Attar Sagoo at Magnopus.com explores Physically Based Lighting (PBL) in Unreal Engine 5, drawing parallels with photography principles. Sagoo details how to achieve predictable exposure and configure real-world lighting values for stunning virtual environments.
Illuminating Virtual Worlds with Real-World Techniques
In a must-read new article, Attar Sagoo provides a comprehensive guide to Physically Based Lighting (PBL) in Unreal Engine 5, bridging the gap between virtual lighting and real-world photography techniques. Sagoo, a seasoned expert, explains how to take a hands-on approach to lighting, similar to shooting in manual mode with a camera.
The author explains the importance of using real-world, measurable values for lighting, such as lux and lumens, to accurately simulate light sources. A key insight from the article is understanding how exposure is measured and configuring real-world values for directional light and post-process volumes. Sagoo emphasizes that using PBL allows for more predictable and consistent lighting results, removing much of the guesswork from the process.
Sagoo dives into key terms like Lumen (lm), Lux (lux), Candelas (cd), and EV100, explaining their significance in achieving accurate lighting. The author also provides practical examples, such as setting the directional light to 100,000 lux for a sunny day and adjusting the Min/Max EV in the post-process volume. Furthermore, the article explores fine-tuning exposure using local exposure and tone mapping, drawing parallels with editing RAW photos in Lightroom.
Attar Sagoo also highlights the importance of artistic intent, noting that while EV and lux values provide a solid technical foundation, it’s up to the artist to shape the lighting to support the desired mood and storytelling.
This is just a brief overview of a fantastic and deeply researched article. To get the full details, we highly recommend reading the original piece.
Source:
Magnopus.com – Lighting in Unreal with photography principles using PBL
