Create Light Using MATLAB

Open Live Script

This example shows how to create custom lighting using a sim3d.Light object in the 3D environment. First, create a room. Next, create and place three actors inside the room. Then, create a point light, a spot light, and a rectangular light and place them above each actor inside the room. Finally, view the room and the actors illuminated by the different types of light in the Simulation 3D Viewer window.

Create 3D Environment

Create a world object using sim3d.World.

world = sim3d.World();

Create Room

Create a room using the sim3d.Actor object. Set the properties of the room to visualize the light and add the room to the world.

room = sim3d.Actor(ActorName='Room');
createShape(room,'box',[60 60 20]);
room.Shadows = 1;
room.TwoSided = 1;
room.Flat = 1;
room.Metallic = 0;
room.Shininess = 0;
room.Color = [0.1 0.1 0.1];
add(world,room);

Create Actors

Create actors inside the room using the sim3d.Actor object. Set the properties of the actors and add the actors to the world.

% Create box actor
box = sim3d.Actor(ActorName='Box');
createShape(box,'box',[3 3 3]);
box.Translation = [27 -15 -6];
box.Shadows = 1;
box.Metallic = 0;
box.Shininess = 0;
add(world,box);

% Create sphere actor
sphere = sim3d.Actor(ActorName='Sphere');
createShape(sphere,'sphere',[3 3 3]);
sphere.Translation = [27 0 -6];
sphere.Shadows = 1;
sphere.Metallic = 0;
sphere.Shininess = 0;
add(world,sphere);

% Create cone actor
cone = sim3d.Actor(ActorName='Cone');
createShape(cone,'cone',[3 3 3]);
cone.Translation = [27 15 -6];
cone.Shadows = 1;
cone.Metallic = 0;
cone.Shininess = 0;
add(world,cone);

Create Point Light

Create a point light, set the light properties, and place the light above the box actor.

pointlight = sim3d.Light( ...
    ActorName='PointLight', ...
    LightType='PointLight');
pointlight.SourceRadius = 0.5;
pointlight.Intensity = 50000;
pointlight.AttenuationRadius = 20;
pointlight.Translation = [27 -15 0];
pointlight.LightColor = [1 1 0];
add(world,pointlight);

Create Spot Light

Create a spot light, set the light properties, and place the light above the sphere actor.

spotlight = sim3d.Light( ...
    ActorName='SpotLight', ...
    LightType='SpotLight');
spotlight.Intensity = 500000;
spotlight.Translation = [27 0 4];
spotlight.Rotation = [0, -pi/2, 0];
spotlight.AttenuationRadius = 20;
spotlight.LightColor = [1 1 0];
spotlight.ConeAngle = 30;
add(world,spotlight);

Create Rectangular Light

Create a rectangular light, set the light properties, and place the light above the cone actor.

rectlight = sim3d.Light( ...
    ActorName='RectLight', ...
    LightType='RectLight');
rectlight.Intensity = 50000;
rectlight.Translation = [27 15 -2];
rectlight.Rotation = [0, -pi/2, 0];
rectlight.AttenuationRadius = 20;
rectlight.LightColor = [1 1 0];
rectlight.SourceWidth = 3;
add(world,rectlight);

Run Simulation

Set the Simulation 3D Viewer window point of view using createViewpoint function and setView function and run the simulation. You can visualize the reflections of each light type on the wall behind the actors.

view = createViewpoint(world);
view.Translation = [3 0 -2];
setView(world,view);

sampletime = 0.01;
stoptime = 5;
run(world,sampletime,stoptime);

An unlit room featuring a box on the left, a sphere in the center, and a cone on the right. The box is illuminated by a point light, the sphere is illuminated by a spotlight, and the cone is illuminated by a rectangular light.

delete(world);