Shadows not appearing in game

[IJNbez]

Hey everyone, I'm new to mapping so forgive me if this is simple..

I am using a 'p7_light_hurricane_lamp' model with a Primary_Omni acting as the light source. In Radiant when I position the light inside the lamp model it creates hard thin shadows which look realistic of a lamp.

I noticed the shadows created were very hard so I wanted to soften them, I did this using the 'PenumbraRadius' under shadows in the entity info tab and I am really happy with the result in Radiant preview however in game there are no shadows of the model and the light is just giving a basic eclipse shadow.

Can you guys give me some links / tips on understanding lighting better, I have tried baking with the lighting on 'high' but this makes the map very dark.

Thanks to anyone who can offer me some wisdom

Ben

[Spawner2fix]

Did you put probes? Here are some tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beP7zrpUCwI (SSI and lights)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAmmmDvZp_A (SSI and light bulbs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR_uOhNUzb4&list=PLsRDR3cRTp1KmXEwBzuv7q2BTHu9wZmvL&index=19 (light leak fix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMUcnDYBYc&list=PLsRDR3cRTp1KmXEwBzuv7q2BTHu9wZmvL&index=23 (probes)

[IJNbez]

Originally posted by Spawner2fix:

Did you put probes? Here are some tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beP7zrpUCwI (SSI and lights)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAmmmDvZp_A (SSI and light bulbs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR_uOhNUzb4&list=PLsRDR3cRTp1KmXEwBzuv7q2BTHu9wZmvL&index=19 (light leak fix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMUcnDYBYc&list=PLsRDR3cRTp1KmXEwBzuv7q2BTHu9wZmvL&index=23 (probes)

Thank you very much for your response here,

I have checked out these videos again and specifically the one about probes.. I have the effects of the refection_probe in action in the room and this doesn't seem to solve the shadow problem sadly.

In the first video (by Program115) he covers the setting specifically at 6:15 and softens the shadows coming from the lamp, I am able to achieve this perfectly in Radiant viewer but never when I 'run map'.. the shadows appear boring and unnatural.

Shadows in game (boring):

https://gyazo.com/391679a9ac91638f45241c09c3b49eb3

Shadows in Radiant view (desired effect):

https://gyazo.com/6158a3420ac3b1f9f0683a524b0b3bbe


I could try opening up a new zm_test and setting up a room with the same light to see if it works in a more simple setup where I can try and see what the problem is.

EDIT: The SPOT light gives the desired effect with shadows and PenumbraRadius works perfectly in game to how Radiant does. Are you not able to get nice shadows with an omni light alone?

[Spawner2fix]

Probes makes light more natural so it is recommended to put it .but if everything works better without it then u can not use it. Have you checked in game settings? Maybe some options in video settings mess up with it

[IJNbez]

Originally posted by Spawner2fix:

Probes makes light more natural so it is recommended to put it .but if everything works better without it then u can not use it. Have you checked in game settings? Maybe some options in video settings mess up with it

I still haven't figured this out haha. I have found that I can get around the issue by creating a SPOT_ light and placing for desired shadows. Then using an OMNI_ just to create the light source inside the lamp.

I have yet to figure out why shadows dont work on OMNI lights in my Radiant. 'PRIMARY_NOSHADOWMAP' is set to 'False' so it cannot be this either.

Thanks

[Spawner2fix]

No problem! Glad you managed to solve it ^^