GameMaker Realtime 2D Illumination

About Course

Bring your 2D games and visual projects to life with real-time lighting techniques that deliver depth, atmosphere, and realism! This course takes you deep into the world of dynamic lighting for 2D spaces—equipping you with the practical skills and foundational knowledge to implement illumination systems from scratch.

This course dives deep into advanced lighting systems using GameMaker, teaching you how to implement dynamic lights, shadow casting, and normal map-based edge lighting—all fully interactive and performance-conscious.

Learn how to use GameMaker surfaces to isolate and blend light and shadow layers
Explore the difference between static and dynamic lights, and how real-time lighting is simulated in 2D using draw logic and blend modes.
Implement systems that cast cone-shaped shadows based on a sprite's height and vary the intensity based on the distance to a light source.
Learn how to set up a simple render pipeline that enables you to draw different layers in the correct order.
You used additive and subtractive blending to mix light and shadows into the final scene render in a visually convincing way.
Learn how to create a day-night cycle.

Course Content

Introduction
In this section, we outline the course objectives and discuss strategies to help you maximize your learning experience.

Course Overview
Prerequisites & Target Audience
What You’ll Build
How to Get the Most Out of This Course

Setting Up Our Project
In this section we will set up the basics for our project in GameMaker.

Fundamentals Of 2D Lighting
In this section we will explore how 3D lighting can be approximated in a 2D environment. We will explore different types of light sources and our approach.

Core Rendering Pipeline
In this section we will explore how a rendering pipeline can be configured in such a way that we can layer several effects.

Implementing Lights in GameMaker
In this section we will implement ambient light, point lights, falloff and discuss how light calculations can be optimized.

Normal Maps And Shadow Casting
In this section we will explore how shadows are implemented in 2D and explore how we can create silhouettes.

Soft Light Effects
In this section we will explore how we can make light sources look softer and warmer, making them more appealing to look at.

Extending The System
In this section we will look at a few quality of life improvements.

Conclusion
Time to round up the course and discover what you learned!

Student Ratings & Reviews

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GameMaker Realtime 2D Illumination

About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Introduction
In this section, we outline the course objectives and discuss strategies to help you maximize your learning experience.

Course Overview

Prerequisites & Target Audience

What You’ll Build

How to Get the Most Out of This Course

Setting Up Our Project
In this section we will set up the basics for our project in GameMaker.

Project Settings

Folder Structure

Fundamentals Of 2D Lighting
In this section we will explore how 3D lighting can be approximated in a 2D environment. We will explore different types of light sources and our approach.

Overview of Light in 2D Graphics

Types of Lights: Point, Directional, Ambient

Common Approaches: Raycasting, Shadow Maps, and Light Buffers

Core Rendering Pipeline
In this section we will explore how a rendering pipeline can be configured in such a way that we can layer several effects.

How the Rendering Loop Works

Setting Up Our Pipeline

Implementing Lights in GameMaker
In this section we will implement ambient light, point lights, falloff and discuss how light calculations can be optimized.

What Are Blend Modes?

Normal Maps And Shadow Casting
In this section we will explore how shadows are implemented in 2D and explore how we can create silhouettes.

Soft Light Effects
In this section we will explore how we can make light sources look softer and warmer, making them more appealing to look at.

Extending The System
In this section we will look at a few quality of life improvements.

Adding Dynamic Lights At Runtime

Supporting Moving Light Sources

Interactive Lights

Conclusion
Time to round up the course and discover what you learned!

Recap

Final Quiz

Thank You For Joining The Course!

Subscribe

Level Up With Us

About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Introduction In this section, we outline the course objectives and discuss strategies to help you maximize your learning experience.

Course Overview

Prerequisites & Target Audience

What You’ll Build

How to Get the Most Out of This Course

Setting Up Our Project In this section we will set up the basics for our project in GameMaker.

Project Settings

Folder Structure

Fundamentals Of 2D Lighting In this section we will explore how 3D lighting can be approximated in a 2D environment. We will explore different types of light sources and our approach.

Overview of Light in 2D Graphics

Types of Lights: Point, Directional, Ambient

Common Approaches: Raycasting, Shadow Maps, and Light Buffers

Core Rendering Pipeline In this section we will explore how a rendering pipeline can be configured in such a way that we can layer several effects.

How the Rendering Loop Works

Setting Up Our Pipeline

Implementing Lights in GameMaker In this section we will implement ambient light, point lights, falloff and discuss how light calculations can be optimized.

What Are Blend Modes?

Normal Maps And Shadow Casting In this section we will explore how shadows are implemented in 2D and explore how we can create silhouettes.

Soft Light Effects In this section we will explore how we can make light sources look softer and warmer, making them more appealing to look at.

Extending The System In this section we will look at a few quality of life improvements.

Adding Dynamic Lights At Runtime

Supporting Moving Light Sources

Interactive Lights

Conclusion Time to round up the course and discover what you learned!

Recap

Final Quiz

Thank You For Joining The Course!

Student Ratings & Reviews

Subscribe

Level Up With Us

Introduction
In this section, we outline the course objectives and discuss strategies to help you maximize your learning experience.

Setting Up Our Project
In this section we will set up the basics for our project in GameMaker.

Fundamentals Of 2D Lighting
In this section we will explore how 3D lighting can be approximated in a 2D environment. We will explore different types of light sources and our approach.

Core Rendering Pipeline
In this section we will explore how a rendering pipeline can be configured in such a way that we can layer several effects.

Implementing Lights in GameMaker
In this section we will implement ambient light, point lights, falloff and discuss how light calculations can be optimized.

Normal Maps And Shadow Casting
In this section we will explore how shadows are implemented in 2D and explore how we can create silhouettes.

Soft Light Effects
In this section we will explore how we can make light sources look softer and warmer, making them more appealing to look at.

Extending The System
In this section we will look at a few quality of life improvements.

Conclusion
Time to round up the course and discover what you learned!