---
title: "Lighting in Katana"
canonical: "https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/RFK27/546178364/Lighting%20in%20Katana"
format: markdown
---
### About Analytic Lights

One of the most valuable features of RenderMan for Katana (RfK) is the ability to create and manage Lights. The sections below provide a brief overview of how to take advantage of these capabilities.


### Using RenderMan LightPackages

![image](media://ca8ba992-11df-4bff-9f45-4aa28c1214d7)


RfK offers PRMan-specific light packages for creating each type of light in GafferThree. These light packages minimize the number of steps necessary to create a light. [Shortcuts](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/RFK27/pages/546178425) let you add a light with only one keystroke. Each light package also includes a set of light-specific attributes, available in the Object tab of GafferThree, which lets you control certain attributes per-light without adding an additional PrmanObjectStatements node.   
  
The PxrMeshLight package includes the following attributes:

![image](media://0e21e704-9d85-4b04-b68c-3c73f8b56214)


The analytic light packages only include Camera Visibility, which is set 'Off' by default, because the renderer ignores the other visibility attributes for analytic lights.


### Creating Mesh Lights

There is a specific light package for creating mesh lights in GafferThree. To create a mesh light, select the desired geometry in the Scene Graph and add a "PxrMeshLight" in GafferThree. You can find a detailed explanation about mesh light setup in the link below:

- [Mesh Lights in RfK](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/RFK27/pages/546178518)


### Using Light Filters

Light filters are a powerful way to control a light's appearance. With Katana 2.0 or 2.1, light filters can be added to a scene with a PrmanLightFilterCreate node. GafferThree support for light filters is available in Katana 2.2 and above. You can find a detailed explanation about light filter setup in the link below:

- [Light Filters in Katana](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/RFK27/pages/546178552)


### Using Portal Lights

[PxrPortalLight](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN26/pages/19661743) is an optimized environment light. Because Portals are lights, not light filters, they require a special workflow. GafferThree support for portal lights is coming in a future version of Katana. You can find a detailed explanation about portal light setup in the link below:

- [Portal Lights in Katana](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/RFK27/pages/546178489)


### Light Sampling

Light Sampling capabilities are available through sample balancing in the integrator, typically with the **numLightSamples** option. Or using the Importance multiplier on the Light Parameter list to draw more samples from the sample pool.