Texturing & materials · Beginner

Emission map

A texture that makes parts of a surface glow with their own light

Also called Emissive map

What is an emission map?

An emission map, sometimes called an emissive texture, marks which parts of a surface give off their own light and in what color. Those parts glow at full brightness even in a dark scene. It is how screens, neon signs, lava and indicator lights are made to shine.

Think of it like this

It is like the glowing paint on a watch face: those marks shine in the dark no matter how the room is lit.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Surface: Giving the shape its color and material: UVs, textures and shaders.

Base colorNormalRoughnessMetallicEmissionMaterial
The emission map is one of several texture maps a material combines.

How an emission map works

  1. 01Paint the glowing areas in color and leave the rest black.
  2. 02Plug the map into the material’s emission input and set a strength.
  3. 03The renderer adds that light on top of normal shading, so black areas look unchanged.

Emission map vs light source

PropertyEmission mapLight source
Makes a surface glowYesNot on its own
Lights nearby objectsOnly in some render enginesYes
ShadowsCasts none of its ownCasts shadows
CostCheapHigher, and adds up per light

Use an emission map for the glow you see; add a real light, or use a renderer that counts emission, when the glow must also light the room.

Where an emission map is used

  • Screens, buttons and dashboard lights
  • Neon signs and sci-fi panels
  • Lava, embers and magic effects

Beginner tip

Emission looks stronger with bloom, the soft halo some renderers add around bright areas. If your glow looks flat, turn bloom on before raising the strength.

Terms related to an emission map

Emission map FAQ

Does emission light up a scene?
It depends on the renderer. Path tracers treat glowing surfaces as light sources, so emission brightens nearby objects. Many real-time engines show the glow only on the surface itself, unless you add a light or bake the lighting.
Why is my emission map not glowing?
Check that it is plugged into the emission input, rather than base color, and that the emission strength is above zero. Some engines also need bloom turned on for the glow to read.
What color should the non-glowing parts be?
Black. Black adds no light, so those areas keep their normal look. Any gray or color there will make them glow faintly.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms