Light Map Gen

Quick Start

Creating a light map

1. Aquire one latitude/longitude HDR tiff image, lets call it probemap.tif
2. At the command prompt run:
lightMapGen.exe -in probemap.tif -s 32 -normalize -writeDiagImages
3. You should now have 2 new files, namely probemap.lm (the lightmap) and probemap_samplingDiag.tif (diagnostic image)
4. (optional step) Load probemap.tif and probemap_samplingDiag.tif into HDR imaging software of your choice, observing the sample areas (green boxes) and sample locations (single pixels). See example.
5. Load Maya
6. Continue by choosing one of the two procedures below

Loading the light map as Maya lights

1. Source lightMapGen_loader.mel and execute lightMapGen_loader(0)
2. Browse to probemap.lm and select ok
3. Create a sphere and enabling shading/lighting mode
4. Adjust the dome light parameters (specifically intensity and cone angle) in the transform of the parent locator
5. (optional step) Set the path in the file texture attached to the light map dome (a low dynamic range version of the light map)
6. Create a sphere and render

Using the light map with the mental ray sphericalLight shader

1. Make sure sphericalLight is correctly installed including AEsphericalLightTemplate.mel
2. Source createSphericalLight.mel and execute createSphericalLight()
3. Select the new light named "sphericalLightX", then open the mental ray tab and find the connected custom light shader. This is the sphericalLight shader.
4. Click the .. button to browse for probemap.lm
5. Create a sphere and render with mental ray

-Jeremy Pronk 6/5/05
www.happiestdays.com