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Lightpainter

by ShaderError·Rendering

Images © ShaderError. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

LightPainter stands out in the superhive library for its brush-based approach to lighting, letting you shape gobos, highlights, and shadows in the viewport. It holds a five-star rating across eleven reviews and supports Blender 3.6 through 5.1.

What is Lightpainter?

LightPainter is a Blender add-on from ShaderError for painting cinematic light directly in Blender's viewport. With brush-based control, you shape gobos, highlights, and shadows, an approach the developer frames as a new way to design lighting.

The add-on uses the Cycles render engine and is a Blender Extension, compatible with Blender 3.6 through 5.1. It's released under the GPL license, and documentation is included. A demo video is also available on the developer's page.

LightPainter appears in the superhive library, where it holds a five-star rating across eleven reviews and lists more than 2,000 sales. ShaderError is a Blender Development Fund contributor, and the add-on was published around seven months ago. For artists working on lighting in Blender, LightPainter offers a brush-driven route to placing gobos, highlights, and shadows in the scene.

Who is Lightpainter best for?

Lightpainter is best for blender artists who want to paint cinematic light, gobos, highlights, and shadows directly in the viewport using Cycles.

How much does Lightpainter cost?

Lightpainter is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Paint cinematic light directly in Blender's viewport
  • Brush-based control for shaping gobos, highlights, and shadows
  • Built for the Cycles render engine
  • Compatible with Blender 3.6 through 5.1
  • Available as a Blender Extension add-on
  • Documentation included
  • Released under the GPL license

Tags

#lighting#gobos#cinematic lighting#blender add-on#viewport lighting#cycles#shadows

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does LightPainter support?

LightPainter is compatible with Blender versions 3.6 through 5.1, covering a wide span of releases. It's marked as a Blender Extension, and the developer includes documentation to help you get set up. If you're running a version within that range, you should be able to use the add-on. For anything outside 3.6 to 5.1, check the developer's page for the latest compatibility details before installing.

Does LightPainter work with Cycles?

LightPainter is built for the Cycles render engine, so your scene should use Cycles to work with it as intended. It lets you paint cinematic light directly in the viewport, shaping gobos, highlights, and shadows with brush-based control. For specifics on how it behaves with your setup, the developer's page and the included documentation are the best places to confirm the details before you commit to a project.

Is LightPainter free to use?

LightPainter is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing and any editions can change over time, so for the current terms and to download the add-on, head to the developer's page. The add-on itself is released under the GPL license, and a demo video is available if you'd like a closer look before installing. ShaderError, the developer behind it, maintains the listing and can answer product questions directly.

What license is LightPainter released under?

LightPainter is released under the GPL license. It's also flagged as a Blender Extension and compatible with Blender 3.6 through 5.1, running on the Cycles render engine. Documentation is included with the add-on, and a demo video is available on the developer's page. For the full license text and any usage terms, refer to the developer's page before distributing or modifying the add-on.

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