Light Map

The pre-lighted texture has been an effective way in 3D game design which provides the lighting realsim without the cost of GPU rendering. EarthSculptor provides this feature allowing creators to determine the light direction, strength, ambience, and many other shadow options.


Terrain Without Lightmap	Lightmap Texture

Terrain With Lightmap	Blended Texture

Generate Light Map

Click the Lighting button in the Toolbar. Lighting panel shows.
Modify the parameters in the panel. Since it is not a real-time feature, you may not see the result instantly.

Press the Generate Entire Lightmap button. The result shows on the terrain.

Note:
Once you click Generate Lightmap button, EarthSculptor change the content of the filename_l.png. Please refer to Utility > Explore: Tracking Project Maps for more information.

Export Light Map

If you wish to export Lightmap, please follow the steps below.

Make sure you generate a satisfying light effect as described in the last section.
Access Export / iClone Model in the menu bar.
Check the Light box. Click Run button and save the terrain project as a VNS file.
Locate the exported file and load it into iClone.

Benefit

In iClone, you can see a imitating light effect in Quick Shading mode.

You may then minus the number of light sources to ease the loading of the system if you wish to have multiple light effects in iClone.


Quick Shading Mode (No Shadow Rendered) The Lightmap simulates the light effect.	Only Light01 is on in iClone The Lightmap simulates one more light.

Note:
Since the Lightmap from EarthSculptor is static, if you modify the light source in iClone to the shading side of the terrain, the whole terrain will turn to be dark, which may be unrealistic or against your design. A: Lighting direction of Lightmap. B: Lighting direction in iClone.