diff --git a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag
index 810fc6a947..b683ed5af2 100644
--- a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag
+++ b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ uniform sampler2DShadow shadowMap;
 varying vec4 shadowColor;
 
 void main(void) {
-    gl_FragColor = gl_Color * mix(shadowColor, vec4(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0), shadow2D(shadowMap, gl_TexCoord[0].stp));
+    gl_FragColor = mix(shadowColor, gl_Color, shadow2D(shadowMap, gl_TexCoord[0].stp));
 }
diff --git a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert
index a15cd070b9..6809ca6e2b 100644
--- a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert
+++ b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert
@@ -11,14 +11,12 @@
 varying vec4 shadowColor;
 
 void main(void) {
-    // the shadow color depends on the light product
-    vec4 normal = normalize(gl_ModelViewMatrix * vec4(gl_Normal, 0.0));
-    float lightProduct = dot(normal, gl_LightSource[0].position);
-    shadowColor = mix(vec4(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0), vec4(0.8, 0.8, 0.8, 1.0), step(0.0, lightProduct));
+    // the shadow color includes only the ambient terms
+    shadowColor = gl_Color * (gl_LightModel.ambient + gl_LightSource[0].ambient);
     
-    // standard diffuse lighting
-    gl_FrontColor = gl_Color * (gl_LightModel.ambient + gl_LightSource[0].ambient +
-        gl_LightSource[0].diffuse * max(0.0, lightProduct));
+    // the normal color includes diffuse
+    vec4 normal = normalize(gl_ModelViewMatrix * vec4(gl_Normal, 0.0));
+    gl_FrontColor = shadowColor + gl_Color * (gl_LightSource[0].diffuse * max(0.0, dot(normal, gl_LightSource[0].position)));
     
     // generate the shadow texture coordinate using the eye position
     vec4 eyePosition = gl_ModelViewMatrix * gl_Vertex;