How-To Guides about Film & Photography Lighting

Low budger project? NO budget project? Lighting is a key part of any film, so you don't want to skimp on it. This tutorial shows you how to set up some inexpensive lighting systems when you're filming a documentary or interview.

Secondary color correction is used mostly to adjust the skin tones of people in your film. This tutorial show you how Apple Color lets you quickly and easily adjust the skin tones of the actors and actresses in your film project.

Lighting a movie can be dramatically expensive and complex, but for the DIY filmmaker on a budget this can be a major handicap. In this video you'll learn how to create a serviceable lighting setup for your filming using only $25 worth of shop lights and 200w bulbs.

This is a creative idea for a great light effect for any video project. If you're a cinematographer and are open to knew and creative ideas (and cheap!), then this colorful, moving lighting effect is perfect for your film. You'll need three plastic cups, a 5/16-inch metal rod about 2-feet long, gaffers tape, packaging tape, drill and a light. You can get the plastic cups from the dollar store, which won't cost you more than three bucks! They need to be translucent and have the colors you want,...

Three point lighting can be used to achieve professional studio results. For this, you will need: a key light, a fill light, and a backlight. This creates an even distribution of light on the subject. It removes shadow. The lights must be set up in a 15 to 45 degrees angle from the camera. The key light is the primary light source for filming. It should be at a 45 degree angle from the camera. The second light most important light is the fill light. It should also be 45 degrees...

This video tutorial belongs to the Film & Theater category which is going to show you how to build a light diffuser to improve your film lighting. Joe Richardson explains how to do this. You will need four pieces of pine wood 1" x 2" x 8 feet long, framing nails, duct tape and light cloth material. Cut the wood at the edges at a 45 degree angle and lay them out on ground to make the frame and hammer in the framing nails. Now spread the cloth over the frame and start stapling it. Pull the cloth...

It is possible to get a beautiful shot on a simple black backdrop, and in this tutorial you will learn how to arrange your lighting to do just that. Using a Canon EOS 7D, you will be able to shoot a wonderfully poetic moment on black if you follow these simple techniques.

In a smaller interview setting, the lighting will be much different than a bigger scene. You will need to have a good focus on your subject's face and body as well as a clear background so your viewers don't get tired. In this tutorial, learn exactly how to set up your lighting for a smaller setting such as an interview while using a Canon EOS 7D camcorder. This clip will take you through a total step by step lesson so you can get started making great films at home.

If you want to shoot a video and are not sure of what kind of lighting you should use, you can do a simple 3 point lighting technique. You will need to have 3 sources of light to have good lighting. The positioning of the light is important so you can capture the best light and minimise shadows and gray areas.

Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a good solid video/film. You will see a great example of a ringlight made of 12 lightbulbs arranged in a perfect circle with a cut-out to allow your camera to be in the middle to capture the best light. You will get an idea of just what materials you will need to create your own ring light.

In this how-to video, you will learn how to light your web show. This is important as it will make your web show look more professional. Proper lighting allows you to see your face, eyes, and the colors of your shirt. If there is not enough light, you cannot see yourself as well. You will also look dark and grainy. Too much light will cause your face to look too hot. Backlit lighting will cause your face to be too dark because the light is in the background. This is why background lighting is...

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a guerilla spotlight using household items. Users will simply need a cardboard cylinder and a light source. Te materials used in this video were a toilet paper roll, piece of aluminum, gaff tape and a lamp. Begin by cutting a couple of 90 degrees slots in the middle of the foil, slide in the tube ad secure it with tape. It should be a bit longer than the tube. Now wrap it around the light source. This video will benefit those viewers who produce...

Ben for Mechanical Mashup demonstrates how to build a barn door halogen light system for a studio and how to establish right triangles and parallel lined without a square. It is quiet expensive to buy a barn doors according Ben, so it could be built by us. These barn doors can be adjusted anyway we want to. So the barn doors are to be fixed to a halogen light. First thing done is to unscrew the frame of the halogen light. The glass is removed by just bending the frame. Next thing to do is to...

This video is a tutorial on how to assemble a DayFlo-FX 3204 Softbox. The instructor begins the video by showing what the DayFlo case looks like before assembly. The first part installed are the diffuser panels, it is also noted that you must remove the protective film from the front panel. The instructor notes that there are holes drilled into each side of the fixture. The next step is to insert the fat tipped ends of the rod into the corner holes and install the rods into the top two corners...

This is an absolutely fundamental concept and is important to development as a filmmaker. It's a really simple pice of shorthand that cinematographers and gaffers use to keep track of lighting setups across different shooting days. It's called a lighting ratio or a contrast ratio.

In this video from FiveSprockets we learn how to light an interior space while filming on a budget. For this you need two Chinese lanterns which he found for $2.95 each. You need 2 light bulbs which he found for $3.95 each. Make sure you get extra ones. Then get a couple of pan lights. They are day light and mood light. They were $7 and $5. You also need a multi colored gel pack which is $6.00. He uses C-stands to hold the lights up but he suggests coming up with other ways if you...

Interviewing lighting basic training tutorial provides easy to follow instruction in this step by step video. Set up the interview area to allow the best camera angles. Place your lights in key, fill, and backlight positions. Use back lighting spillover to fill subject area without camera spillover. Check your setup with the subjects and make any necessary adjustments to your camera or lighting angles. Place your crew and your ready for your interview. This scenario using key, fill, and...

Ever wonder how to create movie magic right in your own home? This video shows you step by step everything you need to know and do to create the green screen effect, from properly setting up your green screen, to lighting it, as well as your subjects for a successful effect. Filled with tips and instructions this is a great video to watch for filmmakers, and special effects artist of all kinds.

Prevent indoor lighting problems with these great tips.

Videomaker Associate Editor Tom Skowronski explains how four basic steps can be used to improve the lighting effects for a video and give it a more professional look.

Mike from the SubStream's "Film Lab" has some tips regarding lighting, gripping and gaffing.

Mike from the SubStream's "Film Lab" has some tips regarding film lighting.

Mike and Rajo from the SubStream's "Film Lab" have some tips regarding production, specifically... cinematography and gaffing.

Mike and Rajo from the SubStream's "Film Lab" have some tips regarding production.

Learn how to make an adjustable light stand. This adjustable telescoping light stand is cheap if you have all of the materials already, like a painter's pole, a metal table leg, scrap wood and some screws. This light stand is a good choice for film shoots on a low-budget. Who needs expensive light stands anyways?

Learn how to make a folding reflector from cardboard and foil. This is essentially free if you have all of the materials already, like cardboard, golden aluminum foil, tape and scissors. This foldable light reflector is a good choice for outdoor film shoots on a low-budget. When you can't bring lights to your film shoot outdoors, let the light come to you!

Ian Beckman of Azerothian Super Villains fame introduces the third installment of How 2 Machinima. This series of tutorials is aimed to introduce both the fundamentals and advanced techniques of WoW machinima-making. Use Adobe Premiere to model machinima and create proper machinima or video game films. Change the lighting to diffused, specular or ambient lighting.

A light meter can prove to be an invaluable tool on any film set, allowing you to quickly and efficiently set lights and know the correct exposure values of those lights. Light meters were initially designed for still photographers and cinematographers can easily calibrate them to a given film stock speed for shooting film. But what about today's digital cinematographer? I'm glad you asked. In this video tutorial you'll see how you can use a light meter to quickly and efficiently light a scene,...

Check out this instructional lighting video that explains how to make cheap barn doors for your lights. For this project, you will need a total of 4 hinges, 12 nuts and bults, a screwdriver, cardboard, scissors, and a lighting fixture. This is a simple guerrilla filmmaking tutorial on how to design your own barn doors. A great addition to any low-budget filmmaker's lighting kit.

Going towards the infinite white light means something totally different these days. When we talk about the infinite white light, we're thinking less spiritual and more aesthetically pleasing. That's because a background consisting of a blurry, infinite white light is one of the most flattering you can use for a human subject.

This lighting tutorial video explains the basics of lighting a scene using the 3 point lighting scheme with a Lowell light kit and various essential equipment. Using the back light, the fill and key light, three point lighting will produce a properly lit subject. This video is great for lighting designers and cinematographers alike.

See the low cost fluorescent lights Bill Myers uses when shooting video, and how to quickly set your camcorder to get perfect color under these lights.

This short video is of Steve Brunsberg, producer at SPNN, showing us how to use a light meter for video and television.

Three point lighting is the standard used to illuminate a subject for amateur film, video, and even theater application.

This video provides a handy guide for modifying bright studio lights with dimmer switches. This video is quite handy for the amateur film maker who is tired of the harsh light from his studio lights.

Some tips on how to do professional lighting on the cheap. This video provides low-price lighting tips for students and amateur film-makers alike.