## Changing Lighting in Substance Designer
Substance Designer is a powerful 3D texturing tool that allows users to create realistic and detailed textures for their models. One of the most important aspects of creating realistic textures is lighting. The lighting in a scene can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of the textures, and it is important to understand how to control the lighting in Substance Designer in order to achieve the desired results.
There are two main ways to change the lighting in Substance Designer:
1. **Using the “Lights” node**
2. **Using the “Environment” node**
### Using the “Lights” Node
The “Lights” node is the most direct way to add lighting to a scene in Substance Designer. This node allows you to create and position lights in the scene, and to control their properties such as intensity, color, and direction.
To add a light to a scene, simply drag and drop the “Lights” node onto the graph. You can then position the light in the scene by clicking and dragging on the “Position” parameter. The “Intensity” parameter controls the brightness of the light, and the “Color” parameter controls the color of the light.
The “Direction” parameter controls the direction of the light. By default, the light will point straight down. To change the direction of the light, simply click and drag on the “Direction” parameter.
You can also add multiple lights to a scene. To do this, simply drag and drop additional “Lights” nodes onto the graph. Each light will have its own set of properties that you can control.
### Using the “Environment” Node
The “Environment” node is another way to add lighting to a scene in Substance Designer. This node allows you to create a global environment for the scene, which includes the lighting.
To add an environment to a scene, simply drag and drop the “Environment” node onto the graph. You can then select the environment from the “Environment” drop-down menu.
The “Environment” node has a number of parameters that you can use to control the lighting in the scene. The “Intensity” parameter controls the brightness of the environment, and the “Color” parameter controls the color of the environment.
The “Direction” parameter controls the direction of the light in the environment. By default, the light will come from directly above. To change the direction of the light, simply click and drag on the “Direction” parameter.
You can also use the “Environment” node to add HDRI (High Dynamic Range Image) environments to your scene. HDRI environments are panoramic images that capture the full range of light in a scene. This can result in much more realistic lighting than using a simple color or gradient.
To add an HDRI environment to a scene, simply drag and drop the HDRI image onto the “Environment” node. The HDRI image will then be used to create the lighting for the scene.
## Tips for Changing Lighting in Substance Designer
Here are a few tips for changing lighting in Substance Designer:
* **Use multiple lights to create more realistic lighting.** A single light can often create harsh shadows and highlights. By using multiple lights, you can create a more evenly lit scene.
* **Experiment with different light colors.** The color of the light can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of your textures. Try using different colors to see how they affect the look of your textures.
* **Use the “Environment” node to create more realistic lighting.** HDRI environments can provide much more realistic lighting than using a simple color or gradient. If you want to achieve the most realistic results, consider using an HDRI environment.
## Conclusion
Lighting is an essential part of creating realistic textures in Substance Designer. By understanding how to control the lighting in Substance Designer, you can create textures that look more realistic and detailed.
