Enabled
Turns the light contribution on or off.
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Fusion 3DBeginner
AmbientLight
Uniform fill light
Adds soft, even illumination to a Fusion 3D scene without a direction, cone or distance falloff.
AmbientLight
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
AmbientLight is a simple global fill source used to lift dark areas and keep 3D objects readable before the scene is rendered.
Overview
What AmbientLight does
AmbientLight is a simple global fill source used to lift dark areas and keep 3D objects readable before the scene is rendered.
Mental model
Think of it as low-level room light: it raises the overall illumination without creating a distinct beam or directional shadow pattern.
Common uses
Lift deep shadows in a 3D title
Add neutral fill under a stronger key light
Preview object form quickly
Create flat technical lighting for product-style graphics
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
SceneInput
3D scene or object data to be processed or combined.
AmbientLight
Fusion node
SceneOutput
3D scene output for Merge3D, Renderer3D or another 3D tool.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Color
Sets the tint of the ambient illumination.
Tip: Keep saturation subtle unless the look is intentionally stylized.
Red
Adjusts the red channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Green
Adjusts the green channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Blue
Adjusts the blue channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Intensity
Controls the strength of the fill light.
Tip: Start low; too much ambient light flattens the scene.
Translation X/Y/Z
Standard 3D transform controls; position usually has little visual impact for ambient fill.
Import Transform
References transform data from another 3D source when needed.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Add the 3D object to a Merge3D scene.
- 2
Connect AmbientLight to the same Merge3D.
- 3
Set a low Intensity and judge the darkest areas.
- 4
Add DirectionalLight or SpotLight for shape and highlights.
- 5
Render through Renderer3D with lighting enabled.
Typical node chain
3D Object→
AmbientLight→
Merge3D→
Renderer3D
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Soft 3D title fill
AmbientLight lifts the shadows while a SpotLight provides the key.
Text3DAmbientLightSpotLightMerge3DRenderer3D
Neutral object preview
A low ambient level makes a model readable before final lighting is built.
Shape3DAmbientLightMerge3DRenderer3D
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using AmbientLight as the only source and losing depth.
Raising Intensity until materials look washed out.
Expecting directional shadows from a non-directional source.
Forgetting that Renderer3D lighting must be enabled.
Production notes
Practical tips
Use AmbientLight as fill, not as the key light.
A slightly warm or cool fill can separate the scene from the background.
If forms look flat, reduce ambient intensity before adding more contrast elsewhere.
Related nodes