Adding Lights

Creating the Sun with a Lens Flare

Adding a Ring Effect

 

Autodesk 3ds Max Tutorials > Special Effects > Creating the Sun with a Lens Flare > 

Adding a Glow to the Sun Using Lens Effects

In this topic, you'll create a simple glow effect and add a ring and a star effect to it. This will allow the Sun to glow in the sky above the planet.

You can add as many different effects as you like to create the sun’s glow. Try this effect, and then experiment with others.

Create a glow effect:

1. In the Camera viewport, select the Omni light named Sun.
2. Go to the Modify panel and click the Atmospheres & Effects rollout title to open it.

   

3. Click the Add button. The Add Atmosphere Or Effect dialog appears.

   

4. In the list, click Lens Effects, and then click OK.

   Lens Effects is now listed in the Atmospherics and Effects window.

   

5. Click the Lens Effects name in the window and click Setup.

   The Environment and Effects dialog appears.

   

6. In the Name field, name this lens effect Sun.

   The name is changed in the windows in the rollout and the dialog.

7. In the Preview group, turn on Interactive.

   A rendered frame window appears. This lets you see the lens effect as you make changes.

   TipYou should turn off Interactive when working in a complex scene, but it’s useful for experimentation.
8. On the Lens Effects Parameters rollout, choose Glow in the list on the left. Click the right arrow to move the effect into the list on the right.

   

   After a brief delay, the light source appears as a glowing sphere in the virtual frame buffer.

9. Scroll down to the Glow Element rollout. In the Name field, enter Main Sun.

   To change the look of your Sun, try the following settings in the Glow Element rollout:

   • Set Size to 50.0.
   • Set Intensity to 200.0, producing a very bright glow.
   • Set Use Source Color to 50.0.
   • In the Circular Color group, set Mix to 50.0, giving the Sun a soft red glow.

     

     

     TipWith Interactive on, you'll get faster results by changing numeric settings with the keyboard, rather than using the spinners.