source lighting

[Athamas]

ok, for an up coming prodject i want to try out source lighting [will be a night scene]

 

 

anyway, i know the basic idea, but was wondering if anyone has any guides or good examples i can study...

[ardyer]

Here is a decent tutorial:

http://www.ironhalo.net/lighting.htm

[mario]

I don't know what you want to do so here are just some general tips:

The tutorial above could be useful but is starts with a big problem. The reflection on the head are white while the rest of the reflections are some Shadow Grey colour. If the fist is glowing so white that the head is reflecting the pure white back then the wholeupper area would be as bright.

 

So the further from the light source the reflecting matarial is less brightness you have. And second: the reflected light has the same hue as the original light. How it modifies the underlying colour of the reflecting material depends on the material, distance, and the intensity of the light. For example the reflection on the lower right leg would be more diffuse. At the moment it could be (at best) a spotlight but then it would not reflect as it does on the head and shoulder pad and breast plate.

 

If you want source lighting then your light emiting element on the miniature is most probably a secondary light source. The primary light source being the sun (or whatever). So my tip would be to paint the miniature according to the primary light source completely. And then to apply the secondary light source and reflected lights. First give everything that gets it the hue shift (depends on the colour/hue of your light-emiter) and added brightness (depends on the strength of your light-emiter). That all depends on the light's properties and on the reflecting material's properties. Shiny plastic or metal reflects light different than scratched and damaged materials or sand or wood.

[Athamas]

well im intending on setting the scene at night, so it whod all be fairly dark..

[mario]

well im intending on setting the scene at night, so it whod all be fairly dark..

That's the best possible situation for alighting effect. You don't have the sun or anything else that is too strong. So if your light source is strong you will have a nice contrast.

 

Try looking at CMON. There is a painter who has a gallery with some very nice night scene dioramas. His name is somthinglike "Shawn L.R." or "Shawn R.L.".

[Brother Chaplain Ginn]

Head over to coolminiornot go to there articles and read the glowing eyes article by cyril.

 

The simplest advise is to water your paints down to the point you think they wont even do anything and then add more water. Apply coat after coat being careful to mind your color theory and lettin each layer dry...your glow should not turn pastel so becarful of your blends.

 

O and dont dry brush...it will add texture whic will end up looking bad.

[mario]

O and dont dry brush...it will add texture whic will end up looking bad.

That's bad advice. If the technique can be used to get the desired effect then use it. If I remember correctly then Victoria Lamb's diorama had a lot of drybrushing of reflected light on the stone around the fire.

[Obliterator]

Here are some tutorials from CMON:

OSL

Painting lighting effects