Instancing VRay Lights

[julio_arvellos]

Hello!
I’m working on a scene where I need to distribute multiple lights. Instancing the V-Ray lights isn’t working (I reported this recently as a possible bug), so here is my question: How do I instance multiple lights in the scene using one light object, instead of creating multiple objects?
The goal is to control all the properties with a single object.

[svetlozar.draganov]

Dear Julio,

Currently, light instancing is not supported. We have added this feature to our ToDo list (VBLD-394), but we are unable to provide a specific time frame for its implementation.

We will update you as soon as we have any progress regarding this matter.

[bozhidar_ivanov]

I also want to mention that at the moment we are working on it and with some luck it might make it in our next release. When I initially added support for geometry nodes I had some trouble getting lights to work correctly, but it seems more doable now.

[julio_arvellos]

Thank you two! Looking forward to it!
I figured out an alternative using the Duplicate Linked (Alt + D), which keeps the object data and allows a similar level of control, though not the same as using instances.

[boyan]

Hey Julio,

Thank you for the posts. Please check the attached script with my customs solution. It is not the best solution, but I think it is workable for the moment.

Cheers,
light_array_instancer.7z (2.87 KB)

[bardo]

@julio_arvellos

Thank you two! Looking forward to it!
I figured out an alternative using the Duplicate Linked (Alt + D), which keeps the object data and allows a similar level of control, though not the same as using instances.

Why do you say that Alt+D is not like using instances?
Could you please tell me which are the differences?

[bozhidar_ivanov]

With Alt+D you need to place each one of your lights manually. With actual light instances for example through geometry nodes you can directly generate them procedurally(which V-Ray currently doesn’t support). Hope that explains it.

[bardo]

@bozhidar_ivanov

With Alt+D you need to place each one of your lights manually. With actual light instances for example through geometry nodes you can directly generate them procedurally(which V-Ray currently doesn’t support). Hope that explains it.

Ah ok…from this point of view it’s clear.
I was thinking to a different kind of object instance.

Thank you.

[julio_arvellos]

boyan, Thanks! Yes, this is a very interesting alternative.
bardo, I was referring to my example, where I wanted to instantiate multiple spotlights (geometry + light), but instancing lights isn’t supported yet. If you’re using only the light object, then the result is basically the same.

[bardo]

@julio_arvellos

bardo, I was referring to my example, where I wanted to instantiate multiple spotlights (geometry + light), but instancing lights isn’t supported yet. If you’re using only the light object, then the result is basically the same.

Clear…now it’s more clear.
Thank you.

[lh3d]

@julio_arvellos

boyan, Thanks! Yes, this is a very interesting alternative.
bardo, I was referring to my example, where I wanted to instantiate multiple spotlights (geometry + light), but instancing lights isn’t supported yet. If you’re using only the light object, then the result is basically the same.

Yes, I submitted also the same idea to be able to duplicate linked a group with geometry and Vray light. I hope this will be do-able soon.