In Canvas Studio, shadows are a core part of creating depth, realism, and visual separation between objects in 3D space. Shadows give weight to models, show how light interacts with surfaces, and help orient the viewer within a scene. Canvas supports real-time dynamic shadows, where light sources cast shadows from objects that move or rotate, and objects can be set to either cast or receive shadows independently.
When a light with castShadow enabled shines on an object with castShadow enabled, that object will project a shadow. Another object with receiveShadow enabled will show that shadow on its surface. Shadows are calculated in real time using shadow maps—textures that store depth information from the light’s point of view. This means more shadow casters and receivers can increase GPU load, but also allow for more complex visual results.
Supported lights –Directional,Spot, and Point lights support shadows; Ambient and RectArea lights do not.
castShadow – when enabled on a mesh, it causes the object to cast a shadow when lit by a compatible light source.
receiveShadow – when enabled on a mesh, it allows that object to display shadows cast onto it by other meshes.
mapSize (width / height) – defines the resolution of the shadow map texture; higher values improve sharpness but increase memory usage.
bias – offsets the depth comparison to prevent surface acne and flickering artifacts caused by z-fighting.
normalBias – further pushes shadows away from surfaces based on normal direction, helping with artifacts on angled geometry.
camera (near / far) – defines the depth range captured by the shadow camera; tighter ranges give more precision and cleaner results.
When used properly, shadows give your scene weight and atmosphere. Cast and receive toggles allow you to selectively control which objects block light and which objects display that interaction. Fine-tuning map size and bias settings helps maintain crisp shadow detail without artifacts. While not all light types support shadows, combining supported lights with targeted shadow receivers lets you build moody, believable environments that feel physically grounded and visually balanced.