> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rageon.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Lighting and camera

> Set the light, background, and view of the model in the stage.

**Lighting** and **Rendering** apply to the Viewer and its single-image captures, separately from the Capture tab's settings.

## Lighting

**1. Set the time of day**

Open **Lighting** and move **Time of day**. Daylight and shadows follow the hour.

![Lighting popover with Time of day set to 17.0 h](https://mintcdn.com/rageon/TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK/images/viewer/viewer-light-time.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK\&q=85\&s=acff45dd1f923aca9cc9c0a83541bb66)

Time of day at 17.0 h.

**2. Place the sun yourself**

Turn on **Manual directional light** to set **Azimuth**, **Height**, and **Light intensity**. **Time of day** is disabled while it is on. You can also drag the sun marker around the model.

![Manual directional light on, with Azimuth, Height, and Light intensity controls](https://mintcdn.com/rageon/TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK/images/viewer/viewer-light-manual.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK\&q=85\&s=867fcdcfee0bb61adecf91b66187cde5)

Manual directional light.

| Option | What it does | Default |
| - | - | - |
| **Azimuth** | Direction of the sun around the model, 0 to 360°. | 135° |
| **Height** | Sun elevation, −10° to 90° (overhead). | 55° |
| **Light intensity** | Strength of the direct light, 0 to 3×. | 1× |
| **Shadows** | Shadows between parts of the model. | On |
| **Ground shadows** | The shadow on the ground, independent of **Shadows**. | On |
| **Flat lighting** | Even light with no relief or hard shadows. | Off |

## Rendering

![Rendering popover with Transparent background switched on](https://mintcdn.com/rageon/TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK/images/viewer/viewer-rendering-background.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK\&q=85\&s=d839639c8e2f3e4fd1a5b71bdefb6879)

Transparent background on.

| Option | What it does | Default |
| - | - | - |
| **HDR** | Keeps strong highlights and deep shadows. | On |
| **Auto exposure** | Adjusts brightness to the framed model. Turn it off to compare models at the same brightness. | On |
| **Sky background** | Shows the game sky. Turns **Transparent background** off. | Off |
| **Transparent background** | Leaves the background clear in PNG and WebP images. Turns **Sky background** off. | Off |
| **Background color** | Solid backdrop, used when sky and transparency are off. | Dark |

**Geometry** in this panel shows **Triangles**, **Vertices**, and **Meshes** for the loaded model. Click one to copy it. **Debug** → **Wireframe** shows mesh edges and also appears in captured images. **Debug** → **Grid** does not.

## Move the camera

The model starts at a three-quarter angle. Click **Reset camera (F)** to return to it.

| Action | Orbit camera | Free camera |
| - | - | - |
| Orbit | Drag with the left or right button | — |
| Look around | — | Right button + move |
| Pan | Middle button + drag | — |
| Move | — | **W** **A** **S** **D** |
| Up, down | — | **Space** or **E**, **Q** |
| Faster | — | Hold **Shift** |
| Wheel | Zoom | Movement speed |
| Frame the model | **F** | **F** |
| Switch camera | **C** | **C** |
| Move the sun | Drag the sun marker. Hold **Shift** to rotate freely; otherwise it snaps to 15°. | — |

**F** and **C** work when the stage is focused or the pointer is over it, outside capture mode, text fields, and dialogs. With a model loaded, the **Reset camera (F)** and **Free camera (C)** buttons also work in capture mode, and **Free camera (C)** exits it. Dragging the sun needs **Manual directional light**. Click **?** for a reminder of the active controls.

![Help card with the orbit and light controls over prop\_bench\_01a](https://mintcdn.com/rageon/TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK/images/viewer/viewer-camera-help.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK\&q=85\&s=20c951bd18ce0a3d15d8daa0d13f08da)

The orbit and light help.

**Free camera (C)** lets you fly through a model, which is how you look around inside an MLO such as `apa_int_mp_h_01`.

![Free camera on inside the apa\_int\_mp\_h\_01 apartment, with the help card open](https://mintcdn.com/rageon/TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK/images/viewer/viewer-free-camera.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=TCzaS11pSGz1CPPK\&q=85\&s=aa05eca5a77769a7c8448541cea8d85f)

Free camera inside apa\_int\_mp\_h\_01.

The **Camera orientation** gizmo snaps the view to **Right (+X)**, **Left (−X)**, **Back (+Y)**, **Front (−Y)**, **Top (+Z)**, or **Bottom (−Z)** and keeps your distance. Click the active direction again for the opposite view.


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