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All Add-ons

Add-on Sun Position
Sun Position

Show the position of the Sun with objects or an environment.
Add-on by pioverfour
About What's New Reviews Version History
The add-on is used to light an architectural scene, by choosing the location on Earth, date and time. Synchronizing a sun object to an environment texture by pointing the Sun in the viewport. Once synced, both are rotated at the same time. Poor dude spends all day tying his shoes. Sculpture:  Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus by Johann Wilhelm Beyer, courtesy threedscans.com

Sun Position allows positioning and animating the Sun (to a certain degree of accuracy), to simulate real-world natural lighting. It uses physical characteristics to position the Sun in the scene: geographic location, time and date. It is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) online calculator.

Usage

This add-on has two distinct modes of operation: the Sun Object Mode allows you to animate the Sun realistically, while the Environment Mode is useful for synchronizing a sun light to an environment texture.

Sun Object Mode

This is the mode by default. After selecting the time and place, you can set up a sun light, a sky texture, and a collection to serve as visualization. They will be positioned or animated by choosing a date, time and place on Earth.

Environment Mode

Instead of simulating the position of the Sun for a real location and time, this mode simply locks an environment texture with a sun light object. They are synchronized and will rotate at the same time. It is useful if you want to increase the contrast in an environment texture by using an additional sun.

Translations

The add-on is currently available in English, French, and simplified Chinese. If you’d like to help translate it to your language, please open an issue.

Authors

This add-on was originally written by Michael Martin with contributions by Aaron Carlisle, Brendon Murphy, Campbell Barton, Eduardo Schilling, Julian Eisel, n-Burn, and Stephen Leger. It uses the geo.py module by Maximilian Högner.

It is currently maintained by Damien Picard.

Translators

  • French: Damien Picard.
  • Simplified Chinese: deathblood.

What's New

4.2.3 April 15th, 2025

Fix error where the sun was not updated on file load and frame change

See all versions


Permissions

This extension does not require special permissions.

Developer
pioverfour
Rating
(8)
Version
4.2.3
Updated
3 w
Published
May 7th, 2024
Downloads
73583
Size
24.0 KB
Compatibility
Blender 4.2  and newer
Report Issues
projects.blender.org/pioverfour/sun_position/issues
License
GNU General Public License v3.0 or later
Lighting
...or download and Install from Disk
  • 24.0 KB

Reviews

See all
  • Julien-Cruau
  • v4.2.3
  • 1 w

weel done !

  • Marco-77
  • v4.2.3
  • 1 w

Essential add-on for archviz and more. Really smart developer, solved a problem I had for a long time in a flash as soon as I asked. Highly recommended!

  • pioverfour replied
  • 1 w

Thanks a lot! :)

  • Juan-Pablo-Tedin
  • v4.2.2
  • 3 w

Useful and simple to use.

5.0

8 reviews
5
4
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1
Rate this Add-on
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