Light and shadows

Local lights can enhance realism and atmosphere, but they can also significantly impact performance — especially when shadows are enabled.

Tips & recommendations

• Try HDRI adjustments first – if a scene lacks lighting, start by trying different HDRI environments. And make sure to fine-tune HDRI parameters for optimal lighting results. Note that Environment Intensity can be set above 100% by manually entering the value.

• Be mindful with shadows – by default, local lights have shadows disabled. Enable them only when necessary, and only on the specific lights where shadows add a clear visual benefit.

• Prefer directional or spotlight sources – these light types are generally more efficient in terms of shadow rendering and performance.

• Limit shadow-heavy light types – avoid using more than one Point or Rectangle light with shadows enabled in a scene. These types of lights are more taxing on performance.