Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Film TechnologyCE00013-1
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Why do you need to consider lighting?
• How you can use lighting to affect the mood of your film?
• What light sources are available, and how do you control them?
• Practical Tips
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Without light you will have no image
• Carefully controlled lighting directs the viewers attention
• Lighting can affect the mood and emotional impact of a scene
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Light quality– Hard light: Casts sharply defined deep
shadows– The sun, candles, unfiltered tungsten lamps– Soft Light: Cast soft shadows with undefined
edges– Overcast day, lamps with diffusers, light
reflected from certain sources
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Contrast range – latitude– Latitude describes the contrast range that a
camera can represent– The difference between the lightest and
darkest areas of the picture
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Low Key– Features high lighting contrast, with dark
shadows and bright pools of light– Associated with night time, mystery, tragedy
and horror
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• High Key– Features a more even low contrast distribution
of light– The light will be evenly spread meaning most
of the set will be lit– Associated with daylight, comedy and the
majority of studio shows
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Lighting Equipment
• Tungsten Lamps– Most common professional light– Range from 150w up to about 24,000w– Consistent colour temperature of 3200ºK– Generate a lot of heat – take care when
handling and setting up
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Reflectors– White reflector softens light– Silver reflector reflects hard light– Mirror reflects very hard light– Gold reflector adds a gold hue to ‘warm up’
the lighting– Diffuser – set up in front of a hard light to
change it to a soft light
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• General lighting setups– Three point lighting– Even when numerous lights are used they will
perform one of the functions of the three point setup
– Use the basic setup as a starting point for your lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Key Light– Usually the brightest light– Casts primary shadows– Can be hard or soft
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Fill Light– Used to fill out shadows caused by the key
without causing its own shadows– Usually softer than the keylight
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Back Light– Creates a bright outline around the subject– Used to separate the subject from the
background– Helps create depth
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Clothes light– Additional to the key light, adds shape and
brings out the texture of costumes
• Kicker– Additional to the back light, usually set lower
and set up as a cross light
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Eye Light– Adds a shine to the actors eyes
• Background Light– Used when the other lights are not enough to
light the background of the shot
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• Motivated Light– This refers to the light sources in your scene
being justified– The lighting will be realistic and not draw
attention to itself– If the light sources are obviously unmotivated
the images may look unrealistic, but this can give the film style
Level 1 Film Technology
Intro To Lighting
• General Lighting Technique– De-emphasize areas– This will focus the viewers attention on the
subject– Be careful of shiny and reflective surfaces– Taking away light can be as effective as
adding it
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