In this tutorial, we'll experiment with grayscale maps controlling light shaders (cookies).

This tutorial requires:

Pixels3D | studio | v3.x

We're going to create a Light Shader that simulates the caustic pattern emitted by a flashlight.

Open an existing scene, or use the Primitives scene included with the tutorial support files.

Select the Light in the scene, and create a new light shader for it. This light will create the slight blue ambience visible in the dark.

Use the settings on the right -

A Flashlight Map is relatively simple to create in Photoshop.

Use the gradient editor to create something similar to the image on the right.

With the radial gradient tool, drag from the center of an image outward, and there you have it.

The flashlight map is included with the support files.

Create a new light, and a new shader for it.

Load the flashlight map into the Diffuse Value, and Specular Value nodes. This limits the intensity of the light to the map.

If we use the star map, available in the tutorial support files , in the Diffuse Value / Specular Value nodes, and set the light type to Point, the map will be tiled infinitely, and projected onto the entire scene!

By setting only two position keyframes for the point light, the entire projection shifts for a 'disco lights' effect.

Experiment with various image maps within light shaders.

Don't forget to show your work.