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7. The Menus / 7.8 The Effects Menu

### 7.8.4 Effect Filters/Lights

Lights simulates one or more light sources, that shine on an image.

The light sources are displayed in the preview field at the right side. The active light source has a small red dot in its center, the other ones a green one. By clicking on a green dot, the corresponding light source can be edited. Around the active light source there is an ellipse, that represents its outline on the image. The two filled handles on the ellipse are used to change the width of the outline, the two hollow handles are used to change the length of the outline. The width can never be larger than the length. If the width is equal to the length, the light source is exactly vertical above the image.

The value Brightness in Ambient light controls the basic brightness of the image. Usually this value is smaller than 100% in order to darken the image, because only this way it is ensured, that the light sources create a good effect.

Spot controls the attributes of the active light source. Focus is its sharpness. The value 0% indicates a point light source and is therefore maximum blurred, the value 100% isn’t blurred at all, that means in the lighted area is equal brightness. The area with equal brightness is displayed by a small ellipse inside the light source ellipse. If Focus is 0%, this small ellipse is invisible, because nowhere is equal brightness. Brightness is the brightness of the light source. A value smaller than 0% doesn’t lighten an image but darkens it. Color is the color of the light source and Direction is the direction, from where the light comes.

Pressing New Spot creates a new light source, Delete Spot deletes the active one.