To enable contact shadows, you need to adjust the settings of a light source within your scene.
The process involves a few simple steps within the light's properties.
Steps to Enable Contact Shadows
Follow these steps to enable contact shadows for a light in your project:
Step 1: Add a Light Source
First, ensure you have a light source in your scene.
- Begin by dragging a Point Light into your scene. While the reference specifically mentions a Point Light, contact shadows are typically a property found on various light types that support dynamic shadowing.
Step 2: Access Light Settings
Next, locate and expand the lighting properties of the light you added.
- Select the Point Light (or your chosen light type) in your scene.
- Look at the Details panel for the selected light.
- Expand the Light section within the Details panel. This is usually done by clicking an expansion arrow next to the section name.
Step 3: Set Contact Shadow Length
Within the expanded Light settings, find the contact shadow property and adjust its value.
- Locate the Contact Shadow Length setting.
- To enable contact shadows, set the Contact Shadow Length to a value greater than 0. The specific value will influence how far contact shadows are rendered from the surface. Experiment with different values to achieve the desired visual effect.
By setting a positive value for Contact Shadow Length, you activate this localized shadow feature, which helps ground objects more realistically by rendering subtle, high-detail shadows in areas where surfaces are very close.
Contact shadows are particularly useful for small details and close-up shots where standard shadow maps might lack the necessary resolution.
