> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nmentities.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Shadows

> Size the ground shadow to your creature with a shadow bone.

The shadow under a mob comes from its base entity, so a huge model on a pig base casts a tiny pig shadow. A shadow bone sizes it to your creature.

\[Image here: A large custom model with a properly sized round shadow beneath it]

## Setting one up

**Step 1.** In Blockbench, create a bone (group) named exactly `shadow`.

**Step 2.** Add one element inside it and size it to the footprint you want. The element's size defines the shadow's size.

**Step 3.** Hide the element (eye icon in the outliner). It still defines the shadow but never renders.

\[Image here: The Blockbench outliner with a shadow group containing one hidden, wide flat element under the model]

Save, re-import (`models/`, `/nme reload`), spawn a fresh mob, and check the ground beneath it.

## Tips

* Size the shadow to the model's **footprint**, not its height. A wide low element under the body reads right.
* Small ambient creatures often look better with the default shadow, reach for this on large or unusually shaped models.

## Back to

* [Bone Tags](bone-tags) for the full tag reference.