February 29, 2012

Computer graphic artists must have a good understanding of basic principles of lighting. Observational drawing helps artists understand how to depict the phenomena of light that we see in the natural world. However, designing a lighting scheme that looks good on a page or screen is quite a different skill than creating a representation of an existing lighting situation.

To show off their work most effectively, computer graphic artists must apply the lighting techniques developed in studio portraiture, theater, photography, and cinematography. This article outlines the basic concepts of lighting theory, and how to implement some real-world lighting techniques using the tools of 3D graphics software. It is an introductory article written to help emerging CG artists light their scenes effectively and with an eye for aesthetics.