Digital Photographer - UK (2019-12)

Right

Coloured

side light

The red background

light also acts as a

side light on the face

to create interest

The rim light

This is one or multiple lights that are used to light the

backdrop of your image or the background on location. This

can be used to illuminate the background to help eliminate

shadows cast by other lights, or to light the backdrop and

create separation. It can also be used for artistic effect, if

coloured gels or shadows are created with it.

This might be a single light source, and depending on

how it’s modified can have a variety of effects, from a semi-

circular, gradient style light, a soft and wide light, coloured or

directional light.

The background and rim light, if placed correctly, can

be achieved using one light unit, creating light on the

background while throwing feathered light onto the subject.

Background light

Fill light

Camera

Subject

Studio light setups

Reflector

position

(fill light)

Key light

(main light)

Background

light

Rim light (a)

Background

Background\

rim light (b)

Rim/hair light (b)

(a)

(b)

Left

Single light

One key light is

aimed straight

at the model

to illuminate

her face

Below left

Boosting

shadows

A secondary light

literally fills the

shadows cast by

the main light

Below

Rim light to face

Here the rim light

hits the side of the

face, creating a

punchier light in the

face shadows

The rim light, often known as the hair light or kicker, is used

to create a source of light on the back or side of the subject,

identifiable by the rim of light it creates. It is usually placed

behind or to the side of the subject, opposite the key light, but

can be used from the same direction. Depending on the desired

effect, this light can be directly behind the subject, or at a

45-degree angle to the side.

The rim light purpose is not to add light to the face, but to add

illumination to the hair or side of the person, helping to highlight

form, separate the subject from the background, or between

multiple subjects in the same frame. In more modern lighting

setups it can add shape or light to the face, but this is often more

subtle than the fill, and comes from behind the subject.

Right

Coloured

sidelight

Theredbackground

lightalsoactsasa

sidelightontheface

tocreateinterest

Therimlight

Thisisoneormultiplelightsthatareusedtolightthe

backdropofyourimageorthebackgroundonlocation.This

canbeusedtoilluminatethebackgroundtohelpeliminate

shadowscastbyotherlights,ortolightthebackdropand

createseparation.Itcanalsobeusedforartisticeffect,if

colouredgelsorshadowsarecreatedwithit.

Thismightbeasinglelightsource,anddependingon

howit’smodifiedcanhaveavarietyofeffects,fromasemi-

circular,gradientstylelight,asoftandwidelight,colouredor

directionallight.

Thebackgroundandrimlight,ifplacedcorrectly,can

beachievedusingonelightunit,creatinglightonthe

backgroundwhilethrowingfeatheredlightontothesubject.

Backgroundlight

Filllight

Camera

Subject

Studio light setups

Reflector

position

(fill light)

Key light

(main light)

Background

light

Rim light (a)

Background

Background\

rim light (b)
Rim/hair light (b)

(a)

(b)

Left
Single light
One key light is
aimed straight
at the model
to illuminate
her face

Below left

Boosting

shadows

A secondary light

literally fills the

shadows cast by

the main light

Below

Rim light to face

Here the rim light

hits the side of the

face, creating a

punchier light in the

face shadows

The rim light, often known as the hair light or kicker, is used

to create a source of light on the back or side of the subject,

identifiable by the rim of light it creates. It is usually placed

behind or to the side of the subject, opposite the key light, but

can be used from the same direction. Depending on the desired

effect, this light can be directly behind the subject, or at a

45-degree angle to the side.

The rim light purpose is not to add light to the face, but to add

illumination to the hair or side of the person, helping to highlight

form, separate the subject from the background, or between

multiple subjects in the same frame. In more modern lighting

setups it can add shape or light to the face, but this is often more

subtle than the fill, and comes from behind the subject.