3D Light Study

Eleven lessons on how light shows form. Light a sphere, an apple, a skull, a portrait and a whole figure yourself, in a 3D room with up to four lamps, and learn what painters and photographers have always known.

Start with lesson 1
Part of VOLUX Academy · Academy and Pro
How it works
1. Read

Each lesson explains one idea: the values of light on a form, where a lamp stands, hard and soft light, portrait patterns, the planes of the head.

2. Light

Open the lesson in the studio. The shape and the lamps are already set. Drag a lamp round the object and watch the shadow move.

3. Practise

Every lesson ends with exercises, from a sphere on a table to a skull, hands, feet and 42 poses of the figure.

Foundations
The four basic forms: Sphere, cube, cylinder, cone: light describes what a form is
Lesson 1
The four basic forms
Sphere, cube, cylinder, cone: light describes what a form is
Study →
The values of light: Highlight, light, halftone, core shadow, reflected light, cast shadow
Lesson 2
The values of light
Highlight, light, halftone, core shadow, reflected light, cast shadow
Study →
Where the light comes from: Front, three-quarter, side, back, top and below
Lesson 3
Where the light comes from
Front, three-quarter, side, back, top and below
Study →
Hard light, soft light and distance: Size of the source, and how far it stands
Lesson 4
Hard light, soft light and distance
Size of the source, and how far it stands
Study →
Cast shadows and lamp height: What a shadow tells you about the object and the lamp
Lesson 5
Cast shadows and lamp height
What a shadow tells you about the object and the lamp
Study →
The head
Portrait lighting patterns: Butterfly, loop, Rembrandt, split, rim and under-lighting
Lesson 6
Portrait lighting patterns
Butterfly, loop, Rembrandt, split, rim and under-lighting
Study →
The planes of the head: Light finds the planes of a skull and a simplified head
Lesson 7
The planes of the head
Light finds the planes of a skull and a simplified head
Study →
Hands, feet and figure
Hands and feet: Complex forms made of simple ones
Lesson 8
Hands and feet
Complex forms made of simple ones
Study →
The figure and the mass: Light on the whole body: big shapes first
Lesson 9
The figure and the mass
Light on the whole body: big shapes first
Study →
Colour and composition
Colour, temperature and the second lamp: A warm key, a cool fill, and how much of each
Lesson 10
Colour, temperature and the second lamp
A warm key, a cool fill, and how much of each
Study →
Composing a still life with light: Several objects, two lamps, one idea
Lesson 11
Composing a still life with light
Several objects, two lamps, one idea
Study →
What is in the room
Shapes

Basic forms, fruit, vessels, cloth, still-life groups, a planar head, a bust, a real human skull, hands, a foot and male and female figures in 21 poses each.

Light

Up to four lamps with colour, distance, focus and shadow softness. Four views: picture, light only, surface and shadow. Plaster, clay, bronze and marble.

Credits

Shapes are made for VOLUX. The figures come from the MakeHuman project (CC0). The skull is by 3D-mon, licensed CC BY-SA. Credits and licences.