Introduction

Understanding the differences between static and dynamic lights, and when to use them.

What are Static and Dynamic Lights?

Unlike 3D modeling applications, most game engines differentiate between static and dynamic lights in order to optimize performance and still provide high quality graphics. There are several distinct differences between static and dynamic Torque Lighting System lights, and understanding the pros and cons of each is critical to keeping game performance and quality high.

Static Lights

Static lights bake lighting into interior and terrain light maps, because these light maps are always used static lights are rendered "for-free." Static lights do, however, increase the time it takes to relight the scene. Because processing happens during relight and not while rendering, static lights can create far more realistic lighting and shadows, but cannot move or be animated.

Dynamic Lights

Dynamic lights are calculated at render time, which creates overhead, but allows the lights to move and be animated. Dynamic lights do not cast shadows from interiors and terrain and don't blend well on the terrain in TLK 1.4.