# :::::A Quick Photometric light setup:::::: **URL:** \ **Category:** Tutorials, Tips & Tricks\ **Created:** [September 2, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339 "2003-09-02T21:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![natty](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/natty/32/22731_2.png) [@natty](https://forums.chaos.com/u/natty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/1 "2003-09-02T21:14:37Z")
As requested by some of you guy’s a quick Photometric light setup… ok …ive just made a simple box room with a couple of shelve’s in so you can see the light distribution. 1 : in the top view add a photometric free piont light in the position that you need it (make sure you do it in the top view so when the ies data comes in its round the right way). 2 : move the light up into the position of where your going to put your model of you spot light. at this stage the light is still round …meaning that it has no ies data attached to it, so if you was to render at this stage the light would almost act like an omni light and have light coming out all around it. 3 : Time to add the ies data to the light. right click on the link and save target. > **[rendertime.co.uk](http://www.rendertime.co.uk/vray/ies/1589835-nice.IES)** > > This domain name has been registered with Gandi.net. It is currently parked by the owner. 4 : Select your light and go to the modify stack, there you will see a label called Distribution, choose Web, once you do that you will get another rollout called Web Parameters, click on where it say’s Web file and choose the ies file that you downloaded. As the file is loaded you will notice that the shape of the light will change from round to a rain drop shape… this is because the light now has the data writen in to the ies file or the Distribution data file… you can see from the shape of the light where the light is going hit render and see what you get. copy the light into the spot light positions or where you want light to be… you can adjust the intensity as you would pretty much a normal light… like everything you will have to play with these lights but you do get a real world light distribution which looks very cool… here is the final scene > **[rendertime.co.uk](http://www.rendertime.co.uk/vray/ies/07.zip)** > > This domain name has been registered with Gandi.net. It is currently parked by the owner. also you can get a lot of light data from here [http://www.erco.com](http://www.erco.com) I hope this has been of some help … Natty p.s. sorry for any spelling mistake’s …it’s been a long day. ---
**Author:** ![Brim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Brim](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Brim)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/2 "2003-09-02T23:06:34Z")
very informative natty. thank you for your time and scene. ---
**Author:** ![Dynedain](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/dynedain/32/55769_2.png) [@Dynedain](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Dynedain)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/3 "2003-09-02T23:11:36Z")
Thanks natty! 😄😄 Gonna have to go try this now (and I have just the project…) ---
**Author:** ![Dynedain](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/dynedain/32/55769_2.png) [@Dynedain](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Dynedain)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/4 "2003-09-02T23:20:57Z")
quick question natty…what did you do to light the cieling “cans”? ---
**Author:** ![natty](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/natty/32/22731_2.png) [@natty](https://forums.chaos.com/u/natty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/5 "2003-09-02T23:28:34Z")
hi self illuminated material then crancked up the gi for that material… Natty ---
**Author:** ![Brim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Brim](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Brim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/6 "2003-09-03T03:26:33Z")
I love how beautiful the IES lights come out. Great tutorial Natty!! Here is my try - I hope you don’t mind I changed the shelves to glass. 5:31 on athlon 1900 xp - 1 gig ram. _----edit---took downiamge for webspace - sorry_ ---
**Author:** ![photonC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@photonC](https://forums.chaos.com/u/photonC)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/7 "2003-09-03T05:18:45Z")
Thanx natty for your time and effort put into this great tutorial, thanx a lot! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![DaForce](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/daforce/32/22846_2.png) [@DaForce](https://forums.chaos.com/u/DaForce)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/8 "2003-09-03T07:45:12Z")
nnniiiiccceee!!! Note to self: Use more Photometric lights!!! Thanks Natty, look forward to more informative tuts from you 😄 ---
**Author:** ![R2J2](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/r2j2/32/61464_2.png) [@R2J2](https://forums.chaos.com/u/R2J2)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/9 "2003-09-03T08:00:16Z")
Yeah thanks Natty, I was thinking how to get light fitting shadows and caustics. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![natty](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/natty/32/22731_2.png) [@natty](https://forums.chaos.com/u/natty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/10 "2003-09-03T08:29:43Z")
R2J2… caustics ?? there are no caustics, that is the light pattern. Natty ---
**Author:** ![blinkimage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@blinkimage](https://forums.chaos.com/u/blinkimage)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/11 "2003-09-03T08:30:10Z")
I assume that IES data lights affect render times quite a lot - am I right? ---
**Author:** ![natty](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/natty/32/22731_2.png) [@natty](https://forums.chaos.com/u/natty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/12 "2003-09-03T08:34:17Z")
well yeah …but it does depend on the sort of light and the amount of data. But rendering time’s arn’t that bad for the kind of light you get. Natty ---
**Author:** ![flipside](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/flipside/32/12787_2.png) [@flipside](https://forums.chaos.com/u/flipside)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/13 "2003-09-03T10:37:15Z")
> [@natty](#): > > R2J2… > caustics ?? there are no caustics, that is the light pattern. > > Natty The lines you see in the light pattern are actually caustics generated by probabely some kind of glass, plastic or metal material that is around the original light source. But since this data is stored into the ies there are no real caustics needed. ---
**Author:** ![natty](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/natty/32/22731_2.png) [@natty](https://forums.chaos.com/u/natty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/14 "2003-09-03T10:46:34Z")
yes …which is the light pattern threw the lens… Natty ---
**Author:** ![trixian](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/trixian/32/60402_2.png) [@trixian](https://forums.chaos.com/u/trixian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/15 "2003-09-03T12:32:14Z")
> [@flipside](#): > > > [@natty](#): > > > > R2J2… > > caustics ?? there are no caustics, that is the light pattern. > > > > Natty > > The lines you see in the light pattern are actually caustics generated by probabely some kind of glass, plastic or metal material that is around the original light source. But since this data is stored into the ies there are no real caustics needed. Which makes me wonder. Would it not be possible for an exceptionally clever programmer, to make an utility for converting a model with a light source into an ies web file. Maybe by calculating the bounces and shadows through glass lenses and other fixture features one has meticulously modelled, including caustics, this data should be able to describe the ies distribution web. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![RErender](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/rerender/32/42964_2.png) [@RErender](https://forums.chaos.com/u/RErender)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/16 "2003-09-03T15:02:40Z")
I was wondering that myself, Trixian. I was thinking maybe light values could be captured and turned into an ies for all kinds of things. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![rodigus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rodigus](https://forums.chaos.com/u/rodigus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/17 "2003-09-03T15:08:09Z")
> [@trixian](#): > > Would it not be possible for an exceptionally clever programmer, to make an utility for converting a model with a light source into an ies web file. Kind of “baking” the caustics into a IES file fom a fixture model? That would be really interesting. An IES file doesn’t seem too complicated, the translation is what seems tricky. Maybe we’ll see a tool for this sometime soon… ---
**Author:** ![thumpa](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/thumpa/32/235028_2.png) [@thumpa](https://forums.chaos.com/u/thumpa)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/18 "2003-09-03T15:35:03Z")
OK I’m impressed! Thanks a gazillion for the time & effort to explain that to us natty! Much appreciated 😄 ---
**Author:** ![deano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e8cbc/32.png) [@deano](https://forums.chaos.com/u/deano)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/19 "2003-09-03T15:55:55Z")
Thanks for the tut Natty! Dean ---
**Author:** ![Syclone1](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/syclone1/32/6794_2.png) [@Syclone1](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Syclone1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339/20 "2003-09-04T00:52:19Z")
Great tut Natty!! Thanks again, -dave [Next page](https://forums.chaos.com/t/a-quick-photometric-light-setup/1339.md?page=2)