Lighting Techniques for Animation

Instructor: Peter Markowski Venue: LAAFA/EIDO

Painting process

Step I: Light logic

How To Render by Scott Robertson and Thomas Bertling A book covering the basics of calculating lighting, i.e. "light logic". Direction and placement of shadows, amount of shadow, fall off.

Step II: Theatrical lighting

Theatrical lighting may work counter to logical light placement. This is lighting that is necessary to "tell the story."

(TODO: add some visual examples.)

Step III: Procedural layering

• Add one layer at a time. Work on one layer at a time.
• Work back to front.
• Work night to dark.
• Low contrast to high contrast.

Mike Humphries

A good example of this process using gouache.

Uses badger brush for soft effects and to alter overall value and / or color

Examples

Illustration with bears, snow and mountains.

It contains logical light:

• Most contrast and detail on the middle ground where the main characters are placed.
• Low contrast on far mountains
• Another layer of closer mountains with slightly more contrast and saturation.
• Low contrast in the foreground, but with darker colors than the distant mountains.

It contains illogical (but theatrical) light:

• Spot light on main characters (the bears.)
• The light on the bears is contrived. There is no natural source. It exists purely for the story and to add drama.

"Light responsibly"

Track any light sources that are introduced into a scene.

Apply their light logically to objects in the surrounding environment.