Basic Lighting

Intro to Maya

Types of Lights
Ambient Light Direction Lights Spot Lights Point Lights Advanced: Area Light Advanced: Volume Lights

Ambient Light
An ever present light `Floods the scene No highlights No Shadows Good for Base Lighting

Direction Light
Light from a single direction. Like sun-light. Has shadows Has highlights. A good basic light.

Spot Light
A theatrical spot-light. Has shadows Radiates out in a cone Has fall-off Has penumbra Very powerful.

Point Light
A local light Radiates in all directions Great `filler light Has shadows Can really punch up a scene. Very dramatic

Components of Light and Shadow

Light source. Fall-off/decay Shadow Umbra Penumbra

Light Controls
Aim From/Aim At Fall-off Rate Cone Radius Penumbra/Umbra control Non-linear fall-off All In One Control

Aim From/Aim At

Fall-off Rate

Cone Radius

Penumbra/Umbra Control

Non-linear fall-off

All In One Control

Good ways to use lights

Look to photographers for good techniques Think in terms of balance. Avoid the overly dramatic. Look at natural lighting. Avoid saturated lights and hues Normally only need a few lights. Avoid disco colors and effects

Light Intensity from too Dark to too bright.

Direction

Lit from Left

Lit from behind camera

Mood

Menacing/Dramatic

Subtler Mood

Localized Light

Light a person from above The head for more `spiritual Effects.

But you need to be careful

Seasons and Time of Day

Early-Morning Blue Tint

Mid-Day/Winter Less blue tint Even colors

Evening/Dusk Summer Orange Hues

The Ray of Hope

By placing a subtle localized light source near the left eye the image takes on a more hopeful appearance. This has to do with the local shadows fall on the face.

3 Point Lighting
Most Common lighting scheme Three lights: Key Light, Fill Light, and Back

3 Point Lighting
Key light The Key light establishes the dimension, form and surface detail of subject matter. Fill light The Fill light fills in the shadows created by the horizontal and vertical angles of the key light. The fill light should be placed about 90-degrees away from the key light. Back light The function of the Back light is to separate the subject from the background by creating a subtle rim of light around the subject.

3 Point Lighting - Tutorial

http://www.3drender.com/light/3point.html