Main Content

camlight

Create or move light object in camera coordinates

Syntax

camlight('headlight')
camlight('right')
camlight('left')
camlight
camlight(az,el)
camlight(...,'style')
camlight(lgt,...)
camlight(ax,...)
lgt = camlight(...)

Description

camlight('headlight') creates a light at the camera position.

camlight('right') creates a light right and up from camera.

camlight('left') creates a light left and up from camera.

camlight with no arguments is the same as camlight('right').

camlight(az,el) creates a light at the specified azimuth (az) and elevation (el) with respect to the camera position. The camera target is the center of rotation and az and el are in degrees.

camlight(...,'style') defines the style argument using one of two values:

  • local (default) — The light is a point source that radiates from the location in all directions.

  • infinite — The light shines in parallel rays.

camlight(lgt,...) uses the light specified by lgt.

camlight(ax,...) uses the axes specified by ax instead of the current axes.

lgt = camlight(...) returns the light object.

camlight sets the light object Position and Style properties. A light created with camlight does not track the camera. In order for the light to stay in a constant position relative to the camera, call camlight whenever you move the camera.

Examples

collapse all

Create a light positioned to the left of the camera and then reposition the light each time the camera moves.

surf(peaks)
axis vis3d
h = camlight('left');
for i = 1:20
   camorbit(10,0)
   camlight(h,'left')
   pause(.1)
end

Version History

Introduced before R2006a