Help Needed: NPR Shading Issue and Masking Shadows in Blender 4.3

Support Lighting and Rendering
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1

Hi everyone! :blush:
I’m new to Blender Artists, so please excuse me if I format this post incorrectly.

I’m currently facing a shading issue in Blender, which I’ve shown in the attached image

Screen Recording 2025-01-29 at 1.21.17 AM_00291
Screen Recording 2025-01-29 at 1.21.17 AM_002913020×1964 2.18 MB

. I’m trying to find a way to paint specific areas where shadows won’t appear. Is there a method inside Blender, such as masking, that can achieve this?

I’ve already explored normal editing tutorials and tried the data transfer modifier, but unfortunately, I haven’t found a solution yet.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :pray:

2

Could you give specifics on what you want to be lit up?

And I believe the only way to do such a task would be through normal editing. At least generally, it’s the best option.

Screenshot 2025-02-12 002508
Screenshot 2025-02-12 002508641×772 167 KB

If this face’s shading even mildly relates to what you’re trying to accomplish with your model, I’ll be willing to help you out with normals.

They are a very simple part of NPR modeling.

3

Hi and welcome, have a look at this tutorial he is using multiple lights:

4

Screenshot 2025-02-20 at 12.53.58 PM
Screenshot 2025-02-20 at 12.53.58 PM2890×1824 2.82 MB

Finally
After experimenting with multiple approaches, I’ve finally discovered a clean and efficient method for achieving sharp Cel Shading (NPR shading) in Blender without using Normal Edit or Data Transfer. Not only does this method create crisp shadows, but it also allows for manual shadow painting, giving full artistic control! :art::sparkles:

How This Works

1. Texture Coordinate & Mix Node

  • The Texture Coordinate node is used to drive shading based on object positioning.
  • The Mix node blends different coordinate inputs while keeping shading flexible.

2. Mapping Adjustments

  • The Mapping node fine-tunes how shading is applied across the surface.

3. Diffuse BSDF & Shader to RGB

  • Diffuse BSDF provides the base shading.
  • Shader to RGB is crucial for converting shader data into colors that can be manipulated in Blender’s Eevee renderer.

4. Color Ramp with “Constant” Interpolation

  • The Color Ramp ensures a hard transition between light and shadow by setting interpolation to Constant, creating a proper cel-shading effect.

5. Custom Shadow Mask – The Game Changer!

  • This is where the magic happens! :tophat::sparkles:
  • A mask texture is added, allowing for manual or procedural control over shadows.
  • This enables drawing shadows by hand or defining them dynamically with textures.

6. Final Shading Mix

  • The last Mix node blends the cel shading and custom shadow mask, ensuring a smooth yet controlled NPR look.