Lighting Analysis in 3ds Max By Steven Schain Make sure that your building’s lighting needs are met with some simple tips for improved lighting analysis. W hether you are designing a building or renovating an interior to obtain LEED NC 2.2 EQ credit 8.1 certification, performing a daylight simulation analysis can reveal whether or not sufficient sunlight will enter the building. Lighting analysis is used by designers, architects and engineers for a variety of purposes. A lighting designer may use lighting analysis to ensure that there’s enough light reaching a particular surface and that the lighting matches the architect’s desired aesthetic. An engineer may use lighting analysis from a more technical standpoint – he or she may be concerned with whether or not the light in a workspace meets various workplace standards for minimum illumination values. Designs can be tested and evaluated using the lighting analysis tools. 3ds Max provides a useful interface for daylight simulation and lighting analysis. These lighting analysis tools utilize the accuracy of the daylight system, in conjunction with mental ray and the mental ray photographic exposure controls, to provide an accurate simulation of daylight and artificial lighting in an environment. The lighting analysis tools are well integrated into the 3ds Max main interface, and provide tools to perform lighting analysis for both daylight simulation and artificial lighting analysis. The daylight analysis in 3ds Max is used for a wide variety of reasons, including sun and shadow studies and glare analysis. Daylight analysis is especially important for LEED daylight credits toward green building certification. Daylight simulation in 3ds Max has been validated by the National Research Council of Canada. It has been tested for daylight rendering through multiple configurations, including: glazing options for windows, different shade options, such as vertical or horizontal blinds, light shelves, and other shading options, as well as the inclusion of skylights in the building design. When performing lighting analysis, you can be sure that what is being calculated will be accurate by following a few simple rules. 22 www.cadlearning.com