http://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/light.htmhttp://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/light.htmhttp://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/light.htm


INTRODUCTION:

There seems to be very little information available in detailed form on what appears to me to be a crucial subject for artists of all kinds: light in all the guises in which we encounter it on a daily basis. I've read countless books dealing with digital and traditional art and the subject of light only ever seems to be touched on very lightly (pardon the pun). Yet to anyone wishing to create an illusion of reality should have a good understanding of how light behaves in the physical world.

The worst culprits in my opinion are the 3d textbooks which all repeat the same tired old formulas and leave beginning artists very little insight on how to light their scenes. The result is that light is badly understood and poorly used by digital artists on the whole. Photographers and painters necessarily have a better understanding of light, but light is a crucial element of any art. Without understanding it well it is very hard to achieve realism, let alone atmosphere.

Having never found a detailed article about light on the internet I decided to write this one. Most of what I say here is based on my own observations, so there may be the odd inaccuracy. It may be that this stuff is so obvious that it doesn't need explaining, however that does seem unlikely to me since careful observation of the world around is required you to realise exactly how light behaves in different situations.