NERVING point light positioning.

Unfortunately the script does not work right for me.

I have 1 Sun and 1 point light.

#1 is the sun and #2 is the point.

I have to select light 3 to have the sphere show up. By then the script already has selected 4 or five lights in the light tab. When I position the sphere and hit the Position button, nothing happens. The sphere is still there and lighting does not change (Best Render)...

What am I doing wrong?
LemonNado

[Digits]

Heya Lemonado

Aye, it is a bit confusing I realize, here is the scoop

Since my script does not work with sun lights and the first two lights in the Light palette are sun type by default the Select Menu only shows the lights following Light 2. (hope that makes sense)

Try this

Note you have to set up your lights in the Light Palette first.

1. In the light palette select Light #3 and set it to be a point light. Adjust the intensity, color, Radius etc...
2. In the light Widget press the Select Button. You should see the first Icon selected (First Non-Sun light)
3. Press the Icon and the script will give you an object which you can place in the scene
4. Use the Gyro to position the object to a location on the canvas you wish your light to illuminate from.
5. Press the Position button and the script will automatically set the position sliders in the Light Palette.

If you have set up more lights continue to select each one and position them. Remember you have to set them up first in the Light Palette.


Hope this helps!

[mathieu77]

hey digits following your explanations but still no differences showed in my renders. Maybe a little tut will be great.It sounds like a useful tool. And by the way no button showed up on my tool list need to load the script if I want the light widget to appear.
Thanks in advance.
Matt

[Digits]

Hi Mathiew77

Could be that you are trying to use Sun type lights, which the script can't position. Make sure that they are Glow, Spot or Point type lights. Also I have noticed there is a little confusion about which light in the script controls which light in the Light Palette. I have attached a image showing that the first two lights in the Zbrush Light Palette are ignored as they are normally Sun type lights. The first button in the Script menu is actually Light #3. Hopefully the image will make that clear.

Also, as I am sure you know, you must use Best Render to see the actual lights on your canvas.

I made a new zip file to make the script a plugin. Extract the contents of the Zip file into your Startup/Zplugin directory if you want the script to start as a plugin.

When I find some time I plan to make this script easier to use. Hope this helps!

Also, if you are using Point lights don't forget that you can make them Radial and control the falloff with the Radius setting, otherwise thier effect may be hard to see in your scene.

[mathieu77]

thanks Digit for your help I will try again very soon.
PS: this is an excellent plugin not to leave on the side, controlling the lights is one of the most important part of rendering.

Mathieu