Lighting
Key / Fill / Backlight
Definition
Three-point lighting combines a key light, a fill light and a backlight. The key, the main source, sets the direction of the light and casts the principal shadows. The fill, placed on the opposite side at lower intensity, softens those shadows. The backlight, from behind and above, separates the subject from the background. The key-to-fill ratio sets the mood, and ratios of 4:1 for drama and 2:1 for news or corporate work are commonly cited.
In the field
The backlight is often left out of live event lighting, and performers then blend into dark backgrounds on camera. A single PAR or wash fixture used as a backlight noticeably improves the image on IMAG screens (image magnification, the live relay of the stage on large screens).
Related lessons
Sources
- Wikipédia (pointeur secondaire), Three-point lighting : rôles de la principale, du débouchage et du contre-jour · en.wikipedia.org
- StudioBinder, Lighting ratios explained : rapport de 2:1 par défaut, 4:1 et plus pour un rendu dramatique · studiobinder.com
- Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, 2e éd., Focal Press, 2009 : directions de lumière et rapports d'éclairement