Controls / Enabled
Turns the Directional Light on or off.
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Fusion 3DIntermediate
DirectionalLight
Parallel 3D key light
Creates parallel directional lighting for Fusion 3D scenes, including controllable color, intensity and shadow mapping.
DirectionalLight
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
DirectionalLight behaves like a very distant light source: its rays are parallel, so direction matters far more than distance from the object.
Overview
What DirectionalLight does
DirectionalLight behaves like a very distant light source: its rays are parallel, so direction matters far more than distance from the object.
Mental model
Think of it as the sun. Rotating the light changes the angle of illumination across the entire scene, while moving it does not create normal point-light falloff.
Common uses
Create a sun-like key light
Add directional shadows to 3D text
Light several objects consistently
Create a rim or side light without a spotlight cone
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.
DirectionalLight
Fusion node
SceneOutput
The resulting 3D scene or scene object.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Controls / Color
Sets the emitted color of the Directional Light.
Controls / Red, Green, Blue
Sets the RGB color emitted by the Directional Light.
Controls / Intensity
Sets the light intensity.
Shadows / Enable Shadows
Allows the Directional Light to cast shadows.
Shadows / Shadow Color
Sets the shadow Color.
Shadows / Shadow Red, Green, Blue
Sets the RGB tint of Directional Light shadows.
Shadows / Density
Sets the density of generated or distributed elements.
Shadows / Shadow Map Size
Sets the resolution of the shadow map.
Higher values can sharpen shadow detail but increase render cost.
Shadows / Shadow Map Proxy
Uses a proxy resolution for the Directional Light shadow map during interactive work.
Shadows / Multiplicative Bias
Offsets shadow depth comparison to reduce self-shadowing artifacts.
Use the smallest value that removes acne or detached-looking shadows.
Shadows / Additive Bias
Offsets shadow depth comparison to reduce self-shadowing artifacts.
Use the smallest value that removes acne or detached-looking shadows.
Shadows / Non-Transmissive Materials
Sets the transparency of Non-Transmissive Materials.
Shadows / Sampling Quality
Sets the processing quality for this operation.
Use a lighter setting while building the comp if needed, then verify the final-quality result before render.
Shadows / Shadow Weight
Sets the opacity/strength of shadows cast by the Directional Light.
Shadows / Tight Projection
Tightens the shadow-map projection around the relevant scene geometry.
Shadows / Clip Near and Far
Sets the near or far clipping boundary.
Geometry outside the clipping range is not visible through the camera or depth operation.
Shadows / Softness
Controls shadow-edge softness.
Transform / Translation X Y Z
Sets translation on the X, Y and Z axes.
Transform / Rotation Order
Sets the 3D rotation order.
Defines the order in which the three rotation axes are evaluated.
Transform / Rotation X Y Z
Sets rotation on the X, Y and Z axes.
Transform / Pivot X Y Z
Sets the pivot position on the X, Y and Z axes.
Transform / Use Target
Orients the object, light or camera toward a target point.
Use Target is convenient for aim-at rigs because the orientation follows the target as either element moves.
Transform / Import Transform
Imports compatible position, rotation and scale animation from another source.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Build the 3D object and camera first.
- 2
Connect DirectionalLight into the same Merge3D.
- 3
Rotate the light until the object reads clearly.
- 4
Tune Intensity and Color.
- 5
Enable shadows only after the basic lighting direction works.
Typical node chain
3D Object→
DirectionalLight→
Merge3D→
Renderer3D
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
3D logo key light
A side-angled DirectionalLight gives a logo clear form.
Text3DDirectionalLightCamera3DMerge3DRenderer3D
Sun-style scene
One directional key plus soft ambient fill produces a simple daylight setup.
Shape3DDirectionalLightAmbientLightMerge3DRenderer3D
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Pointing the light directly from camera and flattening the object.
Increasing intensity to compensate for a poor angle.
Using very high shadow maps when the shot does not need them.
Ignoring shadow bias artifacts.
Production notes
Practical tips
Use rotation as the primary creative control.
Combine a directional key with weaker AmbientLight or DomeLight fill.
A back or side angle usually produces more useful 3D separation than frontal light.
Related nodes