Tool Request
Ability to visualize the LUX values in the environment using a heat map.
This will help lighting artists to ensure they have lighting data in dark areas and also be used to see how much value range they have in bright areas.
Its important that we have lighting data in the darks so we can make proper use of the color grading features. Having a tool that visualizes the LUX values can greatly help establish this and also the project can set a value range standard they want for their game. (example, our darkest dark should be 10 lux.)
Color grading is only useful if the lighter is able to have a very good value range from darks to bright. What I see happening often, with many artists, is that they make the darks brighter by using incorrect methods like using the:
- local exposure or increasing the exposure compensation
- gamma adjustment to reduce darks
- increasing the directional or color diffuse bounce too high
- etc
Instead, they should be analyzing the amount of lighting data, (ux value), they have presently in their shadows. But its not easy to visualize this important part of the lighting process which is why I suggest having a heat map to show this.