Docs/Lighting

Lighting Overview

Introduction to the lighting system.

5 min read Beginner Updated 2026-07-01 v2.0 ~15 min to complete

Introduction

Introduction to the lighting system. This page provides a complete guide to lighting overview in Appley, covering everything from setup to advanced techniques.

Lighting is a core area of Appley. Understanding lighting overview will help you build better games and use the platform more effectively. This documentation is designed for beginner level users.

Requirements

Before working with lighting overview, ensure you have the following:

An Appley project with a 3D scene
Understanding of light types (directional, point, spot)
HDR environment maps (optional)
Basic knowledge of shadows and baking

Estimated Completion Time

This guide takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. The estimated reading time is 5 minutes. Difficulty level: Beginner.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to work with lighting overview in your Appley project:

Add a light

In the hierarchy, add a light object (directional, point, spot) for lighting overview.

Configure properties

Set intensity, color, range, and direction in the inspector.

Enable shadows

Turn on shadow casting and configure shadow quality and distance.

Adjust ambient

Set ambient light to fill shadows and prevent overly dark areas.

Test and bake

Preview the lighting in play mode. Bake static lights for performance.

FluxScript Example

Below is an Appley Scripting (Flux Scripting) code example demonstrating lighting overview:

Lighting Overview — Appley Scripting

// Lighting — Lighting Overview
on start {
  sun = lighting.add("directional")
  sun.setIntensity(1.2)
  sun.setColor(255, 240, 220)
  sun.setDirection(-0.5, -1.0, -0.3)
  sun.setShadows(true, { quality: "high", distance: 100 })
  
  torch = lighting.add("point")
  torch.setPosition(10, 5, 10)
  torch.setIntensity(2.0)
  torch.setRange(15)
  torch.setColor(255, 180, 100)
}

on update(dt) {
  time = world.getTime()
  sunIntensity = 1.2 * math.sin(time * 0.26)
  sun.setIntensity(math.max(0.1, sunIntensity))
}

Node Script Example

The same logic can be implemented using Node Scripting. Here is the equivalent node graph:

Lighting Overview — Node Graph

[On Start] ──► [Add Light: directional]
         ──► [Set Intensity: 1.2]
         ──► [Set Shadows: high]

[On Update] ──► [Get Time] ──► [Sin] ──► [Max: 0.1]
                            ──► [Set Sun Intensity]

Interchangeable Systems

FluxScript and Node Scripting compile to the same runtime. You can mix both in a single project — use whichever is best for each task.