Cinema 4D: Studio Lighting

1h 37mIntermediate2013-10-03

Authors

Donovan Keith

Freelance Animator and Technical Director

Course details

It's not enough to know about the many light types available in CINEMA 4D—you need to know how and where to place them to create a desired effect. In this course, Donovan Keith covers some basic photographic lighting concepts and shows how to turn CINEMA 4D into a powerful virtual lighting studio. Learn how to reveal the form and texture of diffuse objects, and use special techniques for lighting reflective and transparent surfaces. Donovan also shows how to accurately place highlights in order to shape the contours of objects, and use contrasting light and shadow to dramatic effect.

Learning objectives
Describing light
Understanding the difference between real light and light in CINEMA 4D
Using lighting direction to reveal form
Adjusting light hardness
Top lighting a subject
Rendering reflective objects
Shooting glass
Separating objects from the background
Hinting at a world outside the frame with gobos

Skills covered

3D LightingCINEMA 4DMAXON3D AnimationRenderingMotion Graphics and VFX3D ModelingVisualization and Real-TimeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and IllustrationDeep Dive (X:Y)

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - Using the exercise files

1. Important Lighting Concepts

03 - Describing light
04 - Differences between real light and the CINEMA 4D default light

2. Creating a Studio Lighting Kit

05 - Modeling a seamless backdrop
06 - Creating a better default light
07 - Identifying common studio lights and their CINEMA 4D equivalents

3. Lighting Diffuse Objects

08 - Using light direction to reveal form
09 - Adjusting light hardness to make textures pop
10 - Top lighting a white subject on a white background

4. Lighting Reflective Objects

11 - Understanding how reflective objects react to light
12 - Rendering reflective objects on a dark background
13 - Rendering reflective objects on a light background
14 - Placing reflection cards with the Lighting tool

5. Lighting Transparent Objects

15 - Understanding how transparent objects react to light
16 - Shooting glass on a light background
17 - Shooting glass on a dark background

6. Lighting for Dramatic Effect

18 - Leaving darkness with spot lights
19 - Separating objects from their backgrounds
20 - Using lights with gobos to draw focus
21 - Changing light color for dramatic effects

Conclusion

22 - Next steps