Drawing light beam representationsDrawing light beam representationsOnce the focus point for instruments has been specified, light beam representations can be drawn. Wireframe light beam representations can be controlled by class; see Spotlight preferences: Lighting devices: Class and color pane.
To turn on the light beam for one or more instruments:
1. Select the instruments.
Use the Select Focused Lighting Devices context menu to quickly select all lighting devices assigned to a focus point (see Changing device properties).
An instrument must have a focus point in order to draw a light beam representation (see Assigning a focus point to a lighting instrument). Elliptical light sources require secondary beam and field angles. The Focus Instruments command inserts a default falloff distance for elliptical light sources.
2. Select Draw Beam from the instrument Object Info palette (see Lighting device properties).
An accurate wireframe representation of the light beam’s spread and location on the stage is drawn, oriented to the focus point. The light beam of instruments used for general wash lighting can also be drawn; however, a focus point is still required in order to draw the light beam representation.
3. Select Draw Beam as 3D Solid from the instrument Object Info palette to see the light beam as a solid cone of light. The Color specified in the Object Info palette or Lighting Device dialog box determines the solid color (see Lighting instrument color). The class of the light beam can also determine its appearance and optionally, texture.
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