Jewsus
Official Terrarian
Jewsus' Lighting Guide:
Light increases the world's visibility, though Monsters are not visibly affected by it or its absence. Light does not prevent Monsters from spawning, nor does it reduce their spawn rate.
Introduction:Light increases the world's visibility, though Monsters are not visibly affected by it or its absence. Light does not prevent Monsters from spawning, nor does it reduce their spawn rate.
Greetings Esteemed Terrarians,
I am compiling an in depth lighting guide for Terraria anyone wishing to help add this document with me is more than welcome to add any contributions (no matter how big or small) so as to get the best and most accurate information on lighting we possibly can in order to further help others with their lighting needs. I am going to start by talking about chiaroscuro:
Chiaroscuro - (Italian for light-dark) in art is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects and figures. Similar effects in cinema and photography also are called chiaroscuro.
Art History:
Origin in the chiaroscuro drawing
Chiaroscuro originated during the Renaissance as drawing on coloured paper, where the artist worked from the paper's base tone toward light using white gouache, and toward dark using ink,bodycolour or watercolour. These in turn, drew on traditions in illuminated manuscripts, going back to late Roman Imperial manuscripts on purple-dyed vellum. Such works used to be called "chiaroscuro drawings", but are more often described in modern museum terminology by such formulae as "pen on prepared paper, heightened with white bodycolour". Chiaroscuro woodcuts began as imitations of this technique. When discussing Italian art, the term sometimes is used to mean painted images in monochrome or two colours, more generally known in English by the French equivalent, grisaille. The term broadened in meaning early, to cover all strong contrasts in illumination between light and dark areas in art, which is now the primary meaning.
Chiaroscuro modelling:
The more technical use of the term chiaroscuro is the effect of light modelling in painting, drawing, or printmaking, where three-dimensional volume is suggested by the value gradation of colour and the analytical division of light and shadow shapes—often called "shading". The invention of these effects in the West, "skiagraphia" or "shadow-painting" to the Ancient Greeks, traditionally was ascribed to the famous Athenian painter of the fifth century BC,Apollodoros. Although virtually no Ancient Greek painting survives, their understanding of the effect of light modelling still may be seen in the late-fourth-century BC mosaics of Pella, Macedonia, in particular the Stag Hunt Mosaic, in the House of the Abduction of Helen, inscribed gnosis epoesen, or 'knowledge did it'. The term is mostly used to describe compositions where at least some principal elements of the main composition show the transition between light and dark.In drawings and prints, modelling chiaroscuro often is achieved by the use of hatching, or shading by parallel lines. Washes, stipple or dotting effects, and "surface tone" in printmaking are other techniques. (some of this is only partially relevant to Terraria tiles
Light settings:
Press F9 ingame to change the light setting.
There are four different light settings: color (default), white, trippy, and retro. The best light setting for you is dependent on your computer as well as your taste.
Color setting
White setting
Trippy setting
Retro setting
Press F9 ingame to change the light setting.
There are four different light settings: color (default), white, trippy, and retro. The best light setting for you is dependent on your computer as well as your taste.
Color setting
White setting
Trippy setting
Retro setting
Primary light sources
These items are intended to provide light as a primary function.
These items are intended to provide light as a primary function.
Light Sources:
Light sources are items that produce light. Some are brighter than others, and produce varying colours of light. Note that several weapons and armour types also generate light, but I will not be detailing them much in this thread unless players decide to help add content for this. before I go any further though lets get into some:
Portable:
The following items are portable light sources that can provide light while being carried. Torches and Candles may also be placed as Furniture, andGlowsticks can be thrown. Water Candles will increase enemy spawn rates in the vicinity.
Torch 
Candle
Glowstick
Sticky Glowstick 
Mining Helmet
Jellyfish Necklace
Flare Gun
Flare / Blue Flare Fired from Flare GunFurniture:
The following provide light primarily as placed background Furniture.
Tiki Torch
Lamp Post 
Heart Lantern
Star in a Bottle
Firefly in a Bottle
Lightning Bug in a Bottle 
Candelabra 
Chandelier 
Lantern 
Lamp 
Skull Lantern 
Chinese Lantern 
Jack 'O Lantern Novelty lights:
These placeable items provide a low amount of colored light, and are primarily intended as decoration, rather than providing functional light.
Disco Ball
Christmas lightsBuffs:
The following Buffs provide light as a result of a Potion or Magic item.
Shadow Orb
Fairy Bell
Wisp in a Bottle
Shine Potion
Reindeer Bells
Chlorophyte armorIncidental light sources
The following items produce varying amounts of light, even though lighting is not their primary function.
The following items produce varying amounts of light, even though lighting is not their primary function.
Furniture:
Crystal Shard
Campfire
Furnace
Hellforge
Adamantite Forge
Titanium Forge 
Lihzahrd AltarAccessories:
Item Emits Light When Flying.
Rocket Boots
Jetpack
Butterfly, Fairy, and Flame WingsBlocks:
Demonite Ore 
Demonite Brick 
Crimtane Ore 
Meteorite 
Gemspark Block 
Lavafall Block 
Lavafall Wall 
Living Fire Block 
Rainbow BrickGrowable:
These can be spawned given the right conditions, which occur naturally and can also be induced by the player.
Blinkroot
Fireblossom
Moonglow
Shiverthorn
Jungle Spores
Mushroom Grass
Glowing Mushrooms
Giant glowing mushroomOther:
Lava
Teleporter
Plantera's BulbOn world generation only
These are produced only on World creation, and can not be picked up, used, or placed by players.
These are produced only on World creation, and can not be picked up, used, or placed by players.
Altars/Orbs Etc:
Demon Altar
Crimson Altar
Shadow Orb
Crimson HeartInformation sourced from various sites and compiled into one place in order to better help Terrarians with their lighting needs.
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