Lighting Basics Flashcards
What are the attributes of light?
Hard vs Soft Light.
Altitude (Height).
Direction (Front, Side or Back).
Colour.
Focus (Confined or Wide).
Texture (Break up patterns).
Movement.
Intensity/Contrast.
Whats is Hard Light?
Specular light, parallel beams that cast a clear, distinct shadow.
What is Soft Light?
Diffuse light that hits the subject from many different angles and thus casts an indistinct, fuzzy shadow, if any. (The opposite of Hard Light).
What is Colour Control?
It is common to mix colours slightly or even dramatically by having different coloured light sources in a scene. Colour control is important for the mood and tone of the scene.
What is Shape and Separation?
We usually want to make our subject 3d and make them stand out from the background. This is usually done by using multiple lights and back lighting. Flat lighting is the enemy.
What is the Key Light?
The dominant light on people or objects. The “main” light on a scene.
What is the Fill Light?
Light that fills in the shadows not lit by the key light.
What is Back light?
Light that hits a person or objects from behind and above. A rim light or edge light might be added to separate a dark side of a face from the background or make up for a lack of fill on that side.
What is a Kicker?
A light from behind that grazes along an actors cheek on the fill side. Often the kicker can define the face well enough that a fill is not even necessary.
What is a Sidelight?
A light that hits the actor side on. Creates a harsh dramatic effect. Slight fill maybe needed.
What is a Topper?
Light directly from above.
What is Ambient Lighting?
There are two uses of this term. One means the light just happens to be in the location The second refers to a soft overhead light which is just sort of “there”.
What are Practicals?
Actual working prop lights.
What is Bounce Light?
Light that is reflected off of something, usually to make light softer.
What is Available Light?
Light that is already exists on location.
