My model was correct. The shapes were fine. But everything still looked dull and lifeless.
This post is part of my daily learning journey in game development.
I’m sharing what I learn each day — the basics, the confusion, and the real progress — from the perspective of a beginner.
On Day 33 of my game development journey, I learned the basics of lighting in Blender and why it matters so much.
What I tried / learned today
I learned that lighting is essential to see form, depth, and surface detail.
I experimented with different light types:
- Point Light for local lighting
- Sun Light for directional lighting
- Area Light for soft and realistic shadows
I also learned the basics of three-point lighting, which helps separate the subject from the background.
I adjusted light strength and color to see how mood and visibility change.
I explored World Lighting and learned that it affects the entire scene.
Using an HDRI gave me instant, natural lighting without adding multiple lights.
To preview lighting properly, I used Viewport Shading and switched to Cycles to see more realistic results.
What confused me
At first, my scene looked too dark.
I was confused about:
- The difference between Eevee and Cycles
- Why light power values felt unpredictable
- Why shadows looked noisy
- How HDRI lights the entire scene
It felt like small changes caused big differences.
What worked or finally clicked
I understood that lighting needs balanced power values, not just more lights.
HDRI helped a lot because it provides even lighting instantly.
I also realized light placement matters more than the number of lights.
Switching to Cycles helped me see how light and shadows behave more realistically.
One lesson for beginners
- Lighting defines shape and depth
- Area Lights create softer shadows
- HDRI is great for quick lighting setups
- Cycles is better for realism, Eevee for speed
- Always check exposure in Color Management
Slow progress — but I’m building a strong foundation.
If you’re also learning game development,
what was the first thing that confused you when you started?
See you in the next post 🎮🚀
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