Optimize Lighting to Match Your World's Time of Day

Access Lighting Controls

Open the shader settings and navigate to the lighting or ambient section. This controls how the shader interprets sunlight, moonlight, and ambient light throughout the day-night cycle.

Adjust Brightness and Contrast

Modify the overall brightness slider to brighten or darken your world. If daytime feels washed out, reduce brightness; if nighttime is too dark to navigate, increase it. Contrast settings help define the difference between lit and shadowed areas—higher contrast creates more dramatic lighting, while lower contrast feels softer and more uniform.

Fine-Tune Color Temperature

The shader applies color tints to simulate realistic lighting at different times. Adjust warm/cool tones to match your preference—warmer tones during sunset create a golden hour effect, while cooler tones during night enhance the moonlit atmosphere. HardRock TFC's terrain colors shift with these settings, so test during different times to ensure the landscape looks natural.

Verify Consistency

Play through a full day-night cycle to confirm lighting transitions smoothly and matches the survival mood you want. Adjust incrementally if certain times of day feel off-balance.