Light & Shadow

As with color, shape, and texture, lighting and shadows are key ingredients in a well-constructed work of digital art. Light and shadows play an important role in defining what we see. The placement of light is extremely important. Why? Where light comes from and the shadows that the light creates affects every aspect of an image. To make better use of light and shadows in the creation of 3D models and digital images, we need learn how to behold the world as an artist would see it. When working with lighting and shadow, here are key things to think about:

• In which direction does the most powerful source of illumination originate?
• Which areas on an object receive little or no light?
• Are there any dark areas on a nearby surface, areas where the light might be blocked by a solid object?

Jeremy Birn, noted 3D artist, animation instructor, and author from Hollywood (Monsters University, Toy Story 3, Up, WALL-E, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles) wrote a 2013 article, Top Ten Tips for More Convincing Lighting and Rendering that provides excellent advice for novice 3D/digital artists about key elements and practices that result in professionally lit scenes.

A short excerpt from Drawing for Dummies (Drawing Light and Shadows) provides an excellent explanation of why light and shadows are so important when constructing an image.