# Lights and camera Add lights, choose the environment light and backdrop, set up cameras, background blur and frames, and switch to Lightweight view. **Use this when:** you want to light a scene, compose a shot, blur the background, or make the editor faster on a heavy scene. **Don't use this for:** animating the camera or exporting video. Read Animation and video. ## Add lights Click `Lighting` in the left toolbar, or click `Add lights` in the `Lights` section of the scene list. There are three types: | Light | What it does | | --- | --- | | `Rectangular` | Shines in one direction, like a softbox. | | `Spherical` | Shines in all directions, like a bulb. Good for fill light. | | `Dome` | Lights the whole scene, like the sun. | ![The Lighting menu: Lights (Rectangular, Spherical, Dome) at the top, then a grid of Environment lights such as Aft Lounge, Autoshop, Birchwood and Leadenhall Market, which is checked.](/docs/images/ui/lights-and-camera-lighting-menu.webp#narrow) *The `Lighting` menu: the three light types, then the environment lights. The check marks the current one.* A project can have at most 15 lights. When you reach the limit, Womp says "Can't add more lights." ### Light settings Select a light to set: - `Position`, and `Rotation` (not on spherical lights). - `Area` on a rectangular light, or `Radius` on a spherical light. A bigger light gives softer shadows. - `Color`. - `Luminance`: 0 to 100. A light at 0 gives no light. ### Advanced Light Properties Open `Functions` in the left toolbar and choose `Advanced Light Properties` (marked experimental, current v2 projects only). Select one rectangular or spherical light, then: - **`Light Pattern`:** click `Select Image` to shape how the light is projected. `Clear` removes the image. - **`Beam Focus`:** 0 to 100%. Focuses the beam of the light. ## Environment light The environment light lights the scene from all sides and shows in reflections. With nothing selected, the right panel shows the scene settings: - **`Environmental Light`:** click the preview, then `Change`, to pick another one. The `Lighting` menu also lists them under `Environment lights`. - `Lightmap rotation`: 0 to 360. Turns the light around the scene. - `Luminance`: 0 to 100. Sets how bright the environment light is. - `Shuffle Lightmap` picks a random one. It is also in the bottom bar. ## Backdrop `Backdrop` is the first scene setting. It sets the background color behind the model. It does not change lights or materials. - Pick a color in the color picker. - Under `Saved Backdrops`, `+` adds a new white swatch you can recolor and reuse in this project. - `Shuffle Backdrop` picks a random color. `Show Grid` turns the floor grid on and off. ![The Scene tab of the inspector: Render with Normal and Lightweight, Environment with Backdrop E6E6E6 and Lighting (preview, rotation 0 deg, brightness 16), and Editor with Show grid on and Select areas by default off.](/docs/images/ui/lights-and-camera-scene-tab.webp#narrow) *The `Scene` tab, with render, backdrop, lighting and editor settings.* ## Lightweight view Under `Render settings`, choose `Normal` or `Lightweight`. - `Normal` shows full lighting and reflections. - `Lightweight` turns off live lighting and reflections, so the editor runs faster on heavy scenes. `Lightweight` is Pro. Switch back to `Normal` to check materials and lights before you export. ## Cameras Every project starts with a default camera. To add more, click `Add Cameras` in the `Cameras` section of the scene list. A new camera starts from your current view. - Right-click a camera and choose `Activate camera` to look through it, or `Exit camera` to go back. - Select a camera to set its `Position`, `Look at point`, `Pan` and `Orbit`. - Turn on `Make camera stationary` to lock the camera so you cannot move it by accident. - `Show helper` shows the camera in the viewport. ![The Camera tab for the Default Camera (Active): Make camera stationary, Position, Look at point, Pan and Orbit values, and switches for Background blur, Frame and Camera animation.](/docs/images/ui/lights-and-camera-camera-tab.webp#narrow) *The `Camera` tab with the default camera selected.* ## Background blur In the `Camera` tab of the right panel, turn on `Background blur` for a depth of field effect, like a real camera. - `Blur strength`: 0 to 100. - `Set focus`, then click the object that should be sharp. You can also hold `F` and click an object. - `Reset focus` clears the focus point. The effect is easier to see when objects are at different distances from the camera. ### Advanced camera options Open `Functions` and choose `Advanced camera options`. This is Pro, marked experimental, and in current (v2) projects only. The `Advanced Camera Properties` panel has: - `Enable physically-based Depth of Field`: a more realistic blur. It does not work with orthographic cameras. - `Enable image background`: shows the environment light image behind the scene. ## Frame Turn on `Frame` in the `Camera` tab to compose an image in a set aspect ratio. Pick a preset, choose `Landscape` or `Portrait`, then click `Export image`. The exported image has the frame's aspect ratio. In the `Share` menu, `Download frame` does the same. You cannot use `Frame` and `Camera animation` at the same time. ## Use instead - **Wrong move:** adding many weak lights to brighten a scene. **Why:** a project has at most 15 lights, and more lights slow the scene. **Right move:** raise the environment `Luminance` first, then add a few lights. - **Wrong move:** exporting from `Lightweight` view. **Why:** it hides lighting and reflections, so you cannot judge the result. **Right move:** switch to `Normal` before you export. - **Wrong move:** looking for camera animation here. **Why:** it is on its own page. **Right move:** read [Animation and video](https://womp.com/docs/make/animation.md). --- Last checked: 2026-11-10. Womp version: Womp web app, November 2026.