What are some common mistakes to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya?

1 Wrong scale

One of the most common mistakes to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya is using the wrong scale for your models and lights. If your scale is too large or too small, your lights will not behave as expected and your shadows will look unrealistic. To avoid this, make sure you use the same units for your models and lights, and adjust the intensity and decay of your lights accordingly. You can also use the Measure Tool to check the dimensions of your objects and compare them with real-world measurements.

2 Too many lights

Another common mistake to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya is using too many lights in your scene. While it may be tempting to add more lights to create more contrast and detail, this can also create unwanted noise, glare, and overexposure in your render. To avoid this, try to use as few lights as possible and rely on indirect lighting, bounce light, and ambient occlusion to fill in the dark areas. You can also use light linking, shadow linking, and light filters to control which objects are affected by which lights.

3 Poor color balance

A third common mistake to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya is having a poor color balance in your scene. If your lights are too warm or too cool, or if they clash with each other or with the color scheme of your scene, your render will look unnatural and unappealing. To avoid this, try to use a consistent and harmonious color palette for your lights and your materials, and use color temperature or color grading tools to adjust the overall tone of your scene. You can also use reference images or color wheels to help you choose the right colors for your lights.

4 Flat lighting

A fourth common mistake to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya is creating flat lighting in your scene. Flat lighting is when your scene lacks depth, contrast, and directionality, and looks dull and boring. To avoid this, try to use three-point lighting, which consists of a key light, a fill light, and a back light, to create a sense of dimension and drama in your scene. You can also use rim lights, spot lights, and volumetric lights to create more interest and variation in your lighting.

5 No atmosphere

A fifth common mistake to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya is forgetting to add atmosphere to your scene. Atmosphere is the subtle effect of air, fog, dust, smoke, or other particles that scatter and diffuse the light in your scene, creating a sense of depth, mood, and realism. To avoid this, try to use environment lights, physical sky, or HDR images to create realistic sky and sun lighting, and use fog, haze, or volume shaders to create atmospheric effects in your scene. You can also use particles, fluids, or fields to create dynamic and interactive atmosphere.

6 No feedback

A sixth common mistake to avoid when lighting 3D scenes in Maya is working without feedback. Feedback is the process of checking and evaluating your lighting results, either by using render previews, render passes, or render layers, or by getting feedback from others. Without feedback, you may not notice or fix the problems or flaws in your lighting, or you may not achieve the desired look or mood for your scene. To avoid this, try to use low-resolution and low-quality render settings to speed up your render previews, and use render passes or render layers to isolate and analyze different aspects of your lighting. You can also ask for feedback from other artists, colleagues, or clients, and use their suggestions to improve your lighting.

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?