render settings

.specstory/history/2025-08-04_03-15Z-match-cycles-lighting-to-eevee-darkness.md

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+<!-- Generated by SpecStory -->
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+# Match cycles lighting to eevee darkness (2025-08-04 03:15Z)
+
+_**User**_
+
+EEVEE lighting is WAY darker than cycles lighting. I want the eevee darkness. How do I achieve this in cycles?
+
+---
+
+_**Assistant**_
+
+I can help you achieve the darker EEVEE lighting look in Cycles. The main reason EEVEE appears darker is because it uses a different lighting model and doesn't have the same global illumination that Cycles provides. Here are several approaches to darken your Cycles render:
+
+
+---
+
+<details>
+                <summary>Searched codebase "cycles lighting settings render properties" • **6** results</summary>
+            
+| File | Lines |
+|------|-------|
+| `.gitattributes` | Lundefined-39 |
+| `.gitignore` | Lundefined-123 |
+| `assets/springtrap_rokokoRetarget.bmap` | Lundefined-106 |
+| `.cursorindexingignore` | Lundefined-3 |
+| `assets/springtrap_rokokoRetarget.bmap` | L201-305 |
+| `assets/springtrap_rokokoRetarget.bmap` | L96-211 |
+
+</details>
+
+---
+
+Based on your Blender scene, here are the most effective ways to achieve the darker EEVEE lighting look in Cycles:
+
+## 1. **Reduce Light Intensity**
+- Select your lights and reduce their **Energy** values significantly
+- For area lights, try reducing from default values to around 50-100W
+- For point/spot lights, reduce to 10-50W
+
+## 2. **Adjust World Settings**
+- Go to **World Properties** → **Surface**
+- Reduce the **Strength** value (default is 1.0, try 0.1-0.3)
+- Or change the **Color** to a darker value
+
+## 3. **Modify Color Management**
+In your **Color Management** section (which I can see in your properties panel):
+- **Exposure**: Reduce from 0.000 to around -1.0 to -2.0
+- **Gamma**: Lower from 1.000 to around 0.8-0.9
+- **View Transform**: Try "Standard" instead of "Filmic" for less contrast
+
+## 4. **Adjust Sampling Settings**
+In your **Sampling** section:
+- Reduce **Max Samples** from 128 to 32-64 for faster preview
+- Lower **Noise Threshold** to 0.05 for better quality
+
+## 5. **Use Light Paths Settings**
+- Go to **Light Paths** section (currently collapsed in your panel)
+- Reduce **Max Bounces** for Diffuse, Glossy, Transmission
+- Set **Max Bounces** to 2-3 for each type
+
+## 6. **Add Volume Absorption**
+- Add a **Volume Scatter** or **Volume Absorption** shader to your world
+- This will darken the overall scene like EEVEE's simpler lighting model
+
+## 7. **Quick Method: Post-Processing**
+- Use the **Compositor** to add a **Color Balance** node
+- Reduce the **Lift** (shadows) and **Gain** (highlights) values
+
+The key difference is that EEVEE doesn't have global illumination, so it naturally appears darker. These settings will help you achieve that same look while maintaining Cycles' quality.
+
+Would you like me to help you implement any of these specific settings?
+
+---
+