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title: "VRayLight"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VMAX/113586936/VRayLight"
format: markdown
---
This page introduces the various ways a VRayLight object is used to create area lights of different shapes, with specific uses of the different VRayLight types linked below. Overview The VRayLight is a V-Ray specific light source object that can be used to create physically accurate area lights of different shapes. Shapes are selected through options when creating the light via 3ds Max's Create panel (or Create menu), or, after the light is created, through the 3ds Max Modify panel. A VRayLight can be set to any one of the following types: Plane light  – A flat rectangular light. Disc light  – A flat circular light. Sphere light  – A spherical light. Mesh light  – A mesh object converted to a light source. Dome light  – A spherical or hemispherical light that shines inward from outside the scene extents. The light type is set or changed with the  Type  parameter in the VRayLight  General  rollout. VRayLight Types A  Plane  light is a rectangular light source. This type of light is suitable for representing some recessed ceiling lighting, accent lamps, and other area-dependent light sources. Its light cone can be adjusted with the  Directional  parameter in the Rectangle/disc rollout. See the  Plane - Disc - Sphere Light  page.   Plane  lights wireframe   Rendering with  Plane  lights only (with slight  Bloom Effect ) A  Disc  light is a circular light source with functionality similar to that of a rectangular-shaped  Plane  light. Its light cone can be adjusted with the  Directional  parameter in the Rectangle/disc rollout. See the  Plane - Disc - Sphere Light  page.   Disc  lights in viewport   Rendering with  Disc  lights only (with slight   Bloom Effect  ) A  Dome  light shines light evenly inward from an area shaped as a spherical or half-spherical dome that surrounds the entire scene. A dome light is commonly used with a high-dynamic range texture to shine light of various colors into the scene (image-based lighting). See the  Dome Light  page.   Dome  light in viewport   Rendering with just a  Dome  light A  Sphere  light is an area light whose surface area is shaped as a spherical surface that shines in all directions. See the  Plane - Disc - Sphere Light  page.   Sphere  lights represent light bulbs in hanging fixture   Rendering with  Sphere  lights only (with slight  Bloom Effect ) A  Mesh  light creates a light source from an object's surface area. It is useful for representing odd-shaped light sources such as string lights or lanterns. See the  Mesh Light  page.   Mesh  light wireframe   Rendering with lighting from  Mesh  light only