Print at Jan 22, 2026, 3:28:15 AM
Posted by TheFefi at Jan 20, 2026, 11:41:39 PM
Transparent ceiling for camera, but OPAQUE for light/sun
Hi everyone,

I’m working on a floor plan for my smart home (Home Assistant) and I have a specific rendering problem.

My Goal: I need to render my flat from a top-down perspective (bird's-eye view). I want to see inside the house through the ceiling, but I need the ceiling to still block all sky light and sunlight.

The Problem: Currently, when I render from above, the ceiling seems to be automatically clipped or ignored. This results in the whole interior being flooded with light from above, making it look flat and unrealistic. I want the light to enter ONLY through the windows, as if the ceiling were physically there, but I still need to be able to see the furniture from my top camera position.

What I have tried:

Setting ceiling transparency to 100% in Room preferences (light still leaks through).

Using a second Level above the flat and hiding it (hidden levels seem to be ignored by the renderer's light calculation).

Rendering at the highest quality (Level 4).

How can I make the ceiling "invisible" to my eyes but "solid/opaque" for the sun and sky light?

Thank you for your advice!

Posted by Daniels118 at Jan 21, 2026, 10:28:18 PM
Re: Transparent ceiling for camera, but OPAQUE for light/sun
https://sweethome3d.com/support/forum/viewthread_thread,11807#55022

Posted by Indigo_Solo at Jan 21, 2026, 11:23:03 PM
Re: Transparent ceiling for camera, but OPAQUE for light/sun
Please add images, since A picture is worth a thousand words.

Anyway, if I get what you want...

I would adjust the picture to be rendered at night, so you control entirely where lights are located.