The Light

Highlight refers to the bright reflection that occurs where the light directly hits the form. If the
surface is irregular, the highlight may be at the crest of the surface in direct light.

If the surface has a protuberance somewhere else in direct light, the highlight may be on the
protuberance in the area closest to the light source.

Highlights are usually small and intense spots of near-white. The highlight is NEVER at a 90-
degree angle to the light source, but rather between that angle and where the artist’s line of vision
hits the object.

This is important to understand because assuming that a highlight simply indicates the direction of
a light source will result in a misleading rendering of the shadows.

Direct light refers to any area on the form that directly receives light from the light source.
Contrast this with reflected light.

Reflected light, or bounced light, is light on the dark side of the form that has been reflected onto
the form by adjacent surfaces. For example, the shadow side of a sphere is slightly illuminated by
light bouncing off the floor and onto this side of the object. The color of the object is often most
true in this area because direct light can wash out local color.

Without reflected light, all the viewer would see is the lit side, resulting in an unconvincing image.
Reflected light rounds the form. It is never darker than a cast shadow or lighter than the shadow
area that appears on the periphery of the area in direct light.

The Shadows

The shadow area is all area not in direct light. Part of the shadow area is illuminated by reflected
light. Another part of the shadow area is the core shadow.

Core shadow, or terminator, is the darkest dark on the form, and it appears as a line or plane
parallel to the light source, benefiting from neither direct light nor reflected light.

Cast shadow is the shadowed area on adjacent surfaces where the direct light is blocked
by the form. It is darker than the core shadow. Its edges are clearly delineated where it is
closest to the form, and softer as it stretches away from the form. The shadow is darkest
where it is closest to the form.