# LIGHT TOOL

<figure><img src="/files/6nS1F9mVa9wMjwwGu0B2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Adding **light sources** with this tool is a pretty simple but effective way to give **depth** to your map. It will **highlight** certain parts and make it look more **interesting**. It's usually one of last things you will add when you create a map, as light will come from the light sources you placed on it.

<figure><img src="/files/vFrCUkalGag2ZH2R7WVt" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/I0pHBdPSrpaoGZyiJwmz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Lights** will interact with some assets and **brighten**/**color**  some parts of your map.

## LIGHT BEHAVIOR

### Blocked Light

By default, light will be bocked by [Walls](/guide/all-the-tools/design-tab/wall-tool.md) and [Portals](/guide/all-the-tools/design-tab/portal-tool.md), or [Path](/guide/all-the-tools/terrain-tab/path-tool.md#block-light) and [Objects](/guide/all-the-tools/objects-tab/objects-tool.md#block-light) if they have the "**Block Light**" option toggled on.

<figure><img src="/files/NoO7bXmSqZqPppe8h9ro" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/ShQuVuxPBLw7csZuDiC5" alt=""><figcaption><p>Path and Objects have a "Block Light" option that can be toggled on.</p></figcaption></figure>

There's a **specific behavior** when **Lights** are placed a few pixels away from the border or the center of an asset, where the light will become a **cone**.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/EhAouqxRmbh2VRo9S8ye" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/kRFwH7I9lXkr7icJYLQh" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Shadows

**Individual Lights** can also **bypass** any light blocking asset by **toggling off** the "**Shadows**" option.

<figure><img src="/files/urMZqvDBtqJ8M9zf40be" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/ng04Mp2k8vVavtbz3HPS" alt=""><figcaption><p>The light source on the right had "Shadows" toggled off so it won't be casting any shadow.</p></figcaption></figure>

## LIGHT SETTINGS

### Range

You can set the **size** of the **Light** by using the **Range slider**, or using your mouse wheel.

<figure><img src="/files/chjSolGj8z7gSybAdrGY" alt=""><figcaption><p>The same light, with the minimum range on the left, and the maximum range on the right</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Pro Tip:** *In the* [***Selection Tool***](/guide/all-the-tools/select-tool/interactive-areas.md#move-rotate-resize)*, you can manually **rotate** a **Light** and* [*change its **size***](/guide/all-the-tools/select-tool/contextual-controls.md#changing-a-light-source-range) *beyond the tool's limits.*&#x20;
{% endhint %}

### Intensity

You can set the **Intensity** of the **Light** by using the **Intensity slider.**

<figure><img src="/files/jzSR2NXZeMrKW95YZLDd" alt=""><figcaption><p>The same light, at minimum intensity on the left, and at maximum intensity on the right</p></figcaption></figure>

### Color

You can change the color of any light.

{% hint style="info" %}
See the [Custom Color Palette Chapter](/guide/general-info/custom-color-palette.md) for more info.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/EVf1gbI1Y8VMnoflJKDP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/pJ3JnuVBsbhzDFzLrFQt" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Style

You can set a different kind of light shape from the **Style** library. By default, there are only three basic shapes, but you can add a lot of variations with [custom assets packs](/guide/custom-assets-and-mods/custom-asset-creators.md).

<figure><img src="/files/Dfhz3MFZOR0pcB0Piw3Y" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/yKwp0qprDjvGFAOompVh" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Widget

Activate the **Widget** option to see where you placed your Lights, now displaying a little flame. The widgets will be shown by **default** in the [**Selection Tool**](/guide/all-the-tools/select-tool.md).

<figure><img src="/files/nfwwtOz3C971WRnUVUs6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/RF3wlF0pULpgTngTX5ND" alt=""><figcaption><p>The flame widgets show the central spot and the rotation of a light</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Pro Tip:** *Sometimes, lights will turn the assets underneath into a bright mush of light. You can temper that by adding shadow objects on top of your asset (for example from* [*this free pack*](https://cartographyassets.com/assets/26937/moulk-simple-shadow-shapes/)*), or even better, use the* [*Colourable Objects & Paths*](https://cartographyassets.com/assets/57221/colourable-objects-and-paths/) *mod to make your assets darker and so get back some of their original colors.*
{% endhint %}

***

## USEFUL INFO

{% hint style="warning" %}

### Good to know

* Lights don't **snap** to grid in the **Light Tool**, but can snap in the [**Selection Tool**](/guide/all-the-tools/select-tool/interactive-areas.md#move-and-snap-to-grid).
* You can rotate lights by holding **ALT** and using the mouse wheel. It doesn't do much with default lights, but can become very useful with [**custom assets**](/guide/custom-assets-and-mods/custom-asset-creators.md).
  {% endhint %}

***

{% hint style="info" %}

## Related Mods

* [Additional Search Options](/guide/custom-assets-and-mods/some-useful-mods/additional-search-options.md) adds a search box for the Light Tool
  {% endhint %}


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