Adjust Shadow Softness and Distance

Access Shader Settings

Open the shader options menu by pressing Right Shift (default) while in-game, then navigate to Shadows or PCSS Settings depending on your loader.

Configure Shadow Spread

Look for sliders controlling shadow softness or penumbra size. Increasing this value makes shadows spread more naturally over distance, creating a softer, more cinematic look. Decreasing it sharpens shadows for a more defined appearance.

Adjust Shadow Distance

Find the shadow distance or render distance setting. Higher values cast shadows further from your character, but reduce performance. Lower values keep shadows close and improve frame rates on older hardware.

Fine-tune for Your Hardware

If you experience lag, reduce shadow distance first, then soften the penumbra slightly. Test changes in different lighting conditions—caves, forests, and open sky all reveal different shadow behavior. Reload chunks (F3 + A) to see updates immediately.

Save Your Preferences

Once satisfied, your settings save automatically. You can create multiple profiles by duplicating your shader config file if you want different setups for different play sessions.