Sunlight Settings

Sunlight Settings is accessible from:

  • Context menu of a 3D view listed in the Navigator
  • Camera Tool Settings: Click the Sunlight... button
  • View > 3D View Options > 3D Projection Settings: Click the Sunlight... button

Sunlight Settings are relevant for:

  • PhotoRenderings
  • Sun Studies
  • 3D Projections (and views created from these)

    SunBox.png
Note: For Physically Based Renderer: Some controls work differently. See Sunlight Settings for Physically Based Rendering

Set light parameters

Set parameters for each component of the light: Sunlight (directional) and Ambient Light.

  • Sunlight is the directional light falling on the project.
    • Sunlight color: Click the color sample box to choose a Sunlight color.

    • Sunlight color intensity: Choose between 0 and 100%. This intensity value multiplies the brightness component of the sunlight color.

    • Contribution to ambient: Choose a percentage for how much of the Sunlight should be represented in non-directional, ambient light.
  • Ambient light is indirect light that brightens the parts of the model that are in direct shadow.
    • Ambient light color: Click the color sample box to choose a color for the ambient light.
    • Ambient light correction: Choose an Ambient light color intensity between 0 and 100%.

Sunlight Settings for Physically Based Rendering

The Physically Based Renderer for 3D views is available as an experimental feature.

Physically based renderer in 3D Window - Experimental feature

Sunlight Settings are available, but some controls work a bit differently.

Table 1. What to know about Sunlight Settings for Physically Based Renderer
Control / behavior Physically Based Renderer Notes
Sunlight Not available

Sunlight color is derived from the Sun position set in 3D Projection Settings and from the Project Location.
Sunlight color intensity (slider)

Mitigates Sun illuminance as if the sky were “cloudy” (0% looks “rainy”)

 --
Contribution to ambient Not available --
Ambient light correction (slider)

Corrects the color of shadowed areas, which would otherwise have a bluish tint due to the physical sky.

100% means that the diffuse illuminance is white (instead of blue, which is at 0%). Useful for indoor scenes.
Ambient light color Not available --
External scenes - Light threshold examples

 

Sunlight=100%

Ambient=0%

Blue shadows


Sunlight=100%

Ambient=100%

“Mediterranean sunshine”


Sunlight=0%

Ambient=100%

No shadows, “Cloudy day”


Sunlight=0%

Ambient=0%

No shadows, “Rainy day”
Internal scenes - Light threshold examples Internal scenes - Light threshold examples Internal scenes - Light threshold examples Internal scenes - Light threshold examples
Blue shadows Correct shadows, no tint No shadows No shadows, blue tint
Interior scenes - Light threshold examples

 

Sunlight=100%

Ambient=0%

Blue shadows


Sunlight=100%

Ambient=100%

Correct shadows, no tint


Sunlight=0%

Ambient=100%

No shadow


Sunlight=0%

Ambient=0%

No shadows, blue tint