V-Ray Tip: Light Linking Best Practices for V-Ray for SketchUp

Master light linking in V-Ray for SketchUp to art-direct illumination with precision and keep lighting predictable across iterations.

When to use light linking

• Isolate key lights to specific hero objects without affecting the rest of the scene.
• Prevent spill from window or dome lights on interiors while preserving reflections.
• Create clean product highlights by excluding fill lights from backgrounds.
• Maintain consistent lighting across variant shots without re-lighting everything.

Setup checklist (fast)

1. Name your lights clearly (e.g., L_Key_Rect_01, L_Fill_IES_02) in the V-Ray Asset Editor.
2. Group and componentize geometry in SketchUp; use Tags for organization.
3. Open the Light Linking tool in the V-Ray Asset Editor and:
   • Start lights in “Affect All.”
   • Switch a light to Include or Exclude, then pick objects from the viewport list.
   • Multi-select objects to build links quickly; component instances inherit links.
4. Validate in IPR: toggle links live and watch direct lighting/shadows update in the VFB.

Best practices for predictable results

• Prefer Include mode on hero lights to avoid surprises when adding new geometry.
• Keep one strategy per light: avoid mixing Include and Exclude on the same light.
• Use light categories (key/fill/rim/accent) in names so links read like a lighting plan.
• Link at the component level where possible; you’ll gain stability if assets are replaced.
• Use Light Mix to rebalance intensities after linking; links and Light Mix complement each other.

What light linking affects

• Controls direct illumination and shadow casting between a light and objects.
• Indirect/GI may still carry light into excluded areas. If needed, adjust per-light “Affect diffuse/specular” to refine contributions.
• Emissive materials aren’t lights; linking does not apply to them. For emissives, tune intensity and visibility instead.
• Global lights (e.g., dome/environment) may have limited linking in some setups—test per scene.

Troubleshooting quick checks

• If a link isn’t working, confirm object selection isn’t inside a nested group that was not selected.
• Disable “Invisible” on dome lights temporarily to confirm whether GI vs direct light is driving the look.
• Use Light Select render elements to verify which objects receive a light’s contribution.
• Reset a light to “Affect All” to isolate whether the issue is the link or the light’s own settings.

Performance notes

• Light linking can reduce unnecessary sampling in areas you deliberately keep dark, often lowering noise.
• Fewer, well-placed links beat many overlapping rules; keep it simple for faster iteration.

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Pro move: Save linked lighting setups as scene variants and document your intent in layer/tag names. This makes it easy to hand off scenes to collaborators and keep renders consistent across a project timeline—especially when purchased through NOVEDGE for team deployments.