Direction and falloff

Set a consistent light direction and show how its strength decreases across distance, surfaces, and space.

What it is

Direction describes where light comes from and where it travels. Form shadows, cast shadows, and highlights should follow the same path from the source to the object and beyond.

Planes facing the light receive more illumination, while turned-away planes receive less. Cast shadows fall on the side away from the source. A light high and to the left produces shadows down and to the right across noses, tree trunks, buildings, and cloth folds.

Falloff describes how light loses strength as it travels. Distance, air, and intervening objects can reduce its brightness and contrast. Show this by weakening highlights, brightness, and contrast as surfaces move away from the source or out of the main beam.

Why it matters

Direction and falloff help the lighting explain form and depth across the image. Weak control can make shadows point in different directions, keep distant areas equally bright, or flatten the separation between near, middle, and far spaces.

You can check it when

✓Point to any object and state the light direction on it, such as above and slightly in front. Its form shadows, cast shadow, and highlights follow that direction.
✓Highlights and strongest contrasts appear where the light first hits, then weaken as surfaces turn away or move farther from the source.
✓Objects farther from the light or deeper in space are consistently dimmer and lower in contrast than closer objects.
✓Draw arrows over the image to trace light from the source through the scene. The arrows form one coherent pattern across the objects.

Direction and falloff

What it is

Why it matters

You can check it when

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