How do you select lighting and shading for 3D scenes?

1 Types of lights

One of the first decisions you have to make is what kind of lights you want to use in your scene. There are different types of lights, such as directional, point, spot, and area lights, that have different properties and effects. For example, directional lights simulate sunlight or moonlight, point lights emit light from a single location in all directions, spot lights create a cone of light with a sharp or soft edge, and area lights produce soft shadows and realistic reflections. You can use a combination of these lights to create different atmospheres and contrasts in your scene, but be careful not to overuse them, as they can increase the rendering time and complexity.

2 Position and color of lights

Another important aspect of lighting is where you place and how you color your lights. The position of the lights affects the direction, intensity, and shape of the shadows, as well as the highlights and reflections on the objects. You can use different positions to create different effects, such as front lighting to reveal details and colors, side lighting to create depth and drama, back lighting to create silhouettes and rim lights, and top or bottom lighting to create tension and mystery. The color of the lights also influences the mood and tone of your scene, as well as the perceived temperature and time of day. You can use warm colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, to create a cozy, romantic, or energetic feel, or cool colors, such as blue, green, and purple, to create a calm, mysterious, or futuristic feel. You can also use complementary colors, such as blue and orange, or purple and yellow, to create contrast and harmony in your scene.

3 Materials and textures

The materials and textures of the objects in your scene determine how they react to the light and how they look in the final render. Materials define the physical properties of the objects, such as their color, reflectivity, transparency, roughness, and bumpiness. Textures are images that are applied to the objects to add more detail and variation to their appearance. You can use different materials and textures to create different effects, such as shiny metals, rough stones, or smooth plastics. You can also use procedural textures, which are generated by mathematical formulas, to create patterns and noises that are not limited by resolution or repetition. You should match your materials and textures to the style and realism of your scene, and adjust them according to the lighting conditions.

4 Rendering algorithms and settings

The final step in selecting lighting and shading for your 3D scenes is to choose the rendering algorithm and settings that will produce the best results for your scene. Rendering is the process of converting your 3D scene into a 2D image, and it involves calculating how the light interacts with the objects and the camera. There are different rendering algorithms, such as ray tracing, rasterization, and radiosity, that have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of quality, speed, and realism. For example, ray tracing produces realistic shadows, reflections, and refractions, but it is slow and computationally expensive. Rasterization is fast and efficient, but it requires additional techniques, such as shadow mapping and normal mapping, to simulate realistic lighting effects. Radiosity simulates the indirect illumination and color bleeding between the objects, but it is complex and difficult to implement. You should choose the rendering algorithm that suits your needs and preferences, and tweak the settings, such as the resolution, anti-aliasing, and sampling, to optimize the quality and performance of your render.

5 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?