Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Adding Lights to
Adding Lights to
Your Scene
Your Scene
Understanding the Importance of Lights in a
3D Environment
Ahhh, light. Lighting your scene is a hugely important step!
You can take a room that looks cold, dark, and damp and turn it
into a warmly lit room. Not only can light completely change
the mood of the scene, but light also defines it by adding depth
and texture. Without light, you wouldn't even know that a
sphere is round. Without shadow, a cube would look as if it
were floating on the surface of another object. Light is the
glue that holds your scene together.
Many new artists focus so hard on creating materials or
models that they fail to pay enough attention to lighting. What
they don't realize is that in order for you to properly show
your 3D models, you must use lighting that showcases your
work best. Often on art forums I've seen a new modeler post
a render that was so dark you nearly couldn't make anything
out. In the end, a poorly lit good model often gets less atten-
tion overall than a well-lit okay one.
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