FFXIV's lighting for dark-skinned characters leaves much to be desired

To start this off, I figured that since the devs have been working on implementing lighting upgrades, now would be the best time to bring up this concern.

Also, the images in this post contain moments from Endwalker cutscenes.

As it is right now, dark-skinned characters really get the short end of the stick in terms of "actually showing up", even in well-lit zones like Il Mheg. The difference in visual clarity (particularly at a distance) is... frankly, a bit egregious. I'm aware that in dark environments, there will inherently be less contrast between darker and lighter tones, but 1) skin is much more reflective than people realize, even more noticeably so on dark skin, 2) people in real life don't suddenly become indistinguishable in dark lighting, and 3) I'm pretty sure players like to be able to actually see their characters in cutscenes... which becomes an issue when Endwalker in particular has several important moments taking place in lower lighting.

Having your Warrior of Light turn into a Cryptid of Light sighting when it's not perfect, direct, midday lighting, while all the pale-skinned Scions have no issues whatsoever... Yeah, it sucks. It honestly feels like dark skin wasn't factored into the equation, and going forward, I'd really like that to be taken into consideration with graphical updates incoming.

These photos are courtesy of a friend and their WoL, so I'd like to thank them for taking pictures for me, since they were able to showcase the issue fairly well!

https://i.imgur.com/6T8iT2F.png
https://i.imgur.com/Ky0KeMv.png
https://i.imgur.com/139Kb8d.png
https://i.imgur.com/s5sU8n2.png

There's a "character lighting" option in the graphics settings that basically lets you switch on a spotlight to point in your face. Try it out.

This issue will also be fixed hopefully in 7.x with the graphic update *fingers crossed*

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shironeko_Narunyan

There's a "character lighting" option in the graphics settings that basically lets you switch on a spotlight to point in your face. Try it out.

---

Yeah, I'm aware of this! I've spent (without significant exaggeration) probably about as much time in this game taking screenshots as I have doing "actual content", so I've fiddled around with graphics settings a lot. The problem is that it doesn't really match the rest of the game's lighting and has a tendency to look unnatural. I'm glad the option exists, but IMO it's not 100% ideal. I probably could've mentioned it in the original post. (On a similar note, gamma settings are another tool that can be used to mitigate this issue... but at higher levels will wash out the game.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nyxn607

This issue will also be fixed hopefully in 7.x with the graphic update *fingers crossed*

---

Hopefully! That's why I made this post in the first place anyways. With graphics changes incoming, I thought now would be a better time than any other to bring this up, just in case, because it'd be wildly disappointing if we got a graphics update and nothing happened in this area. Ideally, the devs will be aware that it's an existing problem. I have hope for improvement here.

Referring to them as '' pale-skinned '' when you use the term '' dark-skinned '' is a bit weird tbh.

The characters skin is very dark too, I don't think this is too unrealistic tbh.
Most people with dark skin aren't that dark and it makes the graphical limitations even worse.

Agreed, I admit I had a hard time with skin tones as CC is different from in-game and I struggled as I become extremely shadowy in the evening during cutscenes.

The lighting is pretty rough at times on my Rava girl in darker areas/cutscenes. I set the character lighting to 100 in EW because she was blending into the shadows ;-;

Im hoping the new updates help that a little.

Hrothgar in pitch black fur be like: "First time?"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kolsykol

Referring to them as '' pale-skinned '' when you use the term '' dark-skinned '' is a bit weird tbh.

---

I don't understand what you mean. What other term would you use to describe the relative skin tones of the characters in those pictures? Pale is the opposite of dark when you're describing colours.

OP watched the super bowls google pixel commercial and had done some ideas if “their own”

I agree! The current lighting leaves something to be desired with both light and dark skinned characters. My Elezen's grey skin looks pretty awful in a number of lighting schemes and my pale-af Femroe looks like she took a glow potion in strong light.

That being said, I chose those options, made my bed, and have to sleep in it. All in all, I can't complain though. They look great 99% of the time.

I also have had similar issues since I started doing screenshots in my earlier days. Because every single one of my characters is dark-skinned - I always go for darker shades of brown - and the personal character lighting only helps a little I have to get a little more creative with where I go and how I adjust my personal settings pre-screen.

I think the problem is that the skin doesn't change properties the darker it gets. Usually dark skin tones have higher contrasts of lighting than the pale ones. The best remedy is to add a skin shader option where you can adjust how "shiny" your skin can get or something

The lighting in this game is very inaccurate and should get an overhaul. Self shadowing does also not work well. If you wear a hat and a lamp is over you then the hat is ignored and the lamp illuminates you like if there is no hat etc.


Cheers

The game needs sub-surface scattering, it's the only way to shade skin in a way that looks nice. It's a pretty common technique nowadays though, so I'd be surprised if they don't add this in the graphic overhaul, given the emphasis on characters in this game.

Yeeeep, character creation needs an overhaul and update. It's based on something that is now fourteen years old.