# Shadows


This section contains settings of scene shadows.


![](shadows.png)

*Shadows Settings*


| Enabled | The value indicating whether shadows are rendered. **enabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows)) |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filter Mode | The global filtering mode to be used for shadows from all light sources by default. This mode determines quality of soft shadows. *Higher* quality produces *smoother* shadow edges. When disabled, no filtering is performed and the stair-step effect is clearly seen at the edges of shadows. > **Notice:** You can set filtering mode or disable filtering for each light source [individually](../../../../api/library/lights/class.light_cpp.md#setShadowFilterMode_int_void). One of the following values: - Disabled - Low - Medium (by default) - High - Ultra `Console access:render_shadows_filter_mode` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_filter_mode)) ![](../../../../objects/lights/parameters/shadow_filter_off.jpg) ![](../../../../objects/lights/parameters/shadow_filter_on.jpg) |  |  |
| Filter Noise | The value indicating if noise for shadow filtering is enabled. This noise is used for smoothing. **enabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_filter_noise` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_filter_noise)) ![](filter_noise_off.jpg) ![](filter_noise_on.jpg) |  |  |
| Penumbra Mode | The global quality mode to be used for rendering penumbra from all light sources by default. This mode enables simulation of real-world shadows by keeping sharp contact shadows closer to the base and softening the farther the shadow stretches away. *Higher* values produce *softer* shadows. When disabled, shadow edges are crisp and sharp (no shadow softness at all). > **Notice:** You can set penumbra quality mode or disable penumbra rendering for each light source [individually](../../../../api/library/lights/class.light_cpp.md#setShadowPenumbraMode_int_void). But these per-light quality settings are ignored when global quality is set to *Disabled*. One of the following values: - Disabled - Low (by default) - Medium - High - Ultra `Console access:render_shadows_penumbra_mode` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_penumbra_mode)) ![](../../../../objects/lights/parameters/shadow_filter_on.jpg) ![](../../../../objects/lights/parameters/shadow_penumbra_on.jpg) |  |  |
| Penumbra Noise | The value indicating if noise for penumbra rendering is enabled. This noise is used for smoothing. **enabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_penumbra_noise` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_penumbra_noise)) ![](penumbra_noise_off.jpg) ![](penumbra_noise_on.jpg) |  |  |
| World Light Blocker Search Radius | The blocker search radius used for penumbra calculation of the World light shadows. This value controls the area sampled to find shadow-casting occluders when computing soft shadow penumbra. Higher values produce wider, softer penumbra. This is a base value: the effective radius also scales with the shadow map resolution, the **Penumbra** value of the light source, and the shadow distance. Range of values: **[eps, inf]**. The default value is : **0.5f**. `Console access:render_shadows_blocker_search_radius_world` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_blocker_search_radius_world)) |  |  |
| Omni/Proj Light Blocker Search Radius | The blocker search radius used for penumbra calculation of Omni and Projected light shadows. This value controls the area sampled to find shadow-casting occluders when computing soft shadow penumbra. Higher values produce wider, softer penumbra. This is a base value: the effective radius also scales with the shadow map resolution and with the **Penumbra** value of the light source. The parameter is not applied when the effective **Penumbra Mode** of the light is **Low**. Range of values: **[eps, inf]**. The default value is : **0.5f**. `Console access:render_shadows_blocker_search_radius_omni_proj` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_blocker_search_radius_omni_proj)) |  |  |
| Translucent Depth | The global translucence depth value defining how deep the light goes through translucent objects shifting the shadow. The *higher* the value, the *deeper* the light penetrates translucent objects shifting the shadow. Range of values: **[0.0f, inf]**. The default value is : **0.1f**. `Console access:render_shadows_translucent_depth` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_translucent_depth)) \| ![](translucent_depth_1.jpg) *Translucent Depth= 0.06* \| ![](translucent_depth_2.jpg) *Translucent Depth= 0.4* \| \|---\|---\| | ![](translucent_depth_1.jpg) *Translucent Depth= 0.06* | ![](translucent_depth_2.jpg) *Translucent Depth= 0.4* |
| ![](translucent_depth_1.jpg) *Translucent Depth= 0.06* | ![](translucent_depth_2.jpg) *Translucent Depth= 0.4* |  |  |
| Lerp Shadow Cascades | The value indicating if [linear interpolation of shadow cascades](../../../../editor2/settings/render_settings/shadows/index.md#lerp_shadow_cascades) is enabled, making transitions between cascades smoother. This option significantly affects performance, as two shadow maps are rendered in transition areas. **enabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_world_lerp_cascades` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_world_lerp_cascades)) |  |  |
| Screen Space Shadows | The value indicating if screen space shadows are enabled. They provide high-quality penumbra, per-light work, per-pixel detail at any zoom level and infinite visibility distance (when enabled, distant objects can cast shadows next to the horizon). Supports depth cutout parallax. Screen space shadows can be mixed with regular ones. **enabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_screen_space` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_screen_space)) |  |  |
| Alpha Test Accounting | The value indicating if alpha test is enabled for shadows. **enabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_alpha_test` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_alpha_test)) |  |  |
| Shadow Cascades Culling Clusters | The value indicating whether culling of shadow cascades is enabled for *Mesh Cluster/Clutter* objects. If enabled, the *Mesh Cluster/Clutter* objects rendered in the nearest cascade won't be rendered again in farther cascades. If disabled, the *Mesh Cluster* objects rendered in the nearest cascade will also be rendered in all other cascades. In some cases performance may be better if this option is disabled. **disabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_world_cascades_culling_clusters` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_world_cascades_culling_clusters)) |  |  |
| Reuse Shadows Between Viewports | The value indicating if the shadow maps of the main viewport are reused for other viewports. Shadow maps are normally rendered separately for each viewport when multiple viewports render the scene. It is important as each camera that renders into the viewport has its unique transformation. However, in cases when cameras are close to each other, shadows appear very similar, so for certain viewport and camera configurations you can save resources by enabling this mode - the shadow maps will be rendered only for the main viewport and then used for the others. **disabled** by default. `Console access:render_shadows_reuse` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadows_reuse)) |  |  |
| Max Visibility Distance | The distance from the camera, beyond which shadows will not be rendered. > **Notice:** If this value is greater than the [visibility distance for objects](../../../../editor2/settings/render_settings/visibility_distances/index.md#objects_distance) the shadows will still be rendered even though the objects themselves are not. Please, pay attention to setting these parameters properly to avoid wasting performance on rendering unnecessary shadows. Range of values: **[0.0f, inf]**. The default value is : **100.0f**. `Console access:render_shadow_distance` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadow_distance)) \| [![Shadow distance](../shadow_distance0_sm.jpg)](../shadow_distance0.jpg) *Distance= 1200 units* \| [![Shadow distance](../shadow_distance1_sm.jpg)](../shadow_distance1.jpg) *Distance= 80 units* \| \|---\|---\| | [![Shadow distance](../shadow_distance0_sm.jpg)](../shadow_distance0.jpg) *Distance= 1200 units* | [![Shadow distance](../shadow_distance1_sm.jpg)](../shadow_distance1.jpg) *Distance= 80 units* |
| [![Shadow distance](../shadow_distance0_sm.jpg)](../shadow_distance0.jpg) *Distance= 1200 units* | [![Shadow distance](../shadow_distance1_sm.jpg)](../shadow_distance1.jpg) *Distance= 80 units* |  |  |
| Visibility Distance Scale | The global scale multiplier for [shadow distances](#render_shadow_distance). This option enables you to easily increase or decrease shadows rendering performance by changing the scale. > **Notice:** If this value is greater than the scale multiplier for objects*[DistanceScale](#render_distance_scale)*, the shadows will still be rendered even though the objects themselves are not. Please, make sure you set these parameters properly to avoid wasting performance on rendering unnecessary shadows. Range of values: **[0.0f, inf]**. The default value is : **1.0f**. `Console access:render_shadow_distance_scale` ([API control](../../../../api/library/rendering/class.render_cpp.md#render_shadow_distance_scale)) |  |  |