THE FOUR BASIC TYPES OF LIGHTING
by Armand Cabrera
The four images accompanying this article show the basic types of lighting. Most paintings contain some variation of these basic lighting situations. Think about the type of light you observe when painting. This will help guide you when considering your key for lights and shadows. These four basic situations, when combined with the relative angle of the sun in the sky as it rises and sets, provide endless tonal variety. Generally, the higher the angle of the sun, the less pronounced the effects of lighting situations. By understanding the types of lighting, you can judge what overall value range is most appropriate for the painting.
Front Light
In this situation, the light is directly behind you. Anything facing you is fully lit. The transitions to shadow are quicker and the range is lessened compared to Form Light.
Form Light
The light is off to one side at an angle so objects are mostly in sunlight and some what in shadow. You have the greatest possibility of overall value range in the lights.
Rim Light
Rim Light is the opposite of Form Light. You are seeing objects mostly in shadow with some light striking the edge of the form. You have the greatest possibility of overall value range in the shadow.
Back Light
In this type of lighting, the forms are completely in shadow, with the source of light occluded and 180 degrees from you. This creates a sharp transition from the light source to shadow lessening the value range compared to Rim Light.
Remember, the consistency in how you handle lighting helps create the unity for the painting. Inappropriate values break the sense of light in the scene. The underlying direction of the light is essential to successful outdoor paintings.
