--- name: "SoShadowDirectionalLight" section: "3" platform: "linux" package: "coin" version: "1:4.0.10-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/SoShadowDirectionalLight" --- # SoShadowDirectionalLight(3) The SoShadowDirectionalLight class is a node for setting up a directional light which casts shadows. ## NAME SoShadowDirectionalLight - The **SoShadowDirectionalLight** class is a node for setting up a directional light which casts shadows. ## SYNOPSIS \#include \ Inherits **SoDirectionalLight**. ### Public Member Functions virtual **SoType** **getTypeId** (void) const\ **SoShadowDirectionalLight** (void)\ virtual void **GLRender** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ Public Member Functions inherited from **SoDirectionalLight** **SoDirectionalLight** (void)\ Public Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** virtual void **callback** (**SoCallbackAction** \*action)\ Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** void **setOverride** (const SbBool state)\ SbBool **isOverride** (void) const\ void **setNodeType** (const **NodeType** type)\ **NodeType** **getNodeType** (void) const\ virtual **SoNode** \* **copy** (SbBool copyconnections=FALSE) const\ virtual SbBool **affectsState** (void) const\ virtual void **doAction** (**SoAction** \*action)\ virtual void **GLRenderBelowPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **GLRenderInPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **GLRenderOffPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **getBoundingBox** (**SoGetBoundingBoxAction** \*action)\ virtual void **getMatrix** (**SoGetMatrixAction** \*action)\ virtual void **handleEvent** (**SoHandleEventAction** \*action)\ virtual void **pick** (**SoPickAction** \*action)\ virtual void **rayPick** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action)\ virtual void **search** (**SoSearchAction** \*action)\ virtual void **write** (**SoWriteAction** \*action)\ virtual void **audioRender** (**SoAudioRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **getPrimitiveCount** (**SoGetPrimitiveCountAction** \*action)\ virtual void **grabEventsSetup** (void)\ virtual void **grabEventsCleanup** (void)\ virtual void **startNotify** (void)\ virtual void **notify** (**SoNotList** \*l)\ SbUniqueId **getNodeId** (void) const\ virtual **SoChildList** \* **getChildren** (void) const\ virtual void **writeInstance** (**SoOutput** \*out)\ virtual **SoNode** \* **addToCopyDict** (void) const\ virtual void **copyContents** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*from, SbBool copyconnections)\ virtual **SoFieldContainer** \* **copyThroughConnection** (void) const\ Public Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** void **setToDefaults** (void)\ SbBool **hasDefaultValues** (void) const\ SbBool **fieldsAreEqual** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*container) const\ void **copyFieldValues** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*container, SbBool copyconnections=FALSE)\ SbBool **set** (const char \*const fielddata)\ void **get** (**SbString** &fielddata)\ virtual int **getFields** (**SoFieldList** &l) const\ virtual int **getAllFields** (**SoFieldList** &l) const\ virtual **SoField** \* **getField** (const **SbName** &name) const\ virtual **SoField** \* **getEventIn** (const **SbName** &name) const\ virtual **SoField** \* **getEventOut** (const **SbName** &name) const\ SbBool **getFieldName** (const **SoField** \*const field, **SbName** &name) const\ SbBool **enableNotify** (const SbBool flag)\ SbBool **isNotifyEnabled** (void) const\ SbBool **set** (const char \*fielddata, **SoInput** \*input)\ void **get** (**SbString** &fielddata, **SoOutput** \*out)\ virtual SbBool **validateNewFieldValue** (**SoField** \*field, void \*newval)\ virtual void **addWriteReference** (**SoOutput** \*out, SbBool isfromfield=FALSE)\ SbBool **getIsBuiltIn** (void) const\ virtual void **getFieldsMemorySize** (size\_t &managed, size\_t &unmanaged) const\ void **setUserData** (void \*userdata) const\ void \* **getUserData** (void) const\ Public Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** void **ref** (void) const\ void **unref** (void) const\ void **unrefNoDelete** (void) const\ int32\_t **getRefCount** (void) const\ void **touch** (void)\ SbBool **isOfType** (**SoType** type) const\ Returns TRUE if the type of this object is either of the same type or inherited from *type*. virtual **SbName** **getName** (void) const\ virtual void **setName** (const **SbName** &newname)\ void **addAuditor** (void \*const auditor, const **SoNotRec::Type** type)\ void **removeAuditor** (void \*const auditor, const **SoNotRec::Type** type)\ const **SoAuditorList** & **getAuditors** (void) const\ SbBool **shouldWrite** (void)\ void **assertAlive** (void) const\ ### Static Public Member Functions static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ static void **initClass** (void)\ Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoDirectionalLight** static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ static void **initClass** (void)\ Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ static void **initClass** (void)\ Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** static uint32\_t **getCompatibilityTypes** (const **SoType** &nodetype)\ static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ static **SoNode** \* **getByName** (const **SbName** &name)\ static int **getByName** (const **SbName** &name, **SoNodeList** &l)\ static void **initClass** (void)\ Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. static void **initClasses** (void)\ static SbUniqueId **getNextNodeId** (void)\ static int **getActionMethodIndex** (const **SoType** type)\ static void **getBoundingBoxS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **GLRenderS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **callbackS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **getMatrixS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **handleEventS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **pickS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **rayPickS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **searchS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **writeS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **audioRenderS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ static void **getPrimitiveCountS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\ Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** static void **initClass** (void)\ Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class. static void **cleanupClass** (void)\ static void **initCopyDict** (void)\ static void **addCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig, const **SoFieldContainer** \*copy)\ static **SoFieldContainer** \* **checkCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig)\ static **SoFieldContainer** \* **findCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig, const SbBool copyconnections)\ static void **copyDone** (void)\ Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** static void **initClass** (void)\ Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class. static void **addName** (**SoBase** \*const base, const char \*const name)\ static void **removeName** (**SoBase** \*const base, const char \*const name)\ static void **incrementCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\ static void **decrementCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\ static **SoBase** \* **getNamedBase** (const **SbName** &name, **SoType** type)\ static int **getNamedBases** (const **SbName** &name, **SoBaseList** &baselist, **SoType** type)\ static SbBool **read** (**SoInput** \*input, **SoBase** \*&base, **SoType** expectedtype)\ static void **setInstancePrefix** (const **SbString** &c)\ static void **setTraceRefs** (SbBool trace)\ static SbBool **getTraceRefs** (void)\ static SbBool **connectRoute** (**SoInput** \*input, const **SbName** &fromnodename, const **SbName** &fromfieldname, const **SbName** &tonodename, const **SbName** &tofieldname)\ static SbBool **readRoute** (**SoInput** \*input)\ ### Public Attributes **SoSFNode** **shadowMapScene**\ **SoSFFloat** **maxShadowDistance**\ **SoSFVec3f** **bboxCenter**\ **SoSFVec3f** **bboxSize**\ Public Attributes inherited from **SoDirectionalLight** **SoSFVec3f** **direction**\ Public Attributes inherited from **SoLight** **SoSFBool** **on**\ **SoSFFloat** **intensity**\ **SoSFColor** **color**\ ### Protected Member Functions virtual const **SoFieldData** \* **getFieldData** (void) const\ virtual **~SoShadowDirectionalLight** ()\ Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoDirectionalLight** virtual **~SoDirectionalLight** ()\ Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** **SoLight** (void)\ virtual **~SoLight** ()\ Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** **SoNode** (void)\ virtual **~SoNode** ()\ virtual SbBool **readInstance** (**SoInput** \*in, unsigned short flags)\ Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** **SoFieldContainer** (void)\ virtual **~SoFieldContainer** ()\ Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** **SoBase** (void)\ virtual **~SoBase** ()\ virtual void **destroy** (void)\ SbBool **hasMultipleWriteRefs** (void) const\ SbBool **writeHeader** (**SoOutput** \*out, SbBool isgroup, SbBool isengine) const\ void **writeFooter** (**SoOutput** \*out) const\ virtual const char \* **getFileFormatName** (void) const\ virtual **SoNotRec** **createNotRec** (void)\ ### Static Protected Member Functions static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\ Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoDirectionalLight** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\ Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\ Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\ static void **setNextActionMethodIndex** (int index)\ static int **getNextActionMethodIndex** (void)\ static void **incNextActionMethodIndex** (void)\ static void **setCompatibilityTypes** (const **SoType** &nodetype, const uint32\_t bitmask)\ Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** static uint32\_t **getCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\ static void **staticDataLock** (void)\ static void **staticDataUnlock** (void)\ ### Additional Inherited Members Public Types inherited from **SoNode** enum **NodeType** { **INVENTOR** = 0x0000, **VRML1** = 0x0001, **VRML2** = 0x0002, **INVENTOR\_1** = 0x0004, **INVENTOR\_2\_0** = 0x0008, **INVENTOR\_2\_1** = 0x0010, **INVENTOR\_2\_5** = 0x0020, **INVENTOR\_2\_6** = 0x0040, **COIN\_1\_0** = 0x0080, **COIN\_2\_0** = 0x0100, **EXTENSION** = 0x0200, **COIN\_2\_2** = 0x0400, **COIN\_2\_3** = 0x0800, **COIN\_2\_4** = 0x1000, **INVENTOR\_5\_0** = 0x2000, **COIN\_2\_5** = 0x4000, **COIN\_3\_0** = 0x8000, **INVENTOR\_6\_0** = 0x10000, **COIN\_4\_0** = 0x20000 }\ Protected Types inherited from **SoBase** enum **BaseFlags** { **IS\_ENGINE** = 0x01, **IS\_GROUP** = 0x02 }\ Protected Attributes inherited from **SoNode** SbUniqueId **uniqueId**\ Protected Attributes inherited from **SoFieldContainer** SbBool **isBuiltIn**\ Static Protected Attributes inherited from **SoNode** static SbUniqueId **nextUniqueId** = 1\ static int **nextActionMethodIndex** = 0\ ## Detailed Description The **SoShadowDirectionalLight** class is a node for setting up a directional light which casts shadows. Directional lights usually affect everything, but since it is not always feasible to use one shadow map for the entire scene graph. This node has some extra features to work around this. It calculates the intersection between the current view volume and either the scene bounding box, or the bounding box provided in this node. The shadows are only calculated for this volume. This means that you'll get more detailed shadows as you zoom in on items in the scene graph. In addition, you can set the maximum distance from the camera which will be shaded with shadows. Think of this a new far plane for the camera which only affects shadows. As with **SoShadowSpotLight**, it's possible to optimize further by setting your own shadow caster scene graph in the shadowMapScene field. The example scene graph below demonstrates how you can use this node to create shadows on a large number of objects, and still get decent precision when zooming in. To further reduce the volume covered by the shadow map, you can set *maxShadowDistance* to some number \> 0. This is the distance from the camera where shadows will be visible. ``` DirectionalLight { direction 0 0 -1 intensity 0.2 } ShadowGroup { quality 1 # to get per pixel lighting precision 1 ShadowDirectionalLight { direction 1 1 -1 intensity 0.8 # enable this to reduce the shadow view distance # maxShadowDistance 200 } # 900 cubes spaced out over a fairly large area Array { origin CENTER numElements1 30 numElements2 30 numElements3 1 separation1 20 0 0 separation2 0 20 0 separation3 0 0 0 Material { diffuseColor 1 0 0 specularColor 1 1 1 } Cube { width 4 height 4 depth 4 } } # a chess board Coordinate3 { point [ -400 -400 -3, 400 -400 -3, 400 400 -3, -400 400 -3 ] } Material { specularColor 1 1 1 shininess 0.9 } Complexity { textureQuality 0.1 } Texture2 { image 2 2 3 0xffffff 0x225588 0x225588 0xffffff } Texture2Transform { scaleFactor 20 20 } FaceSet { numVertices 4 } } ``` **Since** Coin 3.0 ## Constructor & Destructor Documentation ### SoShadowDirectionalLight::SoShadowDirectionalLight (void ) Constructor. ### SoShadowDirectionalLight::~SoShadowDirectionalLight () \[protected\], \[virtual\] Destructor. ## Member Function Documentation ### SoType SoShadowDirectionalLight::getClassTypeId (void ) \[static\] This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class. ### SoType SoShadowDirectionalLight::getTypeId (void ) const \[virtual\] Returns the type identification of an object derived from a class inheriting **SoBase**. This is used for runtime type checking and "downward" casting. Reimplemented from **SoDirectionalLight**. ### const SoFieldData \*\* SoShadowDirectionalLight::getFieldDataPtr (void ) \[static\], \[protected\] *This API member is considered internal to the library, as it is not likely to be of interest to the application programmer.*\ Returns the **SoFieldData** class which holds information about fields in this node. ### const SoFieldData \* SoShadowDirectionalLight::getFieldData (void ) const \[protected\], \[virtual\] Returns a pointer to the class-wide field data storage object for this instance. If no fields are present, returns NULL. Reimplemented from **SoDirectionalLight**. ### void SoShadowDirectionalLight::initClass (void ) \[static\] ### void SoShadowDirectionalLight::GLRender (SoGLRenderAction \* action) \[virtual\] Action method for the **SoGLRenderAction**. This is called during rendering traversals. Nodes influencing the rendering state in any way or want to throw geometry primitives at OpenGL override this method. Reimplemented from **SoDirectionalLight**. ## Member Data Documentation ### SoSFNode SoShadowDirectionalLight::shadowMapScene The shadow map scene graph. If this is NULL (the default), the node will behave as a normal **SoDirectionalLight** node. ### SoSFFloat SoShadowDirectionalLight::maxShadowDistance The maximum distance (from the camera) that we'll see shadows from this light source. ### SoSFVec3f SoShadowDirectionalLight::bboxCenter Can be used to specify the volume that should be used for calculating the resulting shadow volume. ### SoSFVec3f SoShadowDirectionalLight::bboxSize Can be used to specify the volume that should be used for calculating the resulting shadow volume. ## Author Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code.