diff --git a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/light/Light.java b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/light/Light.java
index 0a66fb729..af3a54074 100644
--- a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/light/Light.java
+++ b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/light/Light.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import com.jme3.export.*;
 import com.jme3.math.ColorRGBA;
 import com.jme3.renderer.Camera;
 import com.jme3.scene.Spatial;
+import com.jme3.shadow.next.ShadowMap;
 import com.jme3.util.TempVars;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
@@ -120,6 +121,8 @@ public abstract class Light implements Savable, Cloneable {
     boolean frustumCheckNeeded = true;
     boolean intersectsFrustum  = false;
 
+    protected ShadowMap shadowMap;
+    
     protected Light() {
     }
 
@@ -163,6 +166,22 @@ public abstract class Light implements Savable, Cloneable {
         return lastDistance;
     }
     */
+    
+    /**
+     * @return the light's shadow map, or null if none was assigned.
+     */
+    public ShadowMap getShadowMap() {
+        return shadowMap;
+    }
+ 
+    /**
+     * Used internally to associate the light with a shadow map
+     * 
+     * @param shadowMap the light's shadow map
+     */
+    public void setShadowMap(ShadowMap shadowMap) {
+        this.shadowMap = shadowMap;
+    }
 
     /**
      * Sets the light color.
diff --git a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/next/ShadowMap.java b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/next/ShadowMap.java
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..f0a7807cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/next/ShadowMap.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2009-2016 jMonkeyEngine
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ * * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * * Neither the name of 'jMonkeyEngine' nor the names of its contributors
+ *   may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ *   without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+ * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+ * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+package com.jme3.shadow.next;
+
+import com.jme3.light.Light;
+import com.jme3.light.Light.Type;
+
+/**
+ * Represents shadow information for a light.
+ * @param <T> Type of light
+ * @author Kirill Vainer
+ */
+public interface ShadowMap<T extends Light> {
+
+    public Type getLightType();
+
+    public int getNumSlices();
+
+    public ShadowMapSlice<T> getSlice(int index);
+
+}
diff --git a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/next/ShadowMapSlice.java b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/next/ShadowMapSlice.java
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..bfd0cc6f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/next/ShadowMapSlice.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2009-2016 jMonkeyEngine
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ * * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * * Neither the name of 'jMonkeyEngine' nor the names of its contributors
+ *   may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ *   without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+ * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+ * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+package com.jme3.shadow.next;
+
+import com.jme3.light.Light;
+import com.jme3.math.Matrix4f;
+import com.jme3.renderer.RenderManager;
+import com.jme3.renderer.ViewPort;
+import com.jme3.renderer.queue.GeometryList;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a single slice of a shadow map.
+ *
+ * @author Kirill Vainer
+ */
+public interface ShadowMapSlice<T extends Light> {
+
+    public Matrix4f getViewProjectionMatrix();
+
+    public void renderShadowMap(RenderManager renderManager, T light, ViewPort viewPort, GeometryList shadowCasters);
+}