Diffuse & Rake LightingBio 498/698

OutlineIssues with shiny, metallic specimens

(diffuse) or highly textured surfaces (rake)Lighting Intensity optionsUseful Equipment:

Modeling LightsDiffusersStyrofoam cutouts

Issues with Shiny, Metallic SpecimensIn images with shiny, metallic specimens,

using lighting equipment and techniques is important because:Areas of the image can be over-exposedAreas of the image can be under-exposedBackground shadowsOften lighting set-ups will be different for each

individual specimen

Modeling Lights and IntensityFull and Half and Full PV Intensity

Ex. Modeling Light position 1

Modeling Lights and IntensityHalf and Half and Full PV Ex. Modeling Light position

1

Modeling Lights and IntensityEx. Modeling Light position 2Half and Half and Full PV

Modeling Lights and IntensityHalf and Quarter and Full PV Ex. Modeling Light position 2

Modeling Lights and IntensityQuarter and Quarter and Full PV Ex. Modeling Light position 2

Ex. Modeling Light position 2Quarter and Quarter and PV turned down 2 times

Modeling Lights and Intensity

Ex. Modeling Light Position 3Quarter and Quarter and PV turned down 2 times

Modeling Lights and Intensity

Quarter and Quarter and PV turned down 2 times

Ex. Modeling Light Position 4

Modeling Lights and Intensity

Additional Lighting Tricks (Diffusers)

Diffusion Cylinders + Styrofoam Cutout

Additional Lighting Tricks (Diffusers)Quarter and Quarter and PV turned down 2 times + Diffuser Ex. Modeling Light Position 4

Without changing your lighting intensity or equipment, adding a diffuser will cause your overall image to become darker.

Additional Lighting Tricks (Diffusers)Quarter and Quarter and Full PV+ Diffuser Ex. Modeling Light Position 4

Additional Lighting Tricks (Diffusers)Quarter and Half and Full PV + Diffuser

Ex. Modeling Light Position 4

Additional Lighting Tricks (Styrofoam cutouts)

Additional Lighting Tricks (Styrofoam cutouts)

Quarter and Half and Full PV + Diffuser + Styrofoam cutout

Ex. Modeling Light Position 4

Additional Lighting Tricks (Styrofoam cutouts)

Half and Full and Full PV + Diffuser + Styrofoam cutout

Ex. Modeling Light Position 4

ConclusionAdding diffusers and Styrofoam cutouts will

decrease your lighting intensityDiffusers and styrofoam cutouts provides a

more even lighting for a shiny, reflective specimen

Additional information: http://www.visionarydigital.com/Support.html

Bio 498/698

Raking Light(Textured Specimens)

OutlineTextured InsectsWhat are raking lights?Using a Diffusion Cylinder with a Styrofoam

cutoutUsing raking lights for textured specimens

Textured InsectsWith specimens

that have a lot of texture, lighting and being able to emphasize the texture becomes tricky

What is a Raking light?Raking light = the illumination of objects

from a light source that is at an oblique angle or almost parallel to the surfaceThis technique provides photographic

information on the texture of the specimen, ie ridges along a beetle’s back.

Top-down view of specimen with raking light setup

Specimen

Modeling light with diffuser (raking light)

•Raking light should be setup so that light is perpendicular to the texture’s direction

Texture direction

Diffuser

Raking LightPut a diffuser on one of the

lightsAngle the light w/ diffuser so

that it is closer to the specimen in a perpendicular angle to the texture

Angle the light w/out diffuser facing towards the ceiling

W/out diffuser

W/ diffuser

Diffusion Cylinders + Styrofoam Cutout

Raking Light with Diffusion Cylinders + Styrofoam Cutout

•Diffusion cylinders + Styrofoam cutouts are useful for creating a more even light – especially for shiny specimens

•For specimens with texture, this often minimizes or does not accurately represent the texture.