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Key Lighting Terms
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Hard Light
Hard light creates sharp, well-defined shadows and tends to highlight surface imperfections. It is direct and unmodified light that can be used for dramatic effects and high contrast.
Practical Light
Practical light refers to light sources that are visible within the shot and are part of the scene, such as lamps or candles. They can enhance realism and mood.
Flag
A flag is a piece of equipment used on-set to block or shape light, often creating shadows or preventing light spill onto certain areas. It helps to control and sculpt the light to the videographer's needs.
Cucoloris
A cucoloris, also known as a cookie, is a device used to project a shadow pattern and create texture on a surface or background. It can simulate natural effects like light filtering through leaves.
Back Light
Back light, also known as hair light or rim light, is positioned behind the subject. It helps to separate the subject from the background, providing a sense of depth and highlighting the subject's contours.
Gaffer
A gaffer is the head electrician on a film set, responsible for the execution of the lighting plan and managing all aspects of the electrical department. They work closely with the director of photography to craft the visual mood.
Diffuser
A diffuser is a translucent material placed in front of a light source to scatter the light, thus reducing glare and harshness. The result is a softer and more even light.
Gobo
A gobo is a stencil or template placed in front of a light source to control the shape of the emitted light. It can project patterns, designs, or textures for creative effects on a background or on the subject.
Key Light
The key light is the main light source in a lighting setup. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. Position and intensity are adjusted to create specific moods and highlights.
High Key Lighting
High key lighting is a style that involves a high ratio of key light to fill light. It produces a light scene with less contrast, fewer shadows, and a bright background, giving it a more upbeat tone.
Three-Point Lighting
Three-point lighting is a standard method used in visual media such as video, photography and computer-generated imagery. It uses three lights called key light, fill light and back light to illuminate the subject and create a sense of depth and texture.
Fill Light
Fill light is used to reduce shadows caused by the key light. It is softer and less bright than the key light and is placed opposite to the key light to provide illumination to shaded areas.
Low Key Lighting
Low key lighting is characterized by a high contrast with lots of shadows, creating a dark, moody, and atmospheric scene. It often involves using just a key light, with little to no fill light.
Catch Light
Catch light refers to the reflection of a light source visible in the subject's eyes. It adds life and sparkle to the eyes, making the subject appear more vibrant and engaged.
Barn Doors
Barn doors are adjustable flaps attached to the front of a light that are used to control the spread of the light beam. They can be moved to shape the light's direction and prevent it from spilling into unwanted areas.
Soft Light
Soft light refers to a type of lighting that produces softer shadows and a more even light distribution. It is usually achieved by diffusing the light source or bouncing light off a surface.
Key to Fill Ratio
The key to fill ratio denotes the balance between the intensity of the key light and the fill light. A higher ratio results in more contrast and shadow, whereas a lower ratio results in more even, less contrasted lighting.
Bounce Light
Bounce light is indirect lighting that is reflected off surfaces, such as walls or reflectors. It is used to fill in shadows and create a more diffused, natural-looking light.
Fresnel
A Fresnel is a type of lens used in lighting fixtures to produce a wider, adjustable beam of light. It is characterized by its stepped, concentric circles which focus the light for more control.
Gel
A gel is a transparent colored material used to filter and change the color of light in a scene. It can be used to simulate different times of day or to evoke certain moods.
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