Things to fix:

  • Fix the file path in the Alembic_In node to a proper relative one.
  • Fix bug in DlSettings UI where the primary layer is drawn as selected, but the rest of the UI (i.e. multi-light) is not.
  • Revise rendered look - with proper colour management, things look washed and dull.
  • Re-do the multi-layers image with a layout more like the one in the 3dfm multi-light page, with proper layer naming.
  • Estimate the overhead of rendering the multi-light image.
  • Should implement "Environment" item in Multi-Light list in Katana.
  • Should add the "Display All Lights" toggle under the Multi-Light list.
  • Should add the "Visible to Camera" attribute on area lights so we can control if the light box itself is visible in the rendered image.

This tutorial illustrates how to render multiple light layers at once using 3Delight for KATANA, and how this kind of rendering can be used in 3Delight Display to interactively adjust the scene light intensities. In this context, the modifications are instantly shown in the rendered image and are applied in the scene by KATANA. The scene is available as a small package file here.


The layers of a multi-light image. Rendering such an image requires about 12% more time than rendering the RGBA "beauty" layer alone.


Rendering a multi-light image in KATANA


In the Node Graph, right-click on the DlSettings node and choose Show Parameters in Floating Pane.


In the Image Layers section, make sure that Framebuffer is set to 3Delight Display.


Click on the primary image layer to display its Multi-light settings.

In the Multi-Light section, select the light layers to be rendered.

In this sample scene, the key lights are grouped in a rig. Rigs get their own entry multi-light list; selecting one rig in that list will render a layer containing all of the rig's lights. Independent lights are listed under the Lights section.

Right-click the DlSettings node in the Node Graph and select Preview Render. 

3Delight Display will open and show the rendering as it progresses.

In 3Delight Display, display the contact sheet by double-click the layers icon in the Thumbnail View.

The Contact Sheet can also be displayed by choosing View → Contact Sheet.

All rendered layers are shown. You can see one layer per entry picked in the Multi-light list, in addition to the primary RGBA layer. Pick any layer to display it in full size by clicking on it. You can also use the page up and page down keys to cycle through the layers.  

Select the primary RGBA layer to continue.



Light Mixing in 3Delight Display

3Delight Display's Mixer can be used to interactively adjust light intensities. The modifications are instantly shown in the 3Delight Display rendered image and applied in the scene by KATANA.


In KATANA, double-click on the GafferThree node.

In the parameters section, unfold the rig node to display all three lights in the scene. Note their current intensity values.

Back in 3Delight Display, open the preferences by choosing File → Preferences...

In the Preferences window, pick the General tab. Make sure the Enable interactive adjustments of lights in the scene is enabled.

Close the Preferences dialog.

Bring up the Mixer by choosing Edit → Mixer...


The Mixer displays a list of lights that matches the selected entries in the Multi-LIght list of the rendering attributes.

  • Clicking on the solo gadget of a given light or rig will change the rendered image to show only that light's contribution to the rendering. At most one Mixer item can set as solo.
  • Clicking the check box gadget will toggle that light or light rig contribution to the rendered image on or off.
  • The Luminosity slider acts as an exposure on the light or light rig contribution to the rendered image.
  • The colour picker acts as a multiplier to the light source or light rig colour.


Drag one of the Luminosity sliders; you will see the rendered image in 3Delight Display will conform to the modified intensity.

The intensity values of the light(s) in KATANA will change accordingly.