Hi everyone,
I’m using Virtual Shadow Maps (VSM) in Unreal Engine 5 for better shadow detail and compatibility with Nanite. However, I’ve been running into some issues where shadows:
- Flicker or shimmer when the camera moves
- Look too soft or blurry, especially on small or distant objects
- Occasionally disappear at certain angles
Here’s my current setup:
- Directional light with VSM enabled
- Nanite meshes
- Lumen active for GI
- Shadow resolution increased in project settings
I’ve tried adjusting the light’s Shadow Bias, changing contact shadow length, and even playing with r.Shadow.Virtual.* console variables, but the results are still inconsistent.
Questions:
- Are there recommended settings to improve stability and sharpness of shadows with VSM?
- Is this a known limitation when using Nanite with VSM?
- Would switching to ray traced shadows solve this, or just shift the problem?
Appreciate any advice — shadows are such a key part of my scene’s visual quality, and this issue is breaking the immersion.
Thanks!