Lighting basics

You can decide to use the VR light on its own, in combination with other light sources, or you can disable the VR light completely.  

When you choose to generate a 3D room, the VR lighting will be automatically enabled. Tick/Untick Show VR Light Bulb to toggle the bulb's visibility. When the bulb is not shown, the VR light will still be there as a light source.
Toggle the VR Light bulb in your design by accessing Lighting options.  Go to Graphics > Lighting options... and click the Show light bulbs / Hide light bulbs button. Disable the VR Lighting by accessing the Selected Light section in Lighting options. Go to Graphics > Lighting options....  Ensure the Selected light is VR_light and untick Enabled.

 

You can add lights from Virtual Worlds' generic catalogue collection or from a supplier catalogue.  If lighting is available in your chosen catalogue, it will have its own section. 

Note: In the example below, navigation to the Generic lighting catalogue is shown.  See article How to add catalogues for download if you need further guidance on catalogues.

 

1. Locate catalogue

1. Click the Catalogue tab in the Control panel to the right.
   
   
2. In category selection, select Generic.
   
   
3. Scroll to locate the Lighting catalogue.  Click to select.

 

2. Search for item

In the catalogue control panel, you can find an item by:

A: Clicking the Select filter drop-down to limit the search by Category, Type and Finish. B: Ticking the Search box and entering part of a code, or description and hitting enter. C: Scrolling through all available items.

 

3. Place item

1. When you have found a light in the catalogue, click to highlight.
   
   
2. Click Insert Unit.
   
   
3. The light will place in your room. 
   Note: The light will place at the height the item type is meant for.  If it is a ceiling light, it will automatically place on the ceiling, if it is a wall light it will place on a wall at the default height.

 

4. Toggle Filament lighting

If Filament lighting has not been turned on, you will need to toggle it on for your placed light to emit light.  There are three options to quickly toggle Filament lighting:

• Hit CTRL + L.
• Click Graphics in the Menu bar and tick Filament lighting.
• Go to Graphics > Lighting options... and tick the Filament lighting box.

Virtual World's generic catalogues provides different Photographic area lights to create balanced lighting for your renders. 

The photographic area lights are located in the same place as the generic lights.  Take the following steps to use in your design:

 

1. Locate catalogue

1. Click the Catalogue tab in the Control panel to the right.
   
   
2. In category selection, select Generic.
   
   
3. Scroll to locate the Lighting catalogue.  Click to select.

 

2. Search for item

1. In the catalogue control panel, use the Select filter drop-down and select Category.
2. Click on the drop-down to the right and define the category as Photographic Lighting.
   
   
   
   There are different types of photographic lights depending on what you need.  

3. Place item

1. Click to highlight the photographic light.
   
   
2. Click Insert Unit.
   
   
3. The light source will place in your room, and can be re-positioned as needed.

 

Adding sunlight to your design can emphasize the style of the render you want to create.  Sunlight enhances mood, realism, and overall aesthetics.  In Virtual Worlds, you can add sunlight to a design which has a recessed window or door with a glass panel.

Instant sunlight through Windows

Once you have placed a recessed door or window, you can turn on the sunlight feature.  Take the following steps:

1. Click the Select icon in the tools ribbon at the top.
   
   
   
   
2. Left-click the window to select the one you want the sunlight to shine through.
3. Right-click and select Shine sunlight through item.

For more for detailed guidance see article Adding Sunlight.