- In the process of project 1, Zane and Samantha have searched, practiced and reflected a lot on the various types of lights. It inspires me that I also supposed to know the difference between different types of lights, such as the advantages and disadvantages of them.
6 Common types of film lights
- Single source lights
- Single source lights draw their output from only one light emitter: there is only one light on the fixture.
- Examples: the aperture 1d or the mini 20
- Single source lights have hard clearly defined shadows. In other words, single source light is great when we want strongly defined shadow, partial lights or a more directional light.
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(Figure 1: the screenshot of the video called 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures about single source light, source by Zhen)
- Multi-source lights
- Examples: the LS1 has up to 1536 sources
- Increasing the number of sources increases the overall output
- Increasing the number of sources on a single light increases the number of shadows
- Eliminate multi-shadow effect through diffusion or bouncing
- Bouncing turns a multi-source light into a single source
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(Figure 2: the screenshot of the video called 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures about multi-source light, source by Zhen)
- Volume lights
- Examples: China balls in space lights
- Volume lights have a very soft 360 wrap and it can add lots of filters set up
- Volume lights are ideal for even lighting for Green Screens & White CYC. They can provide extremely clean and beaten lighting to a background.
- We can also try to use an array of volume lights over wipes for a portrait shooting. It can present like the soft beauty lighting.
- Diffusion cancels shadows from multiple volume lights
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(Figure 3: the screenshot of the video called 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures about volume light, source by Zhen)
- Area lights
- Area light is the opposite of the single light. It is achieved either through bouncing or diffusing single or multi-source light and adding to a size.
- Diffuse with a shower curtain. Thus, it has a wider beam angle and can illuminate an entire room or environment.
- Softboxes, silks and foam core turn single lights into area lights.
- Area light is soft and has shadows, which is less harsh than a single light.
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(Figure 4: the screenshot of the video called 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures about area light, source by Zhen)
- Tube lights
- It is convenient to construct shapes of lightings to film.
- Tube lights have less power but are versatile.
- Tube lights are often used in music videos as onscreen lights
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(Figure 5: the screenshot of the video called 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures about Tube lights, source by Zhen)
- Practical lights
- practical lights are visible onscreen and diagetic
- practical lights add visual diversity into the image
- They are part of the screen and the narrative of the film.
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(Figure 6: the screenshot of the video called 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures about practical lights, source by Zhen)
Reference:
Aputure 2018, 6 Types of Lighting Fixtures | Your Guide to Understanding Photo & Video Lights, Youtube, Aputure, USA, viewed 11 September 2018, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy5TkZc1j24>.