Beginner's Question on Shadows

anonymous_user_8c8ca86d · July 12, 2017, 11:27pm

Hello-
I’m in the default ThirdPerson project. I use the “alt” key method to drag a copy of one of the cubes, and it casts a shadow just fine.

Then I create a cube using the basic cube mode. I set all the properties to be the same as the cube which was already in the level, but, for some reason it does not cast a shadow, either in the editor, or in “play.”

I’m placing it right next to the existing cubes and stairs and stuff, so I don’t think I’m out of the bounds of any of the lights. I even tried swapping the position of the cubes.

I’m wondering if anyone sees anything that I’m doing wrong here, or anything obvious I should check for. Thanks.

Edit: I created a new empty level, and added a plane, a light, and some cubes. The cubes cast shadows here. However, I still don’t understand why the cubes in the other level (above) are not casting shadows.

unit23 · July 13, 2017, 8:16am

ScottVal;735964:

Hello-
I’m in the default ThirdPerson project. I use the “alt” key method to drag a copy of one of the cubes, and it casts a shadow just fine.

Then I create a cube using the basic cube mode. I set all the properties to be the same as the cube which was already in the level, but, for some reason it does not cast a shadow, either in the editor, or in “play.”

I’m placing it right next to the existing cubes and stairs and stuff, so I don’t think I’m out of the bounds of any of the lights. I even tried swapping the position of the cubes.

I’m wondering if anyone sees anything that I’m doing wrong here, or anything obvious I should check for. Thanks.

Edit: I created a new empty level, and added a plane, a light, and some cubes. The cubes cast shadows here. However, I still don’t understand why the cubes in the other level (above) are not casting shadows.

Maybe the first level needs to have lightning build?

James_Gallagher · July 13, 2017, 1:50pm

It sounds like you’re not understanding the light mobility. Here’s a link that will explain it.

https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/Engine/Rendering/LightingAndShadows/LightMobility/index.html

You should watch some of the beginner tutorials from Epic, or read through their documentation. It will save you a lot of time and headaches in the long run.