# Distance Field Shadows not working with directional lights **URL:** \ **Category:** Rendering\ **Tags:** ray-traced-distance-, no-shadows, unreal-engine, directional-light, question\ **Created:** [August 17, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928 "2015-08-17T06:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/1 "2015-08-17T06:37:15Z")
Ray traced distance field shadows works perfectly using point lights but as soon as i am using directional lights i am getting no shadows at all unless i use the other techniques, i do not know what i am doing wrong and i have searched the forums and used google but nothing comes up regarding this issue. ![54410-2015-08-16+14-18-15+myproject5+-+unreal+editor.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/0/c/2/0c20e16ef6a3e9374d8cc2698d8bb70b470e829e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![david376](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@david376](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/david376)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/2 "2015-08-17T09:55:56Z")
I had the same problem before.But suddenly it works,I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_cc69b907)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/3 "2015-08-17T19:03:46Z")
Hello Elias79, So to clarify these are the steps you are using to enable Ray Traced Distance Field? 1.) Go to your project settings \> Render \> Enable Mesh Distance Fields 2.) Restart your project after saving. 3.) Go to your directional light and enable ray Traced Distance Field Shadows ![54501-raytraced_shadows.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/1/8/1/1812ec00c4f50f5981dac7cc3da49c2cf6f126d2.jpeg) Following these steps I was able to create the image above. Let me know if you are doing any additional steps, Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/4 "2015-08-18T00:08:09Z")
I have now tried using a new project one time using the empty level and first then with the default preset, same result with no shadows if i disable dynamic shadows by putting the distance to 0 and enable distance fields still nothing could be a limitation with my graphics drivers if so why does it work with point lights it cant only affect directional lights right if it was a drivers issue I am using Unreal Engine 4.8 and running on Amd radeon 280x if that gives you any info, as directional is the only thing that DFS do not work with i don’t know what to tell you, anyone else that had these problems? And should i try with a older version of unreal editor if possible on another computer maybe? _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![bdurar](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@bdurar](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/bdurar)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 7:00am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/5 "2015-08-18T07:00:54Z")
I’m having the same problem. Followed all the steps. Ray Traced shadows are working perfectly with a Point Light, but not with a Directional Light. I’ve tried about everything I can think of. RayTraced DistanceField Shadows is ticked on my Directional Light and all settings seem to be correct… Not sure if it matters, but I also have an AMD card (radeon 7850) ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/6 "2015-08-18T10:39:02Z")
Well it is either a amd gpu drivers issue or a problem with the new Unreal Engine 4.8 so i hope someone could find a solution soon. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/7 "2015-08-23T11:46:15Z")
Sadly same problem in Unreal Enigne 4.9 preview. ---
**Author:** ![Sarr](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Sarr](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Sarr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/8 "2015-08-23T20:34:34Z")
Experiencing same issues with both 4.8.3 and 4.9 preview, works fine with point lights, but not with directional lights. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/9 "2015-08-24T08:14:55Z")
Thank you, now how do we report this bug to epic? ---
**Author:** ![Sarr](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Sarr](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Sarr)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/10 "2015-08-24T11:20:13Z")
I assume someone (from epic) will see it, Also I discovered that at certain camera angles the shadows seem to appear and flash like crazy, and at other angles they seem to work normally. This did not happen in 4.7 , in 4.7 this worked flawlessly. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_cc69b907)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/11 "2015-08-24T13:06:59Z")
Hello Elias79, I apologize for the delay in the response, If you would link me your DxDiag, then perhaps I can narrow down your issue. Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Sarr](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Sarr](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Sarr)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/12 "2015-08-24T15:36:10Z")
link text ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_cc69b907)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/13 "2015-08-24T18:55:37Z")
HI Sarr, Thanks for replying, however I was addressing Elias79 in regards to his question. In response to both of your issues, with only Ellias79’s screenshots, do either of you have your Engine Scalability settings set to Low. If this is not set at medium or above then the shadows will not show up. ---
**Author:** ![Sarr](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Sarr](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Sarr)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/14 "2015-08-24T20:25:03Z")
I figured since we both have exactly same issue that my dxdiag may have been helpful too, also someone here mentioned they think it may be AMD drivers, I have a friend with Nvidia card and he experiences same issues in 4.8 and 4.9 but shadows work for him in 4.7 just fine. I have scalability on Epic ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/15 "2015-08-24T21:12:22Z")
Thank you for your reply and here are my results. ![55598-highresscreenshot00007.png](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/c/1/d/c1d8c8c9b1bdf1d24d6b89393b84ac59e6808a98.png) ![55599-highresscreenshot00008.png](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/4/d/f/4df631950077401c874e327d478cb704884d6bd7.png) [http://pastebin.com/vSM7y8ey](http://pastebin.com/vSM7y8ey) ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_cc69b907)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/16 "2015-08-24T21:45:40Z")
Hey guys, Not a problem, Here is what I would like for you two to do. 1.) Create a new Project 2.) Delete the sky light and skysphere from your project so that the only light in the scene is the directional light. 3.) Delete the direction light that is called light source. 4.) Create a new directional light in your project 5.) If you directional is static or stationary then you will need to rebuild your light maps by clicking build in the main viewport. There a few possibilities for what could be happening, 1.) Your lightmaps have not been rebuilt therefore causing the shadows not to be calculated in a render pass. 2.) There is a kind of issue with the skylight and skysphere overriding the shadows of your directional light. I will continue to do more research on my end as you are recreating these steps Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Sarr](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Sarr](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Sarr)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/17 "2015-08-24T22:11:10Z")
In my main project my directional light is dynamic, and I’ve tried removing every other light, and even the skysphere and rebuilded the lightmaps, still the same issue, in a new project, removed all lights and the skysphere, added dynamic directional light, set GenerateMeshDistanceFields, restarted editor, rebuild lightmaps. still no raytraced shadow, I can visualize the Mesh Distance Fields and see them. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_396234b2](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_396234b2)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/18 "2015-08-24T22:25:33Z")
Yea same problems here i tried these steps and before this i used the Distance field test file provided by Tim Hobson. [55572-df\_test.zip](https://forums.unrealengine.com/uploads/short-url/AluRRqRN5unvM2A3rGVZzeAqc8k.zip) (2.52 MB) I have yet to try using unreal engine 4.7 as im out of space on my system disk drive so im wondering if can i install unreal engine 4.7 on another hard drive? ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_cc69b907](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_cc69b907)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/19 "2015-08-25T17:47:07Z")
Hey guys, I apologize for the delay in answer. Another support team member found that this is indeed a bug. It appears to be an issue with that particular series of Radeon graphics cards. In the meantime a possible work around is to use a point light for specific shadowing that fits your project needs. This issue is currently being looked into by our development team. The bug number is UE-20358 Thank you both for reporting this issue, ---
**Author:** ![Fantasifall](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Fantasifall](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Fantasifall)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928/20 "2015-09-04T11:49:11Z")
I’m having the same issue on a GTX660M [Next page](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/distance-field-shadows-not-working-with-directional-lights/328928.md?page=2)