Gnomon School of Visual Effects

Define the Mood and Focus of Your Scene

Lighting is an art. It defines mood, focus, atmosphere, time of day and drama. Its roots are in lighting for the theatre, but more importantly, in cinematography for film. By understanding the importance that light plays in the successful telling of a story, a 3D lighter's skills will emerge. Photography and film cinematography constantly deal with technical and aesthetic issues. It is through balancing an artist1s knowledge of the technical and the aesthetic that they can become a good lighter.

This course explores the importance of lighting and rendering 3D imagery with an in-depth look at the Maya renderer. Lectures focus on how to achieve lighting effects that are a mix of technical and aesthetic discussion. Topics will include character lighting, outdoor and indoor lighting, landscapes, atmospheric effects, optical effects, gobo/gel effects, three-point lighting, simulating global illumination, rendering in layers and compositing. Discussions will also cover the advantages and limitations of various rendering solutions, with an emphasis on optimizations that are crucial to minimize render time. Examples include elements appropriate for game, television and film applications.

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