OTOY Forums

Hi everyone,

I've been using Octane for 3ds Max for about a month now, but only recently have I tried using IES lights. I'm aware that you can create an IES light using the command panel and can load an IES file into it, and that's fine.

However, I'd like to use an IES file with a mesh of my own, instead of just the default shape used by the IES light created from the command panel. The manual (page 37) states that you can connect a float texture node to the Distribution property of a BlackBody emission map and load an IES file into the float texture.

I've attempted this, but it seems that the float texture node will only allow image formats to be loaded.

Is there a step I'm missing?

with the floattexture you simply control the distribution amount; in the standalone you would connect a floatimage which allows to select an ies file (no max user, don't know if this works in max)...

Appreciate the response.

The manual definitely states that you should use a "floattexture", but no such thing exists in the 3ds Max plugin. I suppose you'd just use a gray scale color. Either way, its definitely not the way to use IES files.

I had in fact been attempting to use the floatimage texture. Nonetheless, it is capable only of loading image files. Trying to load an IES file results in an error describing an invalid file type.

I tried it in the Stand-Alone version, and it works just like it says in the manual for both itself and the plugin, leading me to believe that the manual for the plugin was simply copied and pasted in a near-wholesale manner from the Stand-Alone manual.

The built-in IES light object will have to do.

Thanks again for the help.

michaelkdaw wrote:Hi everyone,

I've been using Octane for 3ds Max for about a month now, but only recently have I tried using IES lights. I'm aware that you can create an IES light using the command panel and can load an IES file into it, and that's fine.

However, I'd like to use an IES file with a mesh of my own, instead of just the default shape used by the IES light created from the command panel. The manual (page 37) states that you can connect a float texture node to the Distribution property of a BlackBody emission map and load an IES file into the float texture.

I've attempted this, but it seems that the float texture node will only allow image formats to be loaded.

Is there a step I'm missing?

Wait for a new version next week.

Yee Haw! the countdown is on...