Starter GPose: Lighting 103 - Instances
In a previous lighting guide, we talked about gpose controls, and how to use them in a controlled setting. But dungeons and other instances offer amazing places for scenario composition, and it would be a shame to ignore so much potential! So grab your backpack - we're hitting the Duty Finder!
One thing that may escape our collective attention when planning for solo shots is that it's very easy to use dungeons as backdrop: Newer dungeons benefit from Explorer Mode, while older dungeons can be entered solo by selecting Unrestricted Party. Both can be found under Settings.
Raids, on the other hand, can be finicky. There's no Explorer Mode, but regular 8-people raids can be accessed with Unrestricted Party.
Some (I'm looking at you, NiER raids) have access points that you can use to jump into an empty copy of the raid instances.
Some things to keep in mind while scouting for locations in dungeons: Lighting can be a bit inconsistent, with point sources placed in odd locations or light fixtures emitting no light at all.
You'll even find some circumstances where shadows go in the wrong direction!
So don't rely on hints: check how the environment lights interact with your character. Extreme cases may include very harsh sources, and because of the naive way the 10+ years old engine handles shadowed surfaces (hint: it doesn't), you may end up with monstrosities like this:
One way to fix this specific issue is to move the character away from the source, enough so all facial structures are shadowed according to the engine. Then, use profile point lights to fix the setup.
So all these issues are, in the end, easily handled. and there's a lot to look out for: Some sources have effects, like flickering torches, an excellent resource if you're planning for an animated GIF capture.
Others even have custom light maps, like Haukke Manor and that gorgeous stained glass illumination.
Some areas have mixed illumination sources, like The Wanderer's Palace, another gorgeous place that comes up early in the game.
You can also look out for reflection effects, like polished marble floors - or this water mirror, again in Wanderer's Palace:
So give instances a try. There's a veritable treasure trove of scenarios available that can greatly enhance your shots!
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