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Troubleshoot Dark Caves and Poor Underground Visibility

Java EditionShaderGuides 4FAQ 10Related mods 60
Contents (4)
  1. Verify Torch Light Bounce is Enabled
  2. Increase Ambient Light
  3. Check Your Gamma and Brightness
  4. Use Strategic Torch Placement

Verify Torch Light Bounce is Enabled

N87 includes a light bounce feature that makes torches illuminate caves more effectively. Check your shader settings to ensure this feature is active and not set to minimum intensity. If caves are still too dark, increase the light bounce radius or strength.

Increase Ambient Light

Ambient light fills shadowed areas with soft illumination. Raise the ambient light slider in shader settings to brighten caves without relying solely on torches. This creates a more playable underground experience while maintaining shadows.

Check Your Gamma and Brightness

Verify that your in-game brightness setting (separate from shader settings) isn't set too low. Adjust it in Video Settings if needed, though be careful not to wash out the shader's visual quality.

Use Strategic Torch Placement

Place torches more densely in caves to work with N87's improved light spreading. The shader's realistic light propagation means torches illuminate larger areas than vanilla, so fewer torches may be needed once settings are optimized. Test different torch spacing to find the right balance.

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