How can you create different moods and atmospheres with lighting models?

1 What are lighting models?

Lighting models are mathematical formulas that simulate how light interacts with surfaces and materials in a 3D environment. They take into account various factors, such as the direction, color, intensity, and distance of the light sources, the reflectivity, transparency, and texture of the objects, and the position and orientation of the camera and the viewer. Lighting models can be divided into two main categories: local and global. Local lighting models only consider the direct illumination from the light sources, while global lighting models also account for the indirect illumination from the bounced and scattered light.

2 Why are lighting models important?

Lighting models are important because they can affect the perception and interpretation of your scenes and characters. They can create contrast, depth, shape, and texture, as well as convey emotions, moods, and atmospheres. For example, a bright and warm lighting model can create a cheerful and cozy feeling, while a dark and cold lighting model can create a gloomy and scary feeling. Lighting models can also enhance or diminish the realism and the style of your graphics, depending on how closely they match the physical laws of light or the artistic conventions of your genre.

3 How can you choose a lighting model?

Choosing a lighting model depends on several factors, such as the purpose, the audience, the genre, and the resources of your project. You need to consider what kind of mood and atmosphere you want to create, what kind of impression and message you want to convey, what kind of expectations and preferences your audience has, and what kind of limitations and trade-offs you have to deal with. For example, if you want to create a realistic and immersive scene, you might want to use a global lighting model that captures the subtle and complex effects of light. However, if you want to create a stylized and expressive scene, you might want to use a local lighting model that emphasizes the colors and shapes of your objects.

4 How can you implement a lighting model?

Implementing a lighting model requires some knowledge of computer graphics programming and tools. You need to define the properties and parameters of your light sources, such as their type, position, direction, color, intensity, and attenuation. You also need to define the properties and parameters of your objects, such as their material, color, texture, normal, and specular. Then, you need to write or use a shader program that calculates the lighting model for each pixel or vertex of your objects, based on the inputs from the light sources and the objects. You can use different shading techniques, such as flat, Gouraud, Phong, or Blinn-Phong, to achieve different levels of smoothness and detail.

5 How can you modify a lighting model?

Modifying a lighting model can be done by changing the properties and parameters of your light sources and objects, or by adding some additional effects and features to your lighting model. For example, you can change the color, intensity, or direction of your light sources to create different times of day, seasons, or weather conditions. You can also change the material, color, or texture of your objects to create different materials, such as metal, wood, or glass. You can also add some effects and features to your lighting model, such as shadows, reflections, refractions, fog, or ambient occlusion, to create more realism or drama.

6 How can you test and evaluate a lighting model?

Testing and evaluating a lighting model can be done by rendering your scene and observing the results. You can compare your scene with some reference images or models, such as photographs, paintings, or other computer graphics, to see how well your lighting model matches or differs from them. You can also ask for feedback from other people, such as your peers, mentors, or clients, to see how they perceive and interpret your scene. You can also use some metrics and tools, such as color histograms, luminance maps, or contrast ratios, to measure and analyze the quality and performance of your lighting model.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?