Lighting leaves and fronds

The SpeedTree lighting system modifies vertex normals to change how light hits leaves and fronds. Choose to edit normals with a global or local approach.

Global lighting properties are the most efficient way to light models for real-time. The centralized properties let you edit vertex normals for multiple leaf and frond generators at once. You can then refine those settings for individual generators.

Adjust the normals relative to the model’s anatomy (best for procedural use) or relative to a mesh asset geometry force.

Important: To opt in a generator for global lighting, set the generator’s Lighting:Style to Global.

Note: As of Modeler 9.4.0:

• New Leaf mesh, Batched leaf, and Frond generators are set to global lighting by default.
• The Modeler remembers your property settings for local and global lighting, so you can experiment with global lighting without losing your edits on the local setting.

Local lighting changes the vertex normals for one generator. Local lighting properties are in the Leaf mesh generator, Batched leaf generator, and the Frond generator.

• Directional lighting
• Ambient lighting