Managing Lights and Cameras

The Visualization palette provides fast and easy access to all lights and cameras in a VectorWorks file. Lights and cameras can be selected, edited, duplicated, created, and deleted. The palette also controls lighting overrides for selected sheet layer viewport(s), without modifying the lighting on the design layer or in another viewport.

Tasks that can be performed from the Visualization palette include:

Quickly locating any light in the file;

Editing of any light or lights in the file, even lights that are inside a container object or on a different layer;

Creating lighting overrides for sheet layer viewports;

Managing light and camera objects, including creating, editing, deleting, duplicating, and sorting;

Quickly switching to a camera’s established view.

To use the Visualization palette:

1.	Select Windows > Palettes > Visualization.

The Visualization palette opens. The Visualization palette can remain open while working in the drawing.

2.	The Visualization palette contains two tabs: the Lights tab accesses lights, and the Cameras tab accesses cameras. The lights and cameras can be sorted by clicking in the header of any column.

The Lights tab functions in two different modes depending on whether you are on a design layer or sheet layer. On a design layer, the palette lists either all the lights in the file, or just the lights that affect the current view. When on a sheet layer, the palette lists either all the lights in the file, or just the lights of selected viewports; edits to the selected viewport(s) affect the viewport lighting, creating an override, but this does not affect the associated design layer lighting.

Depending on what action is being performed, different options are available in both the Visualization palette and the Visualization palette menu. Open the Visualization palette menu by clicking on the small triangle at the top right of the palette, or by accessing the context menu with a Ctrl-click (Macintosh) or right-click (Windows).

 

Parameter	Description
Lights tab	The Lights tab accesses the parameters of sheet layer viewports or all lights in the file
Current Scene	Displays only the lights which affect the current view (lights from the current layer and in visible classes)
Selected Viewport(s)	Displays only the lights which affect the currently selected sheet layer viewport(s); in this mode, lights can be edited to override the lighting of the selected viewports only. (Other Visualization palette light management commands are not available.) Select Revert Override to return the viewport to its original lighting.
All	Lists all the lights in the file
On	Click to toggle the light on or off; a check mark indicates that the light is on
Shadow	Click to toggle the ability of the lights to cast shadows on or off; a red “x” indicates that shadows are off
Override State	For lights in selected viewport(s), indicates whether the light has an override. Uses design layer definition : the light parameters are the same in both the design layer and the viewport(s). Uses viewport override definition : the light parameters have been edited for the selected viewport(s), creating a viewport lighting override.
Name	Displays the name of the light (as shown on the Data tab of the Object Info palette)
Type	Indicates the type of light: Directional , Point , Spot , Custom , Area , or Line
Light Parent	Indicates whether the light is within a container object; if blank, the light is not part of another object. Group : indicates that the light is contained within a group. Symbol : indicates that the light is contained within a symbol; each instance is listed in the palette. Edits made directly from the Visualization palette, such as turning lights on and off, affect all symbol instances. (Selecting Edit from the Visualization palette menu, however, edits the symbol instance properties.) Plug-in Object : indicates that the light is contained in a plug-in object, such as a lighting device (Spotlight required) Layer Link : indicates that the light is contained within a layer link
Class/Layer	Displays the light’s class and layer
Menu commands	The Visualization palette menu commands manage and select light objects
New	Opens the Create Light dialog box, to create a directional, point, spot, or custom light on the current design layer; see Adding Light Sources
Edit	Opens the Properties dialog box, to edit the parameters of the currently selected light(s); when more than one light is selected, only common properties can be edited
Revert Override	Restores the original light parameters for the viewport(s), when the lights in selected sheet layer viewport(s) have been edited
Duplicate	Copies the currently selected light(s), placing the copy or copies on the same layer and in the same class as the original(s). Lights in symbols or plug-in objects cannot be duplicated.
Delete	Deletes the currently selected light(s). Lights in symbols or plug-in objects cannot be deleted.
Select On Document	Selects the current light(s), and automatically centers the view on the light, or its container (alternatively, double-click on a light in the Visualization palette, if the light is in the active class or layer.) The light properties can then be edited in the Object Info palette or by clicking Edit from the Visualization palette menu. The selection and editing of multiple lights at once is supported. If the light is not in the active class or layer, use the Force Select command instead. The VectorWorks Display preference must be set to show lights.
Force Select	If the light is in a different class or layer, activates the layer or class, and automatically centers the view on the light, or its container group or symbol. The light properties can then be edited in the Object Info palette or by clicking Edit from the Visualization palette menu. Multiple lights cannot be selected by this method.
Cameras tab	The Cameras tab accesses the parameters of the camera objects in the drawing
Name	Displays the name of the camera (as shown on the Data tab of the Object Info palette)
Class/Layer	Displays the camera’s class and layer
Menu commands	The Visualization palette menu commands manage and select camera objects
New	Activates the RenderWorks Camera tool; click to place a camera object
Edit	Opens the Properties dialog box, to edit the parameters of the currently selected camera(s)
Duplicate	Copies the currently selected camera(s), placing the copy or copies on the same layer and in the same class as the original(s)
Delete	Delete(s) the currently selected camera(s)
Activate	Selects the current camera, and automatically changes the view to that of the camera (alternatively, double-click on a camera in the Visualization palette)