3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [489]
Figure 46.28 shows several Star effects with (from left to right) 3, 4, 5, 6, and 12 bands.
FIGURE 46.28
The Star effect lets you set the number of bands emitting from the center.
Streak
The Streak Lens Effect adds a horizontal band through the center of the selected object. It is similar to the Star effect, except it has only two bands that extend in opposite directions.
Figure 46.29 shows several Streak effects angled at 45 degrees with Width values of (from left to right) 2, 4, 10, 15, and 20.
FIGURE 46.29
The Streak effect enables you to create horizontal bands.
Auto Secondary
When a camera is moved past a bright light, several small circles appear lined up in a row proceeding from the center of the light. These secondary lens flares are caused by light refracting off the lens. You can simulate this effect by using the Auto Secondary Lens Effect.
Many of the settings in the Auto Secondary Element rollout are the same as in the Glow effect rollout described previously, but the Auto Secondary Element rollout has several unique values. Figure 46.30 shows this rollout.
The Min and Max values define the minimum and maximum size of the flares. The Axis is the length of the axis along which the flares are positioned. Larger values spread the flares out more than smaller values. The actual angle of the flares depends on the angle between the camera and the effect object.
The Quantity value is the number of flares to include. The Sides drop-down list lets you select a Circular flare or flares with three to eight sides. Below the Sides drop-down list are several preset options in another drop-down list. These include options such as Brown Ring, Blue Circle, and Green Rainbow, among others.
You can also use four Radial Colors to define the flares. The color swatches from left to right define the colors from the inside out. The spinners below each color swatch indicate where the color should end.
Figure 46.31 shows the Auto Secondary Effect with the Rainbow preset and the Intensity increased to 50.
FIGURE 46.30
The Auto Secondary Element rollout sets the parameters for this effect.
FIGURE 46.31
The Auto Secondary Effect displays several flares extending at an angle from the center of the effect.
Manual Secondary
In addition to the Auto Secondary Lens Effect, you can add a Manual Secondary Lens Effect to add some more flares with a different size and look. This effect includes a Plane value that places the flare in front of (positive value) or behind (negative value) the flare source.
Figure 46.32 shows the same flares from the previous figure with an additional Manual Secondary Effect added.
FIGURE 46.32
The Manual Secondary Effect can add some randomness to a flare lineup.
Tutorial: Making an airplane sparkle
When shiny metal planes fly through the sky, they often give off sparkling light effects. Adding some Lens Effects to an airplane scene can simulate this effect.
To make an object bright and shiny using Lens Effects, follow these steps:
1. Open the Spruce Goose.max file from the Chap 46 directory on the CD.
This file includes an airplane model of the famous Spruce Goose created by Viewpoint Datalabs.
2. Open the Create panel, and click the Lights category button. Create several Omni lights, and position them around the scene to provide adequate lighting. Position a single light close to the plane's surface where you want the highlight to be located—make it near the surface, and set the Multiplier value to 0.5.
3. Open the Rendering Effects panel by choosing Rendering⇒Effects (or press the 8 key). Click the Add button, and select Lens Effects. Then, in the Lens