You can access luminance properties via the Properties window of an object (see Object Properties), or by using the Luminances Palette (see Race98521).

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Note: If you are specifying luminance for the overall drawing, use the Render Scene Luminance. Drawing luminance can be applied either to the WCS (World Coordinate System) or UCS (User Coordinate System). See WCS and UCS.

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Category: Three categories are provided for you, but you can create new ones.
Single: Defines only one light type. See |#Ring25216.
Complex: Defines two or more lights. See |#Ring20837.
Flo resc Architec AV: A set of light types representing realistic lights, based on *.ies files from Lithonia Lighting. These files are stored in the Luminance\Photometric\ies folder.
Luminance: This field depends on the category. See the relevant section for details.
Edit Luminance: Opens the Luminance Editor. See Editing Luminances.
Loa d to render Luminance only: Check if you want to view only the object lights, and not the object itself.

Normal Render (Showing Object), and Load to Render Luminance Only

Lig ht Types

There are several types of lights you can use to define an object's luminance. Each type has relevant parameters such as intensity, color, direction, and location.
Am bient: Illuminates all surfaces equally, regardless of orientation.
Ar ea: Simulates a luminous surface.
Are a Goniometric: Combines area and goniometric shaders.
*Ar , but models only sky light that passes through portals, such as a window or door.
Dis tant: Light that is constant and parallel (non-conical).
Ey e: A light source located at the view point.
Go niometric: Directional light, whose direction is specified by an *.ies file (a text-based file). This luminance is useful for creating lighting based on manufacturers' lighting data, such as room lights, building lights, and street lights.
P oint: Light from a selected position.
Pr ojector: Projects a graphic image onto a solid object. An image file with full path must be specified.
Si mple Environment: A light shader that uses an environment map to light a scene.
Sim ple Sky: A simplified sky shader which models the illumination from a uniformly bright, single-color, hemispherical dome representing the sky.
Sk y: An area light that simulates sky light, providing soft and natural shadows. This light is modeled as a hemisphere of infinite radius, positioned above the center of the model.
S pot: Provides directional light that is constrained to a cone.
Su n: Projects a spot light from a very distant point, to simulates outdoor sunlight. You can combine Sun and Sky lights for a realistic rendering effect.

Sing le Luminance

Defines only one light. You can select one of the provided luminances, or create a new luminance via the Luminance Editor (see Editing Luminances).
Examples of Single Luminance light types are shown below.

Spot Light

Point Light

Projector (Projects an Image)

Comp lex Luminance

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Spot and Point Lights
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Spot, Point, and Distant Lights
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Point and Two Spot Lights