Hello everyone!I wanted to talk about a very annoying thing that really bothers me in the game and it is the outdoor lightning and lightning at all. Always when I build gardens and venues with a lot of plants I like to make the plants lit because I think it’s very cool and pretty. For example I put plants and put a lamp or a spotlight on them in order to make them lit or shine.. Also I put many outdoor lamps and lanterns but I never get the final outcome that I wished for. The lightning is not strong as I want it to be, the plants are like ignoring the lightning and the lamps don’t really make the area lit. Also objects near the lamp are dark, really dark. All the lightning system is incomplete and not good enough to build our dream homes and gardens. (I want to emphasize that I use the ultra settings, but the lightning is not good as I think it should be!) Do you think like me?

@shira3000, different lights have different light intensity, you should experiment with the choices to get the intensity you want. It is unfortunate that you can't just choose lighting based on the style of light, but it is what it is. Indoors, there is a simple, round ceiling light that is super, super bright. I shrink it with the keys, so if you find a light that you like the lighting of, but don't like the visual of the fixture itself, shrink it to make it less obtrusive.https://66.media.tumblr.com/79d11cced2e875c8c0aff5effcb61076/tumblr_pjf6arDFnQ1tkpp11o4_1280.png

I haven't been happy with the lights, either. I don't like overhead lights because they're constantly blocking my view, but the only lights that are bright enough are the space-ship overhead lights (from GTW?). None of the wall lights is adequate, even if you've got them on every wall of the room.

You could try using the move objects cheat and "stacking" lights, so that it looks as if there is just one light. It will make the area brighter each time you place a light.

Not really on topic, but I miss when day light was enough to go by during the day, and auto lights meant "will turn on during nights" and not "will turn on anytime a sim is there or you won't see a thing".

You could use the bb.showhiddenobjects command for the invisible lights. You wont be able to see them unless your in build mode, so they don't get in the way. My problem with them is that they seem to over saturate everything (at least to my eye).The other thing you can do (works better inside) is use the overhead lights and while your holding it use the "[" key to shrink it. On new/starter houses I tend to use the cheapest overhead light and shrink it 3 times. They end up being small enough that I don't really notice them.I can't remember offhand if you need to turn on testingcheats for either of those or not.

Lighting in the game is disappointing...

16 Replies

JaggidEdje
7 years ago
@shira3000, different lights have different light intensity, you should experiment with the choices to get the intensity you want. It is unfortunate that you can't just choose lighting based on the style of light, but it is what it is.

Indoors, there is a simple, round ceiling light that is super, super bright. I shrink it with the keys, so if you find a light that you like the lighting of, but don't like the visual of the fixture itself, shrink it to make it less obtrusive.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/79d11cced2e875c8c0aff5effcb61076/tumblr_pjf6arDFnQ1tkpp11o4_1280.png
invisiblgirl
7 years ago
I haven't been happy with the lights, either. I don't like overhead lights because they're constantly blocking my view, but the only lights that are bright enough are the space-ship overhead lights (from GTW?). None of the wall lights is adequate, even if you've got them on every wall of the room.
HypsieOrigin
Rising Veteran
7 years ago
You could try using the move objects cheat and "stacking" lights, so that it looks as if there is just one light. It will make the area brighter each time you place a light.
kurimisarang
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
Not really on topic, but I miss when day light was enough to go by during the day, and auto lights meant "will turn on during nights" and not "will turn on anytime a sim is there or you won't see a thing".
Fenris321
New Veteran
7 years ago
You could use the bb.showhiddenobjects command for the invisible lights. You wont be able to see them unless your in build mode, so they don't get in the way. My problem with them is that they seem to over saturate everything (at least to my eye).

The other thing you can do (works better inside) is use the overhead lights and while your holding it use the "[" key to shrink it. On new/starter houses I tend to use the cheapest overhead light and shrink it 3 times. They end up being small enough that I don't really notice them.

I can't remember offhand if you need to turn on testingcheats for either of those or not.
QueenOfMyshuno
7 years ago
"fallenangel66;c-16868055" wrote:
You could try using the move objects cheat and "stacking" lights, so that it looks as if there is just one light. It will make the area brighter each time you place a light.

Brilliant idea! I didn't know you could to that. Thanks.
QueenOfMyshuno
7 years ago
"OriginalName;c-16868611" wrote:
You could use the bb.showhiddenobjects command for the invisible lights.

I didn't know there were invisible lights. Thanks for the tip. (Also, your screenname is awesome.)
JaggidEdje
7 years ago
@OriginalName, you do not need to have testingcheats on to shrink or grow objects when placing. You also don't need to hold down shift when pressing . I never do. I totally agree with you regarding the invisible lights, btw...never use them for that reason.

I just super-shrink the simple, round ceiling light and put it everywhere I want things brighter. Shrunk down, like you said, you don't really ever notice the fixture except in build mode, and even then have to angle the camera straight down and kind of hunt for them.
Fenris321
New Veteran
7 years ago
"QueenofMyshuno;c-16868713" wrote:
"OriginalName;c-16868611" wrote:
You could use the bb.showhiddenobjects command for the invisible lights.

I didn't know there were invisible lights. Thanks for the tip. (Also, your screenname is awesome.)

Thanks. The screenname actually came about because I tried to come up with a name for this forum for way too long, and every name was already taken :D

"Stormkeep;c-16868748" wrote:
@OriginalName, you do not need to have testingcheats on to shrink or grow objects when placing. You also don't need to hold down shift when pressing . I never do. I totally agree with you regarding the invisible lights, btw...never use them for that reason.

I just super-shrink the simple, round ceiling light and put it everywhere I want things brighter. Shrunk down, like you said, you don't really ever notice the fixture except in build mode, and even then have to angle the camera straight down and kind of hunt for them.

Yup, just tried shrinking and growing stuff with "", don't know why I thought you had to hold down the shift key. Thanks for the tip :)
shira3000
7 years ago
Wow guys I didn’t expect a many comments. Thank you all