--- title: Roll20 Dynamic Lighting description: Use powerful custom options to explore and create atmosphere on your VTT maps in Roll20. image: https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/DynamicLightingPage-Social.jpg --- [![roll20-logo](https://pages.roll20.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Roll20%20-%20Assets/roll20-logo.png?width=550&height=150&name=roll20-logo.png "roll20-logo")](http://roll20.net) - [Blog](https://blog.roll20.net/) - [Marketplace](https://marketplace.roll20.net/) - [Community](https://app.roll20.net/forum/) - [Create Free Account](https://app.roll20.net/account/create) ## Dynamic Lighting Use powerful custom options to explore and create atmosphere on your VTT maps in Roll20. [Upgrade](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) # Illuminate Your Adventures Control your player's line of sight in deep dungeons, haunted buildings, or a malfunctioning spaceship – the options are limitless! ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/cog-1.svg) Fog of War Use lines and circles to define walls and object barriers for your players to navigate, with full control on how you reveal the area. ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/people-1.svg) Explorable Darkness Set up regions of your maps that your players can't see until they move their tokens. While we can't guarantee a good jump scare, your players will definitely be surprised at what's lurking around the corner! ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/sword.svg) Go Deeper Features like night vision, color lights, bright light, low light, daylight mode, and even directional light put the tools in your hands you need to build an immersive scene. ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/torch-1.png) ## Dynamic Lighting Features Instantly unlock line-of-sight lighting by upgrading your free account to a Plus or Pro subscription. [Upgrade](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/Roll20%20-%20Assets/arrow-back.svg) Create any shape Set adjustable daylight Design unexpected encounters Place light in one step Create one-way light barriers ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/Roll20%20-%20Assets/arrow-forward.svg) # Tutorials To Light Your Way Get started with Dynamic Lighting on Roll20 by watching our tutorial playlist. We'll take you from beginner to expert in no time. [Watch Tutorials](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTj75n3v9eTmosVNXBkGx_Ra7kt2LLdKI) # The Perks of Upgrading Free [Select Free](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) - 100 MB Upload Storage - No Loadscreen Ads - Shared Table Features - Dynamic Lighting - Roll20 Reserve Reward - Custom Character Sheets - Mods (API) Access - Early Access to New Features - All Access Character Vault - Compendium Sharing 1 Game / 5 Players - Look For Group 2 Listings Plus [Select Yearly Plus](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) - 3 GB Upload Storage - No Loadscreen Ads - Shared Table Features - Dynamic Lighting - Roll20 Reserve Reward - Custom Character Sheets - Mods (API) Access - Early Access to New Features - All Access Character Vault - Compendium Sharing 3 Game / 10 Players - Look For Group Unlimited Listings Pro [Select Yearly Pro](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) - 6 GB Upload Storage - No Loadscreen Ads - Shared Table Features - Dynamic Lighting - Roll20 Reserve Reward - Custom Character Sheets - Mods (API) Access - Early Access to New Features - All Access Character Vault - Compendium Sharing 5 Games / 15 Players - Look For Group Highlighted Listings [Upgrade](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) # FAQ - ### What is Dynamic Lighting? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Dynamic Lighting designates line-of-sight for players by creating areas of darkness, also known as Fog of War, to hide locations and tokens on the map. GMs can create the barriers on uploaded maps or purchase Marketplace items that already have Dynamic Lighting set up. - ### Can my computer run Dynamic Lighting? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Since Roll20 is browser-based, there’s nothing extra you have to install for any of our features. The only requirement for Dynamic Lighting is WebGL, which almost all Roll20 users have enabled by default. - ### What is Daylight Mode? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Daylight Mode is a slider on your page settings that quickly changes the overall brightness. You can use it to instantly change a scene from day to night, or to brighten the entire map. - ### What is Explorer Mode? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Explorer Mode allows players to see the potions of the map they have already visited, reducing that area to grayscale. This keeps the map from reverting back to darkness, but leaving Fog of War in place everywhere unexplored. - ### One of my players can see in the dark. Can I accommodate that? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Tokens that you create for your players can be set to emit light if they have a light source, or you can enable a range of sight for night vision, all with personalized light colors. All of these are limited in feet by how far the character can see. - ### I know a bit of programming. Can I use the API to customize Dynamic Lighting? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Absolutely. If you don’t see an API already created that does what you want, we have documentation on all the elements that you can control in one you write yourself. - ### How can I control the lighting real-time as I’m running my game? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Once you have your map set up and barriers in place, we’ve made it easy for you to control the light from the Tool Bar. You can drop a light source in one step by using our Place Light Tool, and you can hide and reveal Explorable Darkness and Permanent Darkness. - ### Can I use the frotz spell with Dynamic Lighting? ![](https://pages.roll20.net/hubfs/pink-arrow.svg) Unfortunately, no. You are likely to be eaten by a grue. Have more questions? Search our Help Center for answers. [Help Center](https://help.roll20.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403801475479-What-Is-Dynamic-Lighting-) ## If you made it this far, you should upgrade now. [Get Dynamic Lighting](https://app.roll20.net/why-subscribe-to-roll20) Roll20 uses cookies to improve your experience on our site. Cookies enable you to enjoy certain features, social sharing functionality, and tailor message and display ads to your interests on our site and others. They also help us understand how our site is being used. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of cookies. Update your cookie preferences here. × × ### Cookie Preferences --- We use Cookies to help personalize and improve Roll20. For more information on our use of non-essential Cookies, visit our Privacy Policy [here.](https://roll20.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037770793-Terms-of-Service-and-Privacy-Policy) Follow us - - - - - - - © Roll20, LLC. Roll20® is a Registered Trademark of Roll20, LLC. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. [Acknowledgements](https://help.roll20.net/hc/en-us/articles/360037254354-Acknowledgments) [Terms of Service & Privacy Policy](https://help.roll20.net/hc/en-us/articles/360037770793-Terms-of-Service-and-Privacy-Policy) [DMCA](https://help.roll20.net/hc/en-us/articles/360037770793-Terms-of-Service-and-Privacy-Policy#Notification_of_Copyright_Infringement_.28DMCA_Policy.29) Cookies [Support](https://roll20.net/help) [Contact Us](https://roll20.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "Enhance your tabletop games with Roll20's Dynamic Lighting feature, creating immersive line-of-sight, fog of war, and real-time light sources for battle maps.", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://pages.roll20.net/dynamic-lighting", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Dynamic Lighting on Roll20", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Roll20", "url" : "https://roll20.net" } } ```