7 Lighting Effects in 7 Minutes

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Lighting effects have become much easier to pull off ever since the introduction of LED and RGB technology. Some lighting effects seem pretty obvious with how you can use them in a scene, but others might take a little more creativity. Today on 4 Minute Film School we’re using our lights to demonstrate seven different lighting effects and how you can use each of them in a scene.

In this video, Matt from the A-Team creates seven different scenes around specific lighting effects. First, he selects a lighting effect to utilize within each respective scene. Next, he places the camera and actor in a way that serves the story being told with each lighting effect. Lastly, he adds in any additional lighting needed to make the scene feel more organic. This could be a house light or some moonlight coming in from outside.

The main aspects addressed in this video are realism and light placement. Realism refers to how close the lighting effect is to the real world situation it’s based on. This means observing light in the real world and applying the subtle differences to your artificial light, in order to make it more believable. Light placement refers to where the light is placed within the scene. When it comes to lighting effects, light placement can be a big factor in selling the effect to the audience.

Sure it’s helpful to have an RGB light when you’re creating a lighting effect for your scene, but a lot of these can be done with other fixtures as well; using gels, and creative timing. The important thing to think about is where you’re placing the lights and how you are shaping the scene around those lights. That [and sound design] will sell the lighting effect more than the actual “type” of light being used.

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Aputure's YouTube channel provides free high-quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[aputurelighting]

What's an effect we missed and how would you use it in a scene? Comment below for a chance to win an Aputure M9!

[bbrunorocha]

I love using the fire effect as well, works amazing on exterior shots for sure !

[Mutedimagery]

I love adding the flicker effect to mimic candle light! So useful instead of using really fire when trying to sell an effect. The actor has something to react to as well.

[FatGuyReview]

The pulsing effect is great for a fire alarm going off in a dark hallway!

[BalkanBiker]

Thanks for showing us the pictures you took with these light effects.

[jayhovanec]

I'd like to try an arc weld effect or maybe a campfire glow!

[DanHelton]

I'm not sure if candle or fire will be better, but I really want to do a dark scene lit with one of those effects. I think they look great!

[aunrea]

I can see a mixture of faulty light, party light and a strobe could make a interesting scene for someone going crazy or having a nightmare.

[ulysseproton]

It would be cool to use that setup to emulate a firecamp in the montaigne with a mc to emulate the Moon as a backlight!

[mohammedharis]

Camp fire lighting would be my favorite

[SidsDrakon]

Campfire. Either for a scary movie type of situation or to accentuate a current fire in effect.

[tylerburton]

A firelight effect. Which is cool for of course scenes around a fire, or if someone is looking at something burning.

[RapzoneProductions]

You forgot to show car 🚙 interior & exterior lighting with these. Cause I would be using nova panel & 2 Mc lights for light up the car scene in night under a street light. 👍 😃

[chrisklugh]

Interesting that in the real word, lightning and thunder are often quite far apart, but in the video world, its OK to see them together and not be caught off by it.

[KarenVaisman]

What about a haunted house /nite lite? (Reading a scary story to a child in bed)? I would love to see how to make changes to your cell phone app to control the settings you’re demonstrating I find the app a little confusing to use.

[CalderTozier]

How about something like a blowtorch or welding effect, how to supplement the actual flame/sparking look if somebody was looking through a window at somebody welding.

Or maybe gunfire? The flashes on people’s faces while firing.

Just some ideas 💡

[BadKarma]

I would love a few of the light bulbs 💡 for my video

[thomaswindfeld]

Lighting an Inside of a car. Scene. Would be awesome!;)

[Justin_Allen]

Can you create something with 2 300X lights, 1 P300c panel light, 4 MC lights and two B7c bulbs. lol This is my lighting set-up that I have ordered and since I cannot play with them yet maybe you could!

[chrisklugh]

How come I can't find any info on the B7c? Is it out yet?