From three-point lighting to motivated setups, here is everything you need to know about lighting placement and schemes.Top image via Warner Bros. Show
Lighting is an integral part of cinematography, and it’s one of the few areas of filmmaking that has infinite arrangements of setups. Like camera terminology, there are many variations of tools and lighting language. In short, it can get confusing. There is no one right way to employ lighting design. A scene could be lit several different ways by different cinematographers, each altering the mood and overall impact of the image. However, there is a basic list of lighting placement. Below is a list of primary light placement terminology and the key points for that placement. It’s important to note that there can be several terms for the same placement. For example; A backlight, rim light, and a hair light are interchangeable terms for having the light placed behind and above an actor. Key LightA key light is the primary light of the scene. It will be the most intense and direct light source of the entire scene. It will be the first light to set up and be used to illuminate the form of the subject or actor. Key Points:
Fill LightA fill light illuminates the shadows that are created by the key light. Fill light is usually placed on the opposite side of the key light and is often not as powerful as the key. Key Points:
Back LightA backlight hits an actor or object from behind and is usually placed higher than the object it is lighting. A backlight is often used to separate an object or an actor from a dark background and give the subject more shape and depth. Backlighting can help bring your subject out and away from looking two-dimensional. Key Points:
The key light, fill light, and the backlight makes up a three-point lighting setup. You can learn more about setting up a three-point lighting scheme in this video tutorial from Full Sail University. SidelightAs you might have guessed, a sidelight is a light that comes from the side parallel to the actor. A sidelight is ideal for creating a dramatic mood and chiaroscuro lighting. Chiaroscuro is created with low-key and high-contrast—a traditional technique employed throughout the film noir period of cinema. Key Points:
Practical LightImage: Goodfellas via Warner Bros. A practical light is an actual working light within the scene itself. This can be a household lamp, a TV, candles, police lights, and so on. Key Points:
Here is a tutorial on shooting a candlelit scene on a small budget. BounceImage: Bounce light via Wikipedia A bounce light, commonly just called a bounce, is a light that has been reflected. There are dedicated tools such as silk or a foam board to do this, but a bounce light can also come from the wall or the ceiling; the possibilities are endless. Key Points:
Soft LightImage: Her via Annapurna Pictures Soft light is more of a term that describes the size of a light source rather than a placement itself. Soft light comes from a large source, either a light fixture or diffusion sheet. The light produced will have soft shadows – or no shadows at all if soft enough. Take a look at this soft lighting post for additional tips. Hard LightHard light creates sharp and harsh shadows. You will get hard light from the midday sun or a small lighting source. Hard light is often unwanted. To reiterate the points above, in soft light, whether a light is soft or hard will entirely come down to the size of the source. Key Points:
Here is a comparison from a short I worked on last week to demonstrate the difference between hard and soft light. We had to wait until the sun passed behind the clouds as the light was too harsh. High KeyImage: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 via Warner Bros. High Key is a style of lighting that is bright and shadowless with lots of fill light. It was used a lot in the classic Hollywood period in the 1930s and 40s, particularly in comedies and musicals. Today high key lighting is primarily used for cosmetic commercials, sitcoms, and music videos. Although it still finds its place within modern cinema, see the above image from Harry Potter. Key Points:
Low KeyImage: Prisoners via Warner Bros. An image with low key lighting is predominantly dark and filled with more shadows than light. There is little or no fill light. Low key focuses on the use of shadows as a character rather than the subjects in the light itself. It’s commonly used throughout horror and thriller films. Check out this article for more on making films dramatic with low key lighting. Key points:
Motivated LightingImage via Shutterstock Motivated lighting is when the light in the scene imitates a natural source within the scene. The difference between motivated lighting and practical lighting is that motivated lighting enhances and replicates practical lighting. Key points:
Available LightImage: Lawrence of Arabia via Columbia Pictures Available is what already exists at the location. This could just be the sun itself in the Rub’ al Khali desert or street lights and store signs on a New York City street. Key points:
It’s very easy to read through this list and think that one definition could easily be another. That’s the beauty of it – they can be. One light placement term can very easily merge into a dozen other placements. Take the image below from Man of Steel; it uses the computers as a practical light source and is the key light of the scene. Image: Man of Steel via Warner Bros. Books for
Additional Reading: How is color used in film?Color can set the overall tone of the film. For example, the use of purple to create a sense of fantasy. Color can help the film identify character traits, such as having a greedy businessman wear green or a melancholy character wear yellow. Color can also be used to show the evolution of a character or story.
Why is lighting and color important in film?Without the proper lighting setup, it can be next to impossible to convey all the mood and emotion in your film. Brightness, shadow, and color are all vital elements in the way a scene comes across to the audience, they offer a way to control the viewer's emotions, as well as directing them in the story.
What is color theory in film?In filmmaking, color theory refers to the notion that certain hues on the color wheel combine to create particular visual effects. A director's use of color combinations can evoke a mood or atmosphere within the world of a film.
How is lighting used in film?The lighting setup guides the eye to a specific actor, prop, or part of a scene. Lighting reflects the psychology of characters. The amount, size, color, and harshness of light surrounding a character can be adjusted to match their emotions. Lighting defines and supports the genre of the film.
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