# Why does my baked lighting look so flat?

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-does-my-baked-lighting-look-so-flat/2154335>\
**Category:** Rendering\
**Tags:** Lightmass, static-lights, unreal-engine, Lightmap, Lighting, question\
**Created:** [November 27, 2024, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-does-my-baked-lighting-look-so-flat/2154335 "2024-11-27T13:06:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![roberteker](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@roberteker](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/roberteker)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-does-my-baked-lighting-look-so-flat/2154335/1 "2024-11-27T13:06:38Z")

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This is already baked with production quality, but it feels as if it’s basically on or off, so ambiance at all… anyone know why?

 ![Untitled](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/3/a/3/3a39261e8afd5943afc084565f0586389993bbda.jpeg)

Is it the HDRIBackdrop plug-in which breaks things or?

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**Author:** ![roberteker](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@roberteker](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/roberteker)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-does-my-baked-lighting-look-so-flat/2154335/2 "2024-11-27T13:17:09Z")

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Oof… yeah ok it seems it _is_ the HDRIBackdrop plug-in.

ON

 ![on](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/3/e/c/3ec819188f998ac637a7af6ecd2f41dda6748666.jpeg)

OFF

 ![off](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/b/8/9/b89075dc960f17933253698e57e714d700cf2ff4.jpeg)

That thing doesn’t work out of the box with neither raytracing nor backed lighting it seems.

I’m guessing Epic just developed it as a proof of concept for a demo and then abandoned it?

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**Author:** ![roberteker](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@roberteker](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/roberteker)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-does-my-baked-lighting-look-so-flat/2154335/3 "2024-11-27T13:38:43Z")

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Ok, this is an indoor part of the level, so maybe HDRIBackdrop isn’t entirely to blame?

 ![Untitled](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/7/5/8/7585ca5b9b5bbfcf2cded4d0712f1c146dad94fd.jpeg)

The sliver of light is from an opening, and the room should be lit by a weak spotlight, but it still looks extremely flat.

Anyone have any pointers?

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**Author:** ![Nawrot](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/nawrot/32/618260_2.png) [@Nawrot](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Nawrot)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-does-my-baked-lighting-look-so-flat/2154335/4 "2024-11-27T13:45:08Z")

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Bit off topic but this explains very well tone mapping:

[![](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/e/5/6/e562c456cfc3928fd4e4556049037099b5c654d8.jpeg "How Games are HACKING Color Theory") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j68UW21Nx6g)

Esp trade offs and why they do happen.