[Request] - Stock light model entities: make light_source origin indipendant

[Bikerdude]

So a long standing issue with the light model entities in the core, is that the main light source is hard bound to the origin of the model. This isnt great, because it means the origin of the light is then directly in the same plain as a wall or ceiling @ 0, 0, 0. which has an unpleasant effect visual effect on a lot of the stock textures.

If the engine code could be updated/edited so the main/default light for each light entity could be somewhere that isn't the at 0 0 0 of a model, I would have no issue taking on the task of checking and fixed every stock light..

In my humble opinion, this should 'not' significantly break any existing FM's, because all we will be doing is moving the origin of the light source to where light would be emitted from IRL, eg the housing, bulb or arc etc.

Edited August 21 by Bikerdude

[Baal]

This was also always an issue for me.

When I place lights, I like to control and fit the location of the light volume exactly into its environment (for example to keep lights from extending into adjacent areas or to create shadows). That means the center (or origin) of the light volume is at some random location in the room, and almost always the wrong place for the model (which is on the wall or ceiling in most cases).

But that's how all the light entities work and I have to use an inconvenient workaround. 

[stgatilov]

Could you give some example?
E.g. some problematic "light model entity"...

[Bikerdude]

15 hours ago, stgatilov said:

Could you give some example?
E.g. some problematic "light model entity"...

Any stock light entity will do, but here are some that demonstrate my point - 

- atdm:antique_wall_light_1_globe
- atdm:lamp_electric_fancy_lit
- atdm:lamp_wall_gaslight_02_lit
- atdm:lamp_hanging02 - this one is particularly bad due to the distance from the origin and the housing.

[stgatilov]

entityDef atdm:lamp_hanging02
{
    "light_center"   "0 0 -68"
    "editor_setKeyValue light_center"    "0 0 -68"

I think the light_center spawnarg does exactly what you need: specifies the offset of light origin from the model origin.
 

[Baal]

56 minutes ago, stgatilov said:

entityDef atdm:lamp_hanging02
{
    "light_center"   "0 0 -68"
    "editor_setKeyValue light_center"    "0 0 -68"

I think the light_center spawnarg does exactly what you need: specifies the offset of light origin from the model origin.
 

That does not solve the issue I described, unfortunately (it's a slightly different problem).

There is another point (the "middle" of the light volume) that can't be changed. The model is always located at this point. I have to use a secondary light, to do what I want (as described in my ealier post). It's very inconvenient. 

[stgatilov]

Okay.

I think the core issue comes from the idea of merging a model and light into one entity.
Is it really hard to make the separate?

UPDATE: There is something called localLightOrigin in the code.
I think it comes from "light_origin" spawnarg and is also affected by "setLightOrigin" script event.

[Baal]

17 hours ago, stgatilov said:

I think the core issue comes from the idea of merging a model and light into one entity.
Is it really hard to make the separate?

I don't know how these entities work in detail, in case your asking me. There seems to be some scripting involved. I have not looked closely at the implementation.

But the way I do it often, is basically two entities (light and model/behavior), that have to be linked somehow. I just shrink down the original light, and target my light to it (Maybe any other way would not be that much different). But it means there is an extra light entity, when only one is used.

Edited August 27 by Baal

[Bikerdude]

On 8/26/2026 at 5:22 PM, stgatilov said:

UPDATE: There is something called localLightOrigin in the code.
I think it comes from "light_origin" spawnarg and is also affected by "setLightOrigin" script event.

Is it possible to manually specify a different origin eg "localLightOrigin" "0 0 0" etc?