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An Italian term used to describe the dramatic effect of contrasting areas of light and dark in artwork, creating a sense of volume and three-dimensionality.

A style of painting using very pronounced chiaroscuro, where there are violent contrasts of light and dark, and darkness becomes a dominating feature of the image.

A painting technique for softening the transition between colors, mimicking an area beyond what the human eye is focusing on, or the out-of-focus plane.

The areas of an object that receive the most direct light, often used to indicate the light source's direction, curvature and texture of the surface.

The dark area on an object that results from the object blocking the light source, used to suggest form and depth.

The darkest part of a shadow where light cannot reach directly; creates the illusion of volume in the object depicted.

The shadow which is cast by an object and lies on the surface that is not in direct view of the light source.

Light that bounces from one object to another in a scene, often filling in shadows and hence reducing overall contrast.

The diffused light that fills a scene without a specific direction, often depicted in art to create a base level of lightness.

In visual arts, the primary light source that gives the object the most definition and prominence, contributing heavily to the composition's visual hierarchy.

An outline of a form filled in with a solid color, usually black, creating a profile or shadow appearance against a lighter background.

Lighting technique where the light comes from behind the subject, creating a glowing edge around the subject against a darker background.

In visual art, the tones between the darkest shadow and the brightest highlight so named for their midway nature; critical for depicting realistic form and volume.

A bright spot of light that appears on shiny objects when illuminated, indicating the specific properties of the light source and the material of the object.