Circular Area Lights?

[novakog]

Is there a way to create circular area lights? Maybe it's not area lights, but what I'm trying to do, is create a circular light (like a spotlight) and have it emit a circle of light that doesn't expand over distance, it's supposed to be a laser pointer.

[deke-kincaid]

Maya 4.5 has a volume light that will do what your asking. Otherwise, if you don't have 4.5, then play with the falloff on the area light.

[novakog]

Thanx. I think what I'll do is make the area light emit a texture that's a black image with a colored circle.