CZAR / LIGHTING
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CASE 001 · Single-view Environment Relighting

Derelict Corridor

Locked-camera environment relight. Direction, reflection, and depth.

RoleLighting Artist · Self-directed study
EngineUnreal Engine 5 · Lumen
Environment AssetDerelict Corridor Megascans Sample · Quixel
My WorkLighting · Presentation
ScopeLocked-camera relighting study
FocusContrast · Reflection · Depth
01

Final

Select an image to view the full size.

Final.
FINAL / LOCKED CAMERAFinal.
02

Intent

Keep the scene dark and guide the eye toward the center.

Challenge

The corridor needs depth, but broad fill weakens the diagonal contrast.

Approach

Three groups: foreground wall reflection, main contrast, and distant depth.

03

Reference

Direction, wall reflection, and distant source.

Right → left.
PRIMARY / DIRECTIONRight → left.
Wall reflection and bounce.
SECONDARY / REFLECTIONWall reflection and bounce.
Distant source.
SECONDARY / DEPTHDistant source.
04

Blackout

Original lighting removed.

Baseline with authored lighting removed.
BLACKOUTBaseline with authored lighting removed.
05

Lighting Groups

Foreground wall reflection, main contrast, and distant depth.

Three lighting functions marked over the locked camera.
SOURCE MAPThree lighting functions marked over the locked camera.
06

Isolation

One job per group. The lower-left and upper-right remain too dark.

Foreground wall reflection and shadow recovery.
GROUP 01Foreground wall reflection and shadow recovery.
The dominant right-to-left division.
GROUP 02The dominant right-to-left division.
Distant depth and destination cue.
GROUP 03Distant depth and destination cue.
07

Breakdown

This study focused on directional structure and functional grouping. The asset author's setup used emissive cubes and Rect Lights to fill the lower-left and upper-right, but copying that solution broke the diagonal division I wanted. Limited shadow information remains the main constraint of this version.

Keep

The diagonal division created by the right-side source.

Revise

Replace the failed distant reflection with a downward Spot Light.

Limitation

The lower-left and upper-right still need better shadow treatment without weakening the main structure.

I tried to recover the lower-left shadow through reflection from the left wall instead of broad fill. The reflected contribution was weaker than planned, so the shadow information remains limited.
DESIGN / 01I tried to recover the lower-left shadow through reflection from the left wall instead of broad fill. The reflected contribution was weaker than planned, so the shadow information remains limited.
The main source cuts from right to left, dividing the frame into a brighter left side and darker right side while pushing the eye toward the central doorway. This became the core structure.
DESIGN / 02The main source cuts from right to left, dividing the frame into a brighter left side and darker right side while pushing the eye toward the central doorway. This became the core structure.
The first plan used a distant source reflected forward along the floor. When the reflection failed, I replaced it with a downward Spot Light to preserve the distant highlight and depth cue.
DESIGN / 03The first plan used a distant source reflected forward along the floor. When the reflection failed, I replaced it with a downward Spot Light to preserve the distant highlight and depth cue.
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