ok I am wrestling with  point lights or rather getting them into place.

WHY?

because I cant see them in the window.

I know how to use them(rather fond of them really) But placing them in a big scene where I have to light wall  panels is about to give me an aneurysm due to the fact I keep "loosing" them in the scene and cant see them to place them.

Is there a way for me to get cross hairs that are visible so I can see where I am placing these lights?

Quote - Is this because they're being blocked from view by other objects in the scene?  Stuff like room walls and ceilings should probably have its Element display mode set to Outline to keep that from being a problem.

did that it(chaning the element style), helped but they arent showing enough for me to acutally see. the walls arent blocking them as yet, the would be in the middle of the room or near the walls if it was a real room. But moving them closer so I can get them aligned with the light panels (so they are JUST infront of them) is driving me mad.

I have spun the camera all over the place to get them into view but they are still so hard to see I am having real trouble placing them in the correct location to give the effect I need.

I have struggled with this before..just this time I have 14 to set up in the light pannels and I am 'bout to go blind trying to do it.

You could set the Element display mode for the light to be something like Texture Shaded, and maybe scale up the light also.  I don't usually scale lights up and that may have side effects on how the light behaves, but you can just scale it back to 100% (probably you'd want to anyhow as you get the light positioned).

You could temporarily substitute a more visible thing for the point-light icon.

The icon is  runtimeGeometriesLightspointLite.obj

Rename this OBJ file to something like Real-pointLite.obj so you don't lose it, then copy some larger and more distinct OBJ file (like a primitive ball) to the pointLite filename.

Well the default is a sphere already, just the Element display setting is set to Outline so it shows up as a circle.

Just increase the size of the point light until you move it into place. I usually set the scale to about 1500%. I often do this with other props which I can't find where they are.

Scaling them will help to locate them.  One method I use, switch to top camera, push it back far and then select your point light.  If it is within view, it will show up as a red outline orb.  If it is not within view, still select the point light, hold down the shift key, and move your mouse cursor.  That should, hopefully bring it into viewing range.  Switch to front-, left-, right-, etc cameras alternatively to find it's exact position.

Can you ust parent the light to an object (or an object to the light) like a box then move the object instead  (Like a Null)...make it cast no shadows...then just make the object invisable in render?

You can, and I've tried that, but it frequently makes lights go nuts (brightness in particular).  It may be worth trying again since SR3 but I doubt it's been changed.

well I am using poser6 btw.

I am not sure how I am going to fix it but after setting up 14 of them, I am saving the set up just so I wont have to do it again for that prop >.<

You can also change your foreground color to something brighter.  The default color is usually  black or grey, but if you change it to pink or lime green then you'll be able to see your lights and magnets and fans much easier.

I find it easiest to use Ockham's python script "Move Prop To" script to position point lights. It moves them to the center of whatever object you want them to appear in (bulb of a lamp, etc). Then it's easy to use the xyz parameters for fine adjustment.

If you don't have this free script, you should definitely get it. It does wonders for getting objects into position quickly!

Quote - I find it easiest to use Ockham's python script "Move Prop To" script to position point lights. It moves them to the center of whatever object you want them to appear in (bulb of a lamp, etc). Then it's easy to use the xyz parameters for fine adjustment.

If you don't have this free script, you should definitely get it. It does wonders for getting objects into position quickly!

normally if I was using them in a lamp etc I would just copy location and paste it back in and it works but these are light panels in a obj that is one piece. so I cant do that.

that is why it has been such a headache >.<

I am not new to poser nor to point lights. I just dont understand why there isnt a way to get cross hair indicators for location on them.

Using the shadow light camera can help you see where you are, or at least what your light is looking at, might need to switch it to spotlight temporarily just so you can get a good look around.

select  the point light.

in Display  menu  choose

"element style"

choose

"texture shaded"

;-)

You are lighting wall panels?  Which version of Poser are you using?

Quote - You are lighting wall panels?  Which version of Poser are you using?

p6

Reason I asked, the current P8 & PoserPro 2010, with IDL implementation, are capable of utilizing ambient channels to emit lights from objects.  It is much less render intensive than multiple lights, but unfortunately this does not help you with your current situation.

You can light that way, but there are some pretty major downsides: you don't have any control over how shadows behave, and ambient lighting does not produce any specular effects.  Something to keep in mind.

i love point lights, (P7) 

i hate  Poser lighting in general  but i  love point lights  much  like the way  the OP mentioned  he/she  employs them

Quote - i love point lights, (P7) 

i hate  Poser lighting in general  but i  love point lights...

Me too :)

although P8, the introduction of inverse linear and square options is pretty cool.