Three Point Lighting

Objective:

The Three Point Lighting Technique is a standard method used in visual media such as video, film, still photography and computer-generated imagery. It is a simple but versatile system which forms the basis of most lighting.

 
 
 

The technique uses three lights called the key light, fill light and back light. Naturally, you will need three lights to utilize the technique fully, but the principles are still important even if you only use one or two lights. As a rule:

  • If you only have one light, it becomes the key.

  • If you have 2 lights, one is the key and the other is either the fill or the backlight.
 
 

Key Light
 

This is the main light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. It is placed to one side of the camera/subject so that this side is well lit and the other side has some shadow.
 
The key light is the main light and the strongest.
 
 

Fill Light
 

This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows created by the key. The fill will usually be softer and less bright than the key. To acheive this, you could move the light further away or use some spun. You might also want to set the fill light to more of a flood than the key.
 
The fill light is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill in shadows.
 
 

Back Light
 

The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. Rather than providing direct lighting (like the key and fill), its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject's outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.
 
The back light is placed behind the subject and lights the rear.
 
 

If you have a fourth light, you could use it to light the background of the entire scene.If you are using a blue screen, you want the blue screen to be of an even color with no shadows or hot spots.