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Blender Tutorial
3 Point Lighting
There is lighting method named 3 Point Lighting. I have wrote about this method in my blog two times. This method is used in photography and movies and so on. It is very traditional and basic method. The name is 3 point light, but it is not to place 3 lights in the scene. This page introduce my way to do that.
At first, next image is result of using 1 light. Well, it's usual output.
At this time, light setting is shown as right image. I put a light in other layer ( Fisrt layer is mesh, 11st layer id the light.). Spot light is located on the red-marked layer.If you want to affect specific light source to specific object, you need to put both the light and object, and turn on "Layer" button. But in case of you don't need it, each type of lights should be located on each layer respectively, because you can easily know how each lights affect to object turning on/off the layer respectively.
As above image,the light works as main light is called "Key Light". Next, we make the object separate from background with adding some lights.
Add weak intensity light to show dark part of the object. This light is called "Fill Light". I ususally use Lamp light as fill light.
Set low intensity of the fill light to show dark part slightly. (We might encounter a problem that a monitor is different among vendors, so someone can't see your setting. But only what you can do is to set your monitor according to light color management, or don't mind it...)
After that, we make an edge clearer. To do this, add a light called "Back Light" or "Rim Light" to your scene. (In the actual studio, the back light and the rim light are different type of light).
This is back light result. As name of the bakc light, the light is located behind the object. Important thing is to turn on "No Specular" button. If you don't do this, the back light will show like a rising sun due to reflection from the object.
So, you put these three type of lights in your scene. And adjust its angle and intensity using layers. After that, turn on all layers which contains lights. And do render.
The left image is result of 3 point lighting. Right image is result of one spot light. You can see the object is separated from the background. The 3 point lighting is to illuminate the object using three type of lights. Therefore, 3 point light does not means that putting three lights. You need to add a few or several number of the light as a key light, fill light or back light, if you need.
If you need to create serious scene, for example, decrease fill light's instensity to increase contrast, or remove the light. You need to adjust your light setting to meet your goal.