This may seem like a dumb question; I’ve searched and searched on the net for anything relating to turning off and on lights in a scene, to no avail. I’m currently trying to animate a light to simulate a fluorescent bulb turning on. I’ve done this by setting a key frame for the Render Visibility as “unchecked” and the next key frame is “checked”, essentially turning the light from “off” to “on”.

The problem I’m having is that I have several lights in the scene and each one seems to be yielding different results (All lights are Area lights and have the same values, with the exception of associated models and falloff)! When one light is “on”, it doesn’t illuminate anything, while others do!  When I take the key frames out and leave the lights alone, they work just fine… but setting key frames for the Render Visibility seems to be “wonky” at best.

I’ve been trying to trouble shoot this for DAYS. Any simple techniques for turning a light off and on?

Thank you!

Hi MajorSharp, you can use the Diffuse and Specular option that is displayed at the very top of the lights PPG. If you turn Diffuse off the light will not lit the objects. If you turn Specular off then the objects will not show any specular caused by the light. So in your case that the light is off and then on you want to make sure you have both disconnected. You can also drag the keyframe button of the Diffuse over the keyframe button of the Specular which will creat an expression that will link both together. So when just animating the Diffuse the Specular will do the same.

You also could go animating the light´s intensity in the same PPG. Click on the RGB button below the color of the light and it will turn into HLS. Now adjust the L “Luminance” to black and key. Then up to white or whatever. This is useful if you do not want a very drastic animation.

To be more precise, maybe you should animate both. Let me explain: As the tube gets hotter it will produce more light but at the same time it can be blinking:
So animate for example the Intensity from fram 0 to 20 and then animate the Diffuse and Specular on and off in a random fashion.

Sergio Gardella
Autodesk Certified Instructor
http://www.bloompixstudios.com

Thanks Sergio! That was a huge help, I did exactly what you said, in conjunction with a glowing light panel and the effect is much more striking than I had in mind!

Thanks again!

Sounds great! I´m happy to help.
Let´s see some cool light flickering on your video soon!

Sergio Gardella
Autodesk Certified Instructor
http://www.bloompixstudios.com