shawn
34507f9043
- docs/mapmaking/00-index.md — SDK overview with workflow diagram - docs/mapmaking/01-getting-started.md — template setup & first map - docs/mapmaking/02-building-geometry.md — CSG guide & prefab reference - docs/mapmaking/03-lighting-and-env.md — LightmapGI baking guide - docs/mapmaking/04-validation.md — validator CLI & CI/CD usage - docs/mapmaking/05-packaging-and-shipping.md — .pck pipeline - docs/mapmaking/06-faq-and-troubleshooting.md — 30+ common issues - README.md — add mapmaking SDK link to features list
160 lines
6.4 KiB
Markdown
160 lines
6.4 KiB
Markdown
# Lighting & Environment Setup
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Proper lighting is the difference between a map that looks professional and one
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that looks like a grey box. Tactical Shooter uses Godot's **LightmapGI** system
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for baked global illumination: light bounces are pre-calculated and stored in
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lightmaps, giving you realistic lighting at zero runtime cost.
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## Lighting Architecture
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```
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DirectionalLight3D (sun) — main directional light, shadows
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└─ OmniLight3D (fill) — ambient fill lights, no shadow
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└─ LightmapGI — bakes all static lighting into textures
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└─ baked lightmaps (zero runtime cost)
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```
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## 1. WorldEnvironment
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Every map needs a `WorldEnvironment` node. This controls:
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- **Sky** — Background appearance (skybox or solid colour)
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- **Ambient light** — Base light level for unlit surfaces
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- **Tonemapping** — Colour grading and exposure
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**Setup:**
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1. The template already includes a `WorldEnvironment` node
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2. If creating from scratch, add one via the scene tree → + button → `WorldEnvironment`
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3. In the Inspector, assign an `Environment` resource (New Environment)
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4. Configure:
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- **Background:** Sky (for outdoor) or Clear Color (for underground maps)
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- **Ambient Light:** Sky (mimics sky colour) or Color (custom ambient)
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- **Tonemap:** Reinhard or Filmic (prevents blown-out highlights)
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> The validator warns if WorldEnvironment is missing — add it early.
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## 2. DirectionalLight3D (Sun)
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The main sun light. One per map.
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**Recommended settings:**
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| Property | Value | Reason |
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|----------|-------|--------|
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| `light_bake_mode` | Static (2) | Bakes into lightmap |
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| `shadow_enabled` | true | Required for competitive visibility |
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| `shadow_bias` | 0.1 | Prevents shadow acne on CSG |
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| `angular_distance` | 0.01 | Sharp sunlight (competitive visual clarity) |
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| `range` | 50–100 | Large enough to cover the map |
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**Positioning:**
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- Rotate the sun to create interesting shadows through windows/doorways
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- Avoid straight-down lighting (makes everything look flat)
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- A 45° angle works well for most maps
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## 3. Fill Lights (OmniLight3D)
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Fill lights illuminate areas the sun doesn't reach (interiors, tunnels).
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**Rules:**
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- **Maximum 4 dynamic (non-baked) lights** — enforced by the validator
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- Fill lights should use `light_bake_mode = Static (2)` so they bake into
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the lightmap and don't count toward the dynamic budget
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- Use low intensity (0.3–0.5) for ambient fill
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**Performance tip:** Every omni/spot light with `shadow_enabled = true` is
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expensive. The validator warns on dynamic lights with shadows. Baked lights
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with shadows disabled are free — use them.
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## 4. LightmapGI — Baked Global Illumination
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LightmapGI is the backbone of Tactical Shooter's lighting. It pre-computes
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light bouncing and stores the result as textures (lightmaps).
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### Configuration
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| Property | Recommended | Notes |
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|----------|-------------|-------|
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| `quality` | 2 (High) | Higher = better GI, longer bake |
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| `bounces` | 3 | Minimum 2 for realistic indirect lighting |
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| `texel_scale` | 1.0–2.0 | Lower = higher res, longer bake |
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| `max_texture_size` | 1024 | Controls lightmap atlas size |
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| `use_denoiser` | true | Removes noise from baked result |
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| `environment_mode` | 0 (Baked Environment) | Uses WorldEnvironment for sky lighting |
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### Baking
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To bake: select the `LightmapGI` node → click **Bake Lightmap** in the top
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toolbar (or `Ctrl+Shift+C`).
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**Baking checklist:**
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- [ ] All geometry is finalised (moving geometry after baking invalidates it)
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- [ ] All lights have correct bake mode (Static for baked, Dynamic for real-time)
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- [ ] CSG has `use_collision = true` (non-collidable CSG may not bake properly)
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- [ ] WorldEnvironment is configured with a sky or ambient colour
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- [ ] Save the scene before baking
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**Baking time:** Varies by map complexity. A small map (10×14 units) bakes in
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30–60 seconds. A full competitive map (20×20) may take 5–10 minutes.
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### After Baking
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- The LightmapGI node's `light_data` property will show a `LightmapGIData` resource
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- The validator checks for `light_data != null` to confirm the map is baked
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- Baked lightmaps are stored in the `.tscn` file as embedded resources
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- You can rebake at any time — it overwrites the previous lightmaps
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**Warning:** Opening an unbaked map on a server will default to unlit rendering.
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Always bake before packaging.
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## 5. ReflectionProbe
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ReflectionProbes add specular reflections to shiny surfaces (metal, glass, water).
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- Place one `ReflectionProbe` near the `cubemap_origin` marker
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- Set `max_distance` to cover the visible area (10–30 units)
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- Enable `box_projection` for interior spaces (corrects reflection distortion)
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- Set `intensity` to 0.5–0.8 (realistic reflection strength)
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**Tip:** You need reflection probes even if your map has no mirrors — they make
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metal and plastic materials look correct.
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## 6. Lighting Performance Budget
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| Metric | Limit | Enforced |
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|--------|-------|----------|
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| Dynamic (non-baked) lights | ≤ 4 | Validator (error) |
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| Total lights (baked + dynamic) | Unlimited | — |
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| LightmapGI bounces | ≥ 2 | Validator (warning) |
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| ReflectionProbes | ≥ 1 | Validator (warning) |
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| Lightmap max texture | ≤ 2048 | Project settings |
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If you exceed the dynamic light budget, set more lights to
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`light_bake_mode = Static (2)` — baked lights cost nothing at runtime.
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## 7. Quick Start Checklist
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- [ ] WorldEnvironment with Environment resource assigned
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- [ ] DirectionalLight3D (sun) with shadows
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- [ ] 1–3 fill OmniLight3D with Static bake mode
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- [ ] LightmapGI with quality=2, bounces=3, texel_scale=1.0
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- [ ] ReflectionProbe at cubemap origin
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- [ ] All geometry CSG has `use_collision = true`
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- [ ] Save scene → Bake LightmapGI (Ctrl+Shift+C)
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- [ ] Verify `light_data` is populated (not null)
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## Troubleshooting
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| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
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|---------|-------------|-----|
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| Light leaks at corners | CSG gap < 0.01 units | Overlap CSG edges by 0.1 |
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| Baked lighting too dark | bounces too low | Set bounces ≥ 2 |
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| Lightmap seams visible | texel_scale too high | Lower texel_scale to 1.0 |
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| Shadow acne (striped shadows) | shadow_bias too low | Increase shadow_bias to 0.1 |
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| ReflectionProbe visible as sphere | probe_mode wrong | Set to Box or disable visibility |
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| Bake fails with error | Scene not saved | Save `.tscn` before baking |
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## Next Steps
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- [Map Validation](04-validation.md) — run all checks on your scene
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- [Packaging & Shipping](05-packaging-and-shipping.md) — publish your map
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