ProxyLight is a performance optimization plugin for Unreal Engine that replaces expensive real-time lights with lightweight decals beyond MaxDrawDistance, providing seamless visual transitions without the harsh pop-out effect.
Documentation
The Problem:
When native lights reach their MaxDrawDistance, they abruptly disappear, creating visual pop-out in large open worlds, architectural scenes, or any project with numerous distant lights.
The Solution:
ProxyLight actors contain both a real light component AND a decal component. The decal simulates the light's visual presence after MaxDrawDistance is reached, maintaining visual continuity while eliminating the performance cost of distant lighting calculations.
Key Features:
• Seamless LOD system - decals take over when real lights fade out
• Three optimized light types: ProxyPointLight, ProxySpotLight, ProxyRectLight
• Integrated Light Manager with batch conversion tool
• One-click conversion preserves ALL settings (intensity, color, temperature, shadows, IES, light functions, barn doors, etc.)
• Real-time synchronization - change light properties, decal updates automatically
• Generic Lighting Actors for street lights and architectural fixtures
Performance Benefits:
• Significantly reduces lighting overhead in large scenes
• Decals are much cheaper than real-time light calculations
• Maintains visual quality at distance without the performance cost
• Perfect for open-world games, large architectural visualizations, and cinematic levels
ProxyLight Manager Tool:
Comprehensive Slate-based editor interface that allows you to:
• Scan and analyze all lights in your level (native + proxy)
• Batch-apply MaxDrawDistance settings to multiple light types
• Convert existing native Unreal lights to ProxyLights with one click
• Preserve all light settings during conversion (no manual reconfiguration needed)
Perfect for:
• Open-world games with many distant lights
• Architectural visualization with hundreds of light fixtures
• Large cinematic levels requiring performance optimization
• Any project where lighting performance is critical
ProxyLight follows Epic Games coding standards and works seamlessly with Lumen, Path Tracing, and all UE5 rendering features. Compatible with all platforms supporting decals.