Key Light
Definition
The Key Light is the primary, dominant light source in a scene. It is the main light that illuminates the subject and defines the overall look and mood of the shot. The position, quality (hard or soft), and color temperature of the key light are the most important decisions in lighting a scene. All other lights in the setup — the fill light, the backlight, the practical lights — are secondary to and defined in relation to the key light.
Contextual Usage
The gaffer asks the DP, "Where do you want the Key Light for this setup? Are we motivated by the window, or are we treating this as a more stylized, non-motivated setup?"
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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