Tool Crib TV takes a look at using area lights in Mental Ray for Maya comparing settings, looking at shaders, physical lights in Mental Ray and blackbodies, and using CIE temperature controls as well.
Lighting in Mental Ray – Area Lights – 01 from toolcribtv on Vimeo.
Lighting in Mental Ray – Area Lights – 02 from toolcribtv on Vimeo.
“In this series we examine area lights in Maya and Mental Ray, cross comparing with a variety of settings, area light shapes and different quality settings. We then graduate to implementing mental ray centric shaders into the area light with physical lights, blackbodies and cie temperature controls.”
Don’t scale your area lights in the light direction (Z) as this affects your lights fall off.