diff --git a/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.cpp b/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.cpp
index 6c0c6ab1ef8..4da21173dc1 100644
--- a/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.cpp
+++ b/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.cpp
@@ -25,12 +25,18 @@ typedef int profile_index;
 profile _current;
 SCP_unordered_map<SCP_string, profile> Profiles;
 SCP_string default_profile_name;
+SCP_string non_mission_profile_name;
 
 const SCP_string &default_name()
 {
 	return default_profile_name;
 }
 
+const SCP_string& non_mission_name()
+{
+	return non_mission_profile_name;
+}
+
 const profile* current()
 {
 	return &_current;
@@ -54,6 +60,11 @@ void switch_to(const SCP_string& name)
 	_current = Profiles[name];
 }
 
+void switch_to_non_mission()
+{
+	switch_to(non_mission_profile_name);
+}
+
 void update_current_profile()
 {
 	// processes any change-overs and transitions
@@ -250,7 +261,14 @@ void parse_all();
 void load_profiles()
 {
 	default_profile_name = "Default Profile";
+	non_mission_profile_name = default_profile_name;
 	parse_all();
+	if (Profiles.find(non_mission_profile_name) == Profiles.end()) {
+		mprintf(("Unknown non-mission lighting profile '%s'; using '%s' instead.\n",
+			non_mission_profile_name.c_str(),
+			default_profile_name.c_str()));
+		non_mission_profile_name = default_profile_name;
+	}
 	switch_to(default_profile_name);
 }
 // The logic for grabbing all the parseable files
@@ -341,6 +359,10 @@ void profile::parse(const char* filename, const SCP_string& profile_name, const
 			tonemapper = tn;
 			parsed = true;
 		}
+		if (optional_string("$Non-mission lighting profile:")) {
+			stuff_string(non_mission_profile_name, F_NAME);
+			parsed = true;
+		}
 		parsed |= parse_optional_float_into("$PPC Toe Strength:", &ppc_values.toe_strength);
 		parsed |= parse_optional_float_into("$PPC Toe Length:", &ppc_values.toe_length);
 		parsed |= parse_optional_float_into("$PPC Shoulder Length:", &ppc_values.shoulder_length);
diff --git a/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.h b/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.h
index 9ad7a224302..12b5fdf8397 100644
--- a/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.h
+++ b/code/lighting/lighting_profiles.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ class profile {
 };
 
 const SCP_string &default_name();
+const SCP_string& non_mission_name();
 const profile* current();
 enum TonemapperAlgorithm name_to_tonemapper(SCP_string name);
 SCP_string tonemapper_to_name(TonemapperAlgorithm tnm);
@@ -103,4 +104,23 @@ float lab_get_emissive();
 void lab_set_emissive(float in);
 SCP_vector<SCP_string> list_profiles();
 void switch_to(const SCP_string& name);
+void switch_to_non_mission();
+
+// Use the tech room profile profile and then automatically
+// remove it on destruction.
+class set_non_mission_profile {
+  public:
+	set_non_mission_profile() : _old_profile_name(current()->name)
+	{
+		switch_to_non_mission();
+	}
+
+	~set_non_mission_profile()
+	{
+		switch_to(_old_profile_name);
+	}
+
+  private:
+	SCP_string _old_profile_name;
+};
 } // namespace lighting_profiles
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/code/menuui/techmenu.cpp b/code/menuui/techmenu.cpp
index b3d81b4ecfa..bfd140745c2 100644
--- a/code/menuui/techmenu.cpp
+++ b/code/menuui/techmenu.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "io/key.h"
 #include "io/mouse.h"
 #include "lighting/lighting.h"
+#include "lighting/lighting_profiles.h"
 #include "localization/localize.h"
 #include "menuui/techmenu.h"
 #include "missionui/missionscreencommon.h"
@@ -516,6 +517,8 @@ void tech_common_render()
 
 void techroom_ships_render(float frametime)
 {
+	lighting_profiles::set_non_mission_profile non_mission_lighting_profile;
+	
 	// render all the common stuff
 	tech_common_render();
 	
diff --git a/code/missionui/missionbrief.cpp b/code/missionui/missionbrief.cpp
index da08601d249..8bc97cb8576 100644
--- a/code/missionui/missionbrief.cpp
+++ b/code/missionui/missionbrief.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "io/timer.h"
 #include "jumpnode/jumpnode.h"
 #include "lighting/lighting.h"
+#include "lighting/lighting_profiles.h"
 #include "menuui/snazzyui.h"
 #include "mission/missionbriefcommon.h"
 #include "mission/missioncampaign.h"
@@ -1080,6 +1081,8 @@ void brief_render_closeup_text()
 //
 void brief_render_closeup(int ship_class, float frametime)
 {
+	lighting_profiles::set_non_mission_profile non_mission_lighting_profile;
+	
 	matrix	view_orient = IDENTITY_MATRIX;
 	matrix	temp_matrix;
 	float		ang;
diff --git a/code/missionui/missionscreencommon.cpp b/code/missionui/missionscreencommon.cpp
index e8212e5964f..61f15d4d3b7 100644
--- a/code/missionui/missionscreencommon.cpp
+++ b/code/missionui/missionscreencommon.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "io/mouse.h"
 #include "io/timer.h"
 #include "lighting/lighting.h"
+#include "lighting/lighting_profiles.h"
 #include "missionui/chatbox.h"
 #include "missionui/missionbrief.h"
 #include "missionui/missionscreencommon.h"
@@ -1553,6 +1554,8 @@ int restore_wss_data(ubyte *data)
 
 void draw_model_icon(int model_id, uint64_t flags, float closeup_zoom, int x, int y, int w, int h, ship_info *sip, int resize_mode, const vec3d *closeup_pos)
 {
+	lighting_profiles::set_non_mission_profile non_mission_lighting_profile;
+	
 	matrix	object_orient	= IDENTITY_MATRIX;
 	angles rot_angles = vmd_zero_angles;
 	float zoom = closeup_zoom * 2.5f;
@@ -1669,6 +1672,8 @@ void draw_model_rotating(model_render_params *render_info, int model_id, int x1,
 	if (model_id < 0)
 		return;
 
+	lighting_profiles::set_non_mission_profile non_mission_lighting_profile;
+
 	float time = (timer_get_milliseconds()-anim_timer_start)/1000.0f;
 	angles rot_angles, view_angles;
 	matrix model_orient;
diff --git a/code/missionui/missionweaponchoice.cpp b/code/missionui/missionweaponchoice.cpp
index eb3d450e117..44aab33306f 100644
--- a/code/missionui/missionweaponchoice.cpp
+++ b/code/missionui/missionweaponchoice.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "io/mouse.h"
 #include "io/timer.h"
 #include "lighting/lighting.h"
+#include "lighting/lighting_profiles.h"
 #include "localization/localize.h"
 #include "menuui/snazzyui.h"
 #include "missionui/chatbox.h"
@@ -768,6 +769,8 @@ void draw_3d_overhead_view(int model_num,
 	overhead_style style,
 	const SCP_string& tcolor)
 {
+	lighting_profiles::set_non_mission_profile non_mission_lighting_profile;
+	
 	ship_info* sip = &Ship_info[ship_class];
 
 	if (model_num < 0) {
diff --git a/code/model/modelrender.cpp b/code/model/modelrender.cpp
index fbed56763cc..bfad90a4d1f 100644
--- a/code/model/modelrender.cpp
+++ b/code/model/modelrender.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "io/timer.h"
 #include "jumpnode/jumpnode.h"
 #include "lighting/lighting.h"
+#include "lighting/lighting_profiles.h"
 #include "math/staticrand.h"
 #include "missionui/missionscreencommon.h"
 #include "mod_table/mod_table.h"
@@ -3111,6 +3112,8 @@ void modelinstance_replace_active_texture(polymodel_instance* pmi, const char* o
 bool render_tech_model(tech_render_type model_type, int x1, int y1, int x2, int y2, float zoom, bool lighting, int class_idx, const matrix* orient, const SCP_string &pof_filename, float close_zoom, const vec3d *close_pos, const SCP_string& tcolor)
 {
 
+	lighting_profiles::set_non_mission_profile non_mission_lighting_profile;
+	
 	model_render_params render_info;
 	const vec3d *closeup_pos;
 	float closeup_zoom;