# SHADOW_VSM_16F

Variable · category: Graphics

Source: https://github.com/playcanvas/engine/blob/f059dc005842f76e052cdf44d8370c8c7ec475ac/src/scene/constants.js#L306

A shadow sampling technique using a 16-bit exponential variance shadow map that leverages
variance to approximate shadow boundaries, enabling soft shadows. Only supported when
[GraphicsDevice#textureHalfFloatRenderable](https://api.playcanvas.com/engine/classes/GraphicsDevice.md#texturehalffloatrenderable) is true. Falls back to [SHADOW_PCF3_32F](https://api.playcanvas.com/engine/variables/SHADOW_PCF3_32F.md),
if not supported.

```ts
const SHADOW_VSM_16F: 2 = 2
```