- How many lights do you need to build the illumination system？
- Five ideas for a continuous light studio setup
How many lights do you need to build the illumination system？
A main light, a fill light, and a backlight make up the most fundamental lighting setup for a studio. For isolated people and objects, this is the lighting configuration that is used the most frequently in the studio.
What is a basic 3 light studio setup and how to have one?
A popular approach for illuminating a subject in a setting with light sources coming from three different places is called three-point lighting. It aims to effectively and aesthetically illuminate a topic by utilizing just three different lights. A three-point setup is a great place to start when designing special effects since it produces positive results right away. Because you can regulate a spotlight's direction and hot point to add drama to the scene, they are handy.
1. Key light: A strong constant light placed 45 degrees to the right of the camera
This is the main and strongest light source when you have your home photo studio light setup. It determines the total exposure of a scene. This primary kind is often placed on a stand at a 45-degree angle to the camera, somewhat off to the side of the camera and the front of the subject. This casts shadows on the subject's opposite side of the face, giving it depth and dimension. The mood of a scene is established by the main light.
- COLBOR CL100X: This professional photography studio light setup is of 110W output, shooting out dimmable illumination from 0% to 100%, and adjustable bi-color lighting of 97+ CRI. It can perfectly play the role of key light, providing you with a stable, bright, diverse, and very ambient illuminating source.
2. Fill light: A lesser type positioned to illuminate gloomy areas
The fill light physically fills in the shadows that the key one casts on a subject or models, bringing out details in the shadows and mirroring the key one on the other side of the camera. Photographers may manage the overall mood of their images by adjusting how much they illuminate or dim them. It establishes the ambiance of a scene along with the main kind.
- Moman ML8A-RC: It has a compact construction for carrying, almost comparable to a smartphone. As we said above, fill light is often less bright than the first kind mentioned above. This camera-mounted RGB LED panel light with a cheap price of US$59.99, helps you make your budget studio light setup. It also has 10 inventive effects and 98+ CRI which makes it to be your best choice.
3. Backlight: A second, paler one placed in the back of the object
This type also called rim or hair light, is the third source in the setting. It shines on a subject from behind and completes the whole set. It is often set up in front of the subject or high enough to be out of the frame, opposite the main source, and aimed at the subject's neck.
- COLBOR CL60: Thanks to them, it can separate the subject from the background and gives them depth by creating a rim of light or outlines around their head.
- Not only CL60 can apply to professional filmmaking, it is also the best budget choice when creating a setup in a small studio for beginners. Through the introduction video following, you will learn how to combine it with a cheap camera with cheap lens, a simple set, and create an innovative picture which looks amazing.
Five ideas for a continuous light studio setup
Different shooting purposes have different lighting combinations. The following will introduce five basic general tips, you can reference according to their specific situation.
1. Control the illuminating distance for sharp or smooth edges
A greater source softens the shadows whereas a smaller one produces harsher, more pronounced edges. In a studio light setup for portrait, expanding modifiers like an umbrella, softbox, or similar diffuser is placed between the light source and the subject if you want a softer appearance. This relative size condition causes the distance between it and the subject to have an impact on the softness of the shadows as well. The shadows will be softer if the source is placed closer to the subject. Pulling the light away from the shadows will make them tougher to capture and reduce their relative size to the subject.
2. Consider where your setup is located for achieving the right shadows
Where shadows fall depends on where your lights are placed about your subject and the camera. In studio light setup for product photography, you need to show your items clearly with brighter illuminating, and no use for excessive warm and cold tones to interfere with the original color of the product, so as not to cause misunderstanding to customers. If your major depicts the sun, it should precisely reflect the angle and height of that source. This pertains once again to intelligently building an environment. Depending on where you place your fill and backlight, your scene will either have dark, melancholy shadows or a bright, even light.
3. Think about the purpose and expected results of the image effects
You must be very clear on the aesthetic you want to accomplish and the purpose behind it before you start arranging your YouTube studio light setup. The arrangements are always planned. Based on the setting that your characters are in, the source of light in your scenario must make sense. Once your objective is clear, you can go on to the positioning and adjusting your light equipment to get that result.
4. Use light and dark contrast to maintain the dramatic nature
Dramatic lighting is crucial when having a studio setting. By generating a lot of contrast, you may provide a dramatic atmosphere. As a result, both bright and dark regions are significant. Multiple sources must be strategically arranged to provide both extremely bright and very dark regions for dramatic lighting.
5. Test your setup and revise in advance until satisfied
Making your studio light setup after deciding on their purpose, size, distance, intensity, and location. This will allow you to accurately examine how each light interacts with the others and assess whether or not the effect is what you had in mind. If not, make necessary corrections until everything is ideal.
