Regular lighting vs. advanced lighting

image image

It’s interesting to see a case where one isn’t definitely better than the other. Regular lighting looks pretty good I think. It’s sharper. Advanced lighting looks good too. It’s softer. I wonder if this should be renamed to Soft Lighting or something because it implies that one is more “advanced” than the other.

75,676 views 34 replies
Reply #1 Top

I like the regular for some reason, I guess because of the cartoon style with sharper image XD

Reply #2 Top

I like advanced lighting, but on much lower levels then its default (75% I think)... I usualy set it arround 20%, higher then that, and everythings gets too much blurry.

 

Also in game options its called Softness(Advanced Lighting), which is about right I would say.

 

Also, what is Ambient Light and Specular Intensity good for? I was trying to change it and did not notice any difference, same for Max Texture Atlas Size.. Also I have no idea what is Mip Map levels(is it AF?)...

 

I have a feeling, that you are using, quiete strange names for some settings, because, Iam pretty sure, that advanced lighting is normaly called HDR. Same goes for other stuff like, Limit Frame Rate, which is basicaly Vertical Synchronization.

 

One more thing, I was just trying to move advanced lighting slider, and it seems like it has no effect now... and also, HUD over the cities gets blurry etc... I do not think, it was like that before beta 4. Everything is too blurry and shiny now.

Reply #3 Top

Regular lighting looks better to me.

Reply #4 Top

I'd never really noticed it, but now that I see it next to regular lighting, the advanced lighting looks way too blurry/soft. I think that probably has something to do with the game's art style.

Reply #5 Top

To me one image is ok, the other is blurry.

Reply #6 Top

I like the first one (the one on the left)

I think its superior

 

// and yea, its really more of a hard lighting vs soft/blurred lighting

Reply #7 Top

I like regular lighting because after playing for extended periods I think the eye tries to automatically sharpen the image which I suspect leads to eye-strain if there is already too much of a blur. Anti-aliasing is good - just not the soft blurring.

My eyes are getting worse anyway so most things give me eye-strain now-a-days.

Reply #8 Top

Yea, the soft lighting (advanced lighting) gives FAR more eye-strain

Reply #9 Top

Quoting Das123, reply 7
I like regular lighting because after playing for extended periods I think the eye tries to automatically sharpen the image which I suspect leads to eye-strain if there is already too much of a blur. Anti-aliasing is good - just not the soft blurring.

My eyes are getting worse anyway so most things give me eye-strain now-a-days.
End of Das123's quote

I agree, I prefer regular lighting because looking at images that seem "out of focus" hurts my eyes.

Reply #10 Top

I agree, its just too blurry, thing is, that I like look of the things more, with advanced lighting.... but slider does not work, at least, I can not spot difference now, between 100% and 0%... which is strange... 

 

However, this two screenshots are not very good comparsion. Advanced lighting makes things look nicer, but its just too blury now :-(.

Reply #11 Top

Quoting Demi_Boss, reply 1
I like the regular for some reason, I guess because of the cartoon style with sharper image
End of Demi_Boss's quote

 

Same here. Now that I can see the advanced lighting without any bugs (YAY BETA 4!) I have to say I like the sharp lines/edges a little more.

Elemental almost has an anime feel to it anyway with the art style (which I love) so I think the "harder" lighting shows it off better.

 

Reply #12 Top

Regular Lighting. Sharper details and edges

Soft lighting..... blurry washed out colors.

Hmmm which is better?

Ya i tone down soft lighting to about 25%. I think that should be the preset

Reply #13 Top

Advanced lighting makes the game 2% less ugly.

I will probably turn it off to gain performance, as I have done in all the betas.

Reply #14 Top

Honestly, I can't tell the difference.  It all looks the same to me. 

Out of curiosity, which lighting is easier on one's PC hardware (if either)? 

 

 

Reply #15 Top

i like the first one better second one is blurry to me

Reply #16 Top

Never realized how blurry advanced lighting gets... I much prefer regular. I suppose I should play around with the percentages to see if I can get something nice in between.

Reply #17 Top

Same as everyone else. The first one looks better, 2nd just seems blurry.

Reply #18 Top


I wonder if this should be renamed to Soft Lighting or something because it implies that one is more “advanced” than the other.
End of quote

Definitely go with renaming it to "Soft Lighting". It sounds better. They both look great, but my personal preference is for the sharper image with more defining lines. It would be really cool to be able to use "Soft Lighting" for certain spell or creature effects though while staying in "Regular Lighting" mode. If I had to go with just one however, my eyes like the Regular Lighting better. I might be in the minority on that one as well. My system is more then capable of handling the advanced lighting and still run at peak performance, I've just never really enjoyed the softer look unless it was done right on certain things or for certain effects. To me a lot of games or movies that have the soft lighting effect look a little "washed out". I just enjoy the sharper, crisper, image. Maybe my eyes are just getting old..lol?

 

Reply #19 Top

Is it "7 differences the game" ?

Reply #20 Top

Quoting Wintersong, reply 3
Regular lighting looks better to me.
End of Wintersong's quote

Yep.

Reply #21 Top

Another voice to the chrous.

 

I like the slightly better contrast of the advanced lighting as on the red cloth armor, but it's not worth the tradeoff for blurring of detail, such as the folds of the robes.

Reply #22 Top

Like the regular better. But its based on just one picture. Might be different in other cases like different terrain and clothing. Anyway this game seems great to me :)

Reply #23 Top

I am adding my opinion to the comments, and I prefer the left picture as the right tends to hurt my eyes, and I do NOT want any more pain than aviodable.

harpo

 

Reply #24 Top

I don't mind the soft lighting on the terrain, but using it does cause the game to lose a lot of detail on the characters, especially the clothing.  Lately I've been playing without it, and I think I'm liking the overall appearance better.

Reply #25 Top

I can only see a difference in the green guys robe. The robe in the left pic is sharper and washed out on the right.

Calling the right pics lightning "advanced" is severely misleading since I would assume that advanced lightning is much better.