# Why my point lights cast wrong shadows after build?

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-my-point-lights-cast-wrong-shadows-after-build/329090>\
**Category:** Rendering\
**Tags:** shadows-problem, unreal-engine, feedback, Lighting, question\
**Created:** [August 18, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-my-point-lights-cast-wrong-shadows-after-build/329090 "2015-08-18T15:14:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_d559a114](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_d559a114](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_d559a114)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-my-point-lights-cast-wrong-shadows-after-build/329090/1 "2015-08-18T15:14:03Z")

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Hi,  
i am having trouble with my first Unreal Project ever. I used point lights to neon lights in a room, . On the preview the shadows look good, very sharp, and hard, like I want it,

 ![54615-captura1.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/6/2/4/624942bb9e82a8199884853e3f62f6d35fd5a911.jpeg)

 ![54616-captura2.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/d/2/1/d215ac666e520afe634be38ec1dd5e97a638cd9b.jpeg)

But when I build the levels on production level, the shadows that come from the point lights get shrinked and not sharp anymore, round corners where it should be squared. Am i doing wrong by try to use point lights for this? shoul i use spot lights or directional lights for this effect?

 ![54619-captura3.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/4/5/9/459b96823c92d888a15902347a190aaafe369b59.jpeg)

![54620-captura4.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/d/6/0/d60eaab689450da63070e2311bc01e5fbd13deba.jpeg)

I have tried raising the lightmaps resolution for the floor mesh, and I have read the most popular post about shadows troubleshooting, but they are all about lightsource and directional, but i already corrected the cascade distance for those so no problem there, only with this point lights.  
I am sorry to asked to be mouthfed on this one but I got no idea why I can-t get a sharp shadow with these lights. Maybe is a stupi question, Should I use directional r spot for this? I used poit light cuz i can set the source radius and lenght to be likt a neon tube for reflections. can i get the shadows that i get on the preview after build?

Thanks for any feedback you can give me. This is my first attempt to illuminate inside Unreal

bye.

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**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_2ed5b4c7](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_2ed5b4c7](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_2ed5b4c7)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-my-point-lights-cast-wrong-shadows-after-build/329090/2 "2015-08-18T15:29:38Z")

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Hi!

It looks like resolution of Lightmap on the floor is very low. Read this docs. I hope it help you.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_d559a114](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_d559a114](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_d559a114)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-my-point-lights-cast-wrong-shadows-after-build/329090/3 "2015-08-18T19:25:33Z")

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thnxs for feedback dude  
ecveryone else looking. you can find it here inside the mesh editor

 ![54673-light+map+resolution.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/1/a/6/1a65b03d64baeebdf89eee3d09b52c7d4a2d4b01.jpeg)

it worked perfectly, i wish i could make it harder and sharper but i don-t want to kill my setup.

Gracias por todo amigo!!