Aesthetic 3D Lighting: History, Theory, and Application

Aesthetic 3D Lighting: History, Theory, and Application delves into the history, the theory, and the practical and aesthetic application of lighting in the fine arts and 3D animation.

In this book, animation industry veteran and lighting expert Lee Lanier examines the importance of lighting and its ability to communicate information to the viewer. Lee examines the history of lighting as applied to the fine arts, film, photography, and 3D animation. He discusses the use of light color, light location and direction, and light shadow types to recreate specific locations and to generate moods. He includes guides for successful lighting in 3D animation. Software-agnostic examples lead you through useful 3D lighting set-ups. Chapter-long case studies step you through more complex 3D lighting projects in Autodesk Maya.

An accompanying eResource (www.routledge.com/9781138737570) features 3D model files, scene files, and texture bitmaps, allowing you to practice the discussed techniques in Autodesk Maya and many other 3D programs.

The lighting techniques covered in this book include:

• History of lighting as used in the fine arts
• The scientific mechanisms of light
• Light types and light application in 3D programs
• Light qualities including shadows variations
• Basic and advanced 3D lighting approaches
• 1-, 2-, 3-point, naturalistic, and stylistic lighting techniques
• Replication of real-world lighting scenarios and locations
• Overview of advanced 3D lighting and rendering systems

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Importance of Light and Lighting
Chapter 2: The History of Lighting in the Arts
Chapter 3: Lighting in 3D
Chapter 4: Emulating Specific Light Sources
Chapter 5: Working with PBR Systems
Chapter 6: Reproducing Locations and Lighting Characters
Chapter 7 : Designing Stylistic Lighting
Case Study 1: Copying a Renaissance Still Life
Case Study 2: Lighting a Complex Night Interior
Case Study 3: Lighting an Animated Animal Character
Epilogue: The Future of 3D Lighting
Appendix: Visual Lighting Glossary
Appendix: Common Question Index