Last night (or early morning, depending on how you look at it), as I was forging, adding game support, etc., to my latest map, I discovered that the 8x5 XXL Platform flooring that I created with consistent tan coloring showed two blocks, one at either end, as stone white. I went back to the original 8x5 layout map (I copied it off to the side so I could reuse it later) and verified no discoloring existed. Then I deleted everything else from my map and proved that the discoloring was introduced by something I added. So I began taking one group of things off at a time. Luckily, the third cycle, I discovered that Respawn Zones were causing the discoloring. As I explored it further, I discovered that Respawn Zones over the center of an upside down XXL Platform causes the discoloring, but over its edge does not. Thought some of you might want to know it is not just the visible objects that intersect nor the canvas location alone, but that it can be anything. BTW, the Respawn Zone objects were above the platform, and I even tried bringing their volume's bottom above the platform. It was the location being vertically above the center of the block that caused the discoloring.
Since I had discolouring spoil the look of a couple of maps I now usually forge in the bubble. So I am unsure if this effect from zones acts there too. An interesting bit of forge knowledge mind, could be useful for creating shadows. Does it only happen on xxl platforms? And is this in game or in forge as colouring can appear discoloured in forge and be fine in game occasionally. ( happened on my recent post)
It was in forge that I noticed it (you know how sometimes you just don't notice things, it may have been in game as well). I noticed it on XXL Platforms, but I wasn't trying to study this. I was just trying to fix it. I have no idea if it occurs on any other block. But my point is that if discoloring occurs as you forge - if it is introduced - don't assume some things are out of the question. As far as I am concerned, anything is possible. But I do think that in the bubble/skybox these problems simply won't exist ever. I suspect this is the case because, as others have suggested - the lighting generation from the graphics engine is not the same at all.
Erupt started a thread about this after we discovered it a few months ago. If a zone is placed directly above/below the center of an object, it will cause discoloration, but only in Forge mode. I'm not sure if this occurs with all objects, but I've noticed it mainly with blocks and bridges.
Well when I was forging futurama I made the roof and all was fine then one dish decided to discolour, but in game it is fine. sometimes there is an uncontrollable randomness to the discolouring and it is annoying. I will keep an eye out for the discolouring with zones but I doubt this effect you have experienced will happen in custom game.
And here I was thinking that Reach's lighting engine couldn't possibly be any more broken or failure-prone... Great find, MrGreen. I'll have to keep an eye on this thread.