Linked and mirrored lights

Create a linked light#

In HDR Canvas's header, enable Horizontal, Vertical or Horizontal and Vertical mirror mode before adding a light. Horizontal or Vertical creates two mirrored contributions; both axes create four. One layer stores the shared definition.

You can also convert an existing light from its right-click menu or Light Properties. Mass Actions can convert a selected set. A linked-light indicator appears in Light Stack and Light Properties.

Edit and move#

Change the light's appearance once to update its mirrored instances. HDR Canvas shows their related handles. Dragging a mirrored handle changes the shared definition while maintaining the selected symmetry. Use the numbered handles to distinguish linked contributions from unrelated lights.

Change the mirror type#

Use the layer's right-click menu or Light Properties to switch between Horizontal, Vertical, or both. The link remains editable. Changing type changes the number and placement of mirrored contributions.

Unlink#

Choose Unlink from the layer menu, Light Properties or Mass Actions. The linked definition becomes two or four individual light layers. Their settings can then diverge. Unlinking can be refused when the resulting layers would exceed the project limit.

Unlinking a mirrored Composite creates independent copies of its complete child tree. Source regions, channels and locked-child settings remain intact. The layer limit counts the whole copied tree; if it cannot fit, the operation leaves the project unchanged.