| A | B |
|---|
| additive primary colors | Red, green, and blue. Ordinary white light (sunlight) can be separated into the three primary light colors. When these three colored proportions, all other colors can be reproduced. |
| attached shadow | Shadow that is on the object itself. It cannot be seen independent of (detached from) the object. |
| background light | Illumination of the set pieces and backdrop. Also called set light. |
| back light | Illumination from behind the subject and opposite the camera. Usually a spotlight. |
| baselight | Even, nondirectional (diffused) light necessary of the camera to operate optimally. |
| cast shadow | Shadow that is produced by an object and thrown (cast) onto another surface. It can be seen independent of the object. |
| color temperature | Relative reddish or bluishness of light, as measured in Kelvin. The norm for indoor video lightning is 3,200K, for outdoors, 5,600K. |
| contrast | The difference between the brightness and darkness spots in a video picture. |
| diffused light | Light that illuminates a relative large area with an indistinct light beam. Diffused light, created by floodlights, produces soft shadows. |
| dimmer | A device that controls the intensity of the light by throwing the electric current flowing to the lamp. |
| directional light | Light that illuminate a relatively small area with a distinct light beam. Directional light, produced by spotlights, creates harsh, clearly defined shadows. |
| falloff | The speed (degree) with which a light picture portion turns into shadows areas. Fast falloff means that the light areas turn abruptly into shadow areas and there is a great difference in brightness between light and shadow areas. Slow falloff indicates a very gradual change from light to dark and minimal brightness differences between light and shadow areas. |
| fill light | Additional light on the opposite side of the camera from the key light to illuminate shadow areas and thereby reduce falloff. Usually done with floodlights. |
| floodlights | A lighting instrument that produces diffused light. |
| foot candle | Candle (ft-c) the unit of measurement of illumination, or the amount of light that falls on an object. One foot-candle is one candle-power of light (1 lumen) that falls on a 1-square-foot area located 1 foot away from the light source. See lux. |
| high key lighting | Light background and ample light on the scene, Has nothing to do with the vertical position of the key light. |
| kelvin | The standard scale for measuring color temperature, or the relative reddish or bluishness of white light. |
| key light | Principal source of illumination. Usually a spotlight. |
| light intensity | The amount of light falling on an object that is seen by the lens. Measured in lux or foot-candles. Also called light level. |
| light plot | A plan, similar to a floor plan, that shows the type, size (wattage), and location of the lightning instruments relative to the scene to be illuminated and the general direction of the light beams. |
| low power lighting | Fast falloff lighting with dark background and selective illuminated areas. Has nothing to do with the vertical positioning of the key light. |
| lux | European standard units for the meaning light intensity. One lux is the amount of 1 lumen (one candle-power of the light) that falls on a surface of 1 square meter located 1 meter away from the light source. 10.75 lux = 1 foot-candle. Most lighting people figure roughly 10 lux = 1 foot-candle. |
| photographic principle | The triangular arrangement of key, back, and fill lights, with the back light opposite the camera and directly behind the object, and the key and fill lights on opposite sides of the camera and to the front and side of the object. Also called triangle lightning. |
| reflected light | Light that is bounced off the illuminated object. To measure reflected light, the light meters reflected light, the light mete is pointed close to the object from the direction of the camera. |
| rgb | Stands for red, green, and blue- the basic colors of television. |
| spotlight | A lighting instrument that produces directional, relatively undiffused light. |
| triangle lighting | The triangular arrangement of key, backs, and fill lights. Also called photographic principle. |
