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Question Real-light light and Baked light behave very differently on Metallic object

Discussion in 'Global Illumination' started by AurraSing, May 29, 2021.

  1. AurraSing

    AurraSing

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2018
    Posts:
    12
    I have several metallic balls with Metallic = 0.77. smoothness = 0.5.
    As shown in the pictures below: objects under real-time lights have distinct bright and dark colors and we can tell where the light source is just by looking at them. However, baked light seems to turn the metallic balls into mud balls and they look flat.
    Is there a way to make baked light looks like the real-time light?
     

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    Last edited: May 29, 2021
    AurraSing, May 29, 2021
    #1

  2. kristijonas_unity

    kristijonas_unity

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2018
    Posts:
    1,080
    Unfortunately, no. This is an inherent limitation of fully baked lights. In order to get a proper material response you'd have to use either realtime or mixed lights.
    Make sure that you are making use of reflection probes within the scene as that could help mitigate the issue. You could also place a bright emissive sphere where your light source is for the reflection probe to sample. This will be reflected in your metallic material.
     
    kristijonas_unity, May 31, 2021
    #2

  3. AcidArrow

    AcidArrow

    Joined:
    May 20, 2010
    Posts:
    11,789
    This could be a checkbox that says something like "make light appear in cubemaps" or something.

    I mean, you can script it (and I have), but it would be nice.
     
    AcidArrow, May 31, 2021
    #3
    kristijonas_unity likes this.

  4. AurraSing

    AurraSing

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2018
    Posts:
    12
    This is a great idea. Thanks!
     
    AurraSing, Jun 1, 2021
    #4