Breaking PBR Rule #2: Stop Simulating, Start Directing (Light Linking)
PBR purists hate Light Linking. In the real world, if you turn on a lamp, it illuminates the room. Physics is unbiased.
But i... ...n Arcane (and great cinematography), lighting is biased.
You often need a Rim Light to separate the character from the background, but you don't want that same light to blow out the wall behind them. Or you might need a light specifically to brighten the eyes, but you definitely don't want it illuminating the floor.
The Technique:
Paint with Light Use Light Linking to decouple your objects. Stop thinking of one "World" and start thinking of layers.
The Setup:
The Hero Setup: Light your character separate from the environment. Use specific key, rim, and fill lights that only affect the character mesh.
The World Setup: Create a separate setup for the environment (Sunlight, Skylights, Fog) that ignores the character.
This isn't "simulation." It is Stage Lighting.
Your job isn't to simulate photons. It's to guide the viewer's eye. If a shadow is distracting, link the light to ignore that object.
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