Pixar Lighting Lecture
I. Directing the viewer’s eye
A. Composition- mixing and combining various elements or ingredients
(quickly familiarize to unknown elements, minimize or accentuate,
constancy, function of a whole, group things together by similarity,
give meaning, organizing by planes)
1. Unity/Harmony- continuity
2. Emphasis
a. contrast- 1 thing is unique, value differences
b. tangency- visual tension, draw for the eye
c. isolation- creates tension
d. angles- leads eye to target
e. shape- stands out as unique (round vs. angular, framing)
f. recognition- human-like
g. size
h. motion
3. Balance- any combination of techniques, mixing makes things interesting
a. symmetry- equal on both sides- importance implies equality or fairness
b. asymmetry- balance created by other ways, weight measured as emphasis
c. value
d. color
e. shape- big simple vs. small and busy
f. texture
g. position
h. eye direction
4. Directing Eye
a. unity/harmony
b. emphasis
c. balance
d. repetition/rhythm
1. 1 thing: all attention in 1 place
2. 2 things: more interesting
5. Visual connection between similar elements
6. connect the pieces together- have the eye move around
7. rhythm
a. repetition of an element, but with variation
b. energy
c. repetition of shape + color= energy (not stiff)
B. Complementing composition
C. Creating Depth- not automatic
1. Vertical Position
2. Shape + Size Relationship
Looks small looks far away
a. simple shapes seem further
b. busy shapes seem closer
c. how shapes relate to one another- same shape
3. Linear Perspective
4. Overlapping
5. Planes of Light
a. Layers- each has a unique value
example: foreground dark/background light
b. brights lay over darkest parts of other objects shadows
6. Volume- make objects to look round
7. Aerial Perspective-
a. warm- closer
b. cool- further
c. atmosphere- color saturation
8. Value Recession- dark outside, light inside
9. Space- pools of light, characters can move in and out
10. Depth of Field
a. close-ups- clear
b. background- blurry
c. lack of depth- alone, tense, unpredictable
D. Enhancing Mood, Atmosphere, Drama
1. Lighting Style
a. Mood, consistency, support emotional goal of story
b. High key lighting- no suspense
c. Darkness used to stimulate animation
d. Low contrast- calm
e. High contrast- tension
f. Quality of light- hard shadows…soft shadows (friendly)
2. Motivation: coming from a source- or looks like it
a. Makes sense
b. Where is the light coming from? Light? Window? Candle? Lantern?
c. Is the source visible?
3. Shape
Safe Safe fall over-on edge
Safe dangerous
4. Color: provides context to shape
a. color=emotion
1. red: aggression
power
courage
stop
violence
anger
fire
2. orange: social
fun
3. yellow: happy
4. purple: exotic
royal
5. green: nature
envy
6. blue: calm
sad
7. brown: homey
nostalgic
8. white: innocent
9. black: elegance
mysterious
expensive
E. Setting
1. Time of Day
a. Morning: optimistic, cheerful
b. Mid-day: busy, active, energetic
c. Late afternoon: slows down
d. Sunset- spectacular color
e. night- pessimism, despair, isolation
2. Seasons
a. spring: fresh, youthful
b. summer: relax, lazy
c. autumn: prepare
d. winter: survival
e. Weather effects emotions
F. Revealing Character + Personality
1. Light: hope, knowledge, truth, innocence, life, joy
2. Dark: fear, ignorance, deceit, despair, dramatic, crime, death
3. Use light and dark to imply character
4. Color: monochromatic vs. complex
a. changes with mood
5. Example: Sid in Toy Story
b. under lighting- scary, mean-unless warmth added. Though, bright red
under lighting, harsh bright over light is still mean
6. Cool colors: mean
7. Warm colors: friendly
8. Positioning of light- personality, mood
7. Top lighting is sometimes sinister
