Lighting Basics

Light Types

Ambient Light

• Fills the entire scene evenly
• No shadows
• Prevents completely dark areas
• Our editor: Low ambient (0.4 intensity)

Directional Light

• Like the sun - parallel rays
• Casts shadows
• Has direction but no position
• Our editor: Main light from above

Point Light

• Like a light bulb
• Radiates in all directions
• Falls off with distance
• Not used in our basic editor

[!INFO]
Our editor uses a pre-configured lighting setup optimized for modeling. In more advanced 3D software, you can fully customize lights.

Shadows

Directional light creates shadows:

• Objects block light
• Shadows show depth and grounding
• Help objects "sit" on surfaces

[!TIP]
Shadows are crucial for making your scene look realistic. They help viewers understand the spatial relationships between objects.

Environment Lighting

Our editor includes environment lighting:

• Simulates light from the sky
• Creates subtle reflections
• Makes metallic materials look realistic

Tips for Good Lighting

• Position objects on the grid - shadows ground them
• Use metallic materials - they show environment reflections
• Avoid pure black - use dark gray for better visibility
• Check from multiple angles - orbit to see how light hits

Why It Matters

Good lighting:

• Reveals shape and form
• Shows material properties
• Creates mood and atmosphere
• Makes exports look professional

[!NOTE]
When you export your model, the lighting won't be included - only the objects and materials. The destination (website, game, etc.) will provide its own lighting.