Adding shadows in Blender's Eevee render engine is primarily controlled by your light sources and render settings. A fundamental step is ensuring you use a light type capable of casting shadows.
Essential Steps for Adding Shadows
Shadows in Eevee depend heavily on the lights in your scene. Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Add a Light Source: Start by adding a light to your scene. Go to
Add > Lightand choose a light type (like Point, Sun, Spot, or Area). - Select the Light: Make sure the light object you just added is selected in the 3D viewport.
- Access Light Settings: With the light selected, go to the Properties Editor (usually on the right side of the Blender window).
- Open the Data Panel: If you select the light and open the Data panel in your properties window, you will be able to swap between all lamp types.
- Choose a Shadow-Casting Type: In the Data panel (represented by a light bulb icon), you'll see options for different lamp types. Click on the Sun button and your lamp will become a sun!
Understanding Light Types and Shadows
Not all light types are created equal when it comes to casting shadows efficiently or consistently. The reference highlights a key point:
- Sun Lamp: One of the main advantages of using a sun is that you will have shadows in the scene. Sun lamps simulate distant light like the sun, casting parallel rays and producing sharp shadows over large areas. They are often the go-to choice for outdoor scenes or directional lighting.
- Other Types: Point, Spot, and Area lights can also cast shadows, but their behavior and settings (like shadow samples, radius, etc.) will differ and might require adjustments for desired results in Eevee.
Further Shadow Settings
While choosing the right light type is crucial, Eevee's render settings also play a significant role in how shadows are displayed and their quality. You can find these in the Render Properties tab (camera icon). Key settings include:
- Shadows Panel: Adjust parameters like Cube Size and Cascade Size (for Sun lamps) which affect shadow resolution, and filtering options.
- Light Settings (Data Panel): Each light source has its own shadow properties within its Data panel, such as Cast Shadow (make sure this is enabled!), Shadow Samples, and contact shadows.
By adding a light and specifically configuring it to cast shadows, such as changing it to a Sun lamp as suggested, you enable shadows in your Eevee renders.
