Unreal Engine 5 Lumen Explained | Global Illumination, Reflections, and Fixing Common Issues

Welcome to Part 2 of my new tutorial series on Lighting in Unreal Engine 5 for Games! In this episode, we’re breaking down the fundamentals of lighting by covering the core light types and basic setup strategies that every environment artist and game developer should understand. My goal in this video is to clear up confusion, explain how Lumen fits into your lighting setup, and help you get the best results in your Unreal Engine 5 projects. Whether you're lighting a horror basement or building an outdoor scene, this is your guide to understanding and mastering Lumen. 00:00 - Intro 02:37 - Project Settings 04:45 - What is Lumen 15:53 - Using UE without Global Illumination 18:48 - Fixing Light Leaks 21:45 - Emissive Materials 22:12 - Fixing Lumen "Artifacts" 28:21 - Reflections 32:52 - Fixing Reflection Issues 37:18 - Lumen Scene & Settings 42:50 - Outro