Lightvalues
by Egir Helgrimson

      When you create a normal lightbulp, you don't have to leave the brightness values at their defaults. I've made this little test so that you may see which effect comes with all brightness values from 200 to 20 with a step at 20. All the lights are placed in a room with the following dimentions: 384 units wide, 432 units long and 128 units high.

Brightness 255 255 128 200

      The light illuminates the entire room with only little shadow. You may notice the circle of light at the roof, this is one of the reasons why texture lightning looks better B)

Brightness 255 255 128 180

      The room looks a bit darker. One lightsource like this shouldn't be used for such a room alone.

Brightness 255 255 128 160

      Its hard to see the difference here. Ofcourse its just a bit darker again. Judging from the size of the light circle on the floor this light would be good for a 192 units wide hallway.

Brightness 255 255 128 140

      And it gets darker...

Brightness 255 255 128 120

      This is spooky dark, but still you can see whats going on. You most definately need more lightsources if this is the intensity of the light.

Brightness 255 255 128 100

      Its hard but possible to see the room now.

Brightness 255 255 128 80

      You can no longer see all the walls, which makes me think of the screenshots that I've seen from doom3. (not that these louzy mapping of mine in other ways should be comparable by the masterpiece doom3 undenyable is.)

Brightness 255 255 128 60

      Now the light doesn't even light up itself.

Brightness 255 255 128 40

      It looks more like theres a little glow left in the lamp, but not any light.

Brightness 255 255 128 20

      This brightness value is hopeless. I can spot the light, but I can't see it B)

Conclusion

      Use the default value at 200 if you just want to have the room enlightened. Go for 140 or 120 if you want a more natural lightning. You'll need lights every 160 units or so with a brightness between 140 to 120. If you don't want to light up the room but just make the lightlook as if it is on use a brightness value of about 100. If you don't like light, but just want the player to have a change once in a while to navigate you should go for a brightness value under 100. If you use a lightvalue of 40 or 20, you seriously don't mean to let the player find his way around.

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