Lighting can be used to support the emotion of a scene through high-key, mid-key, or low-key techniques. High-key lighting means an overall brighter picture used for upbeat scenes, while low-key lighting means an overall darker picture for slow or dramatic scenes. Parts of an image can be illuminated differently than the overall brightness to direct attention or improve composition.

1. Lighting
Neha Shahzad

2. Types
 Images can vary in overall brightness, which is used to
support the underlying emotion of the scene. High-key
lighting means an overall brighter picture, while low-key
lighting means an overall darker picture. Mid-key lighting falls
in the middle, having an average brightness.
 The dramatic content of the scene dictates its brightness.
Generally, you will find that high-key lighting is favoured for
upbeat scenes, and low-key lighting is the choice for slow or
taut dramatic action.

3. Uses
 Although high-key and low-key refer to a picture's overall
brightness, parts of the frame can be illuminated differently to
affect attention or composition. For example, parts of a low-
key image can be brightened to facilitate perception, while
parts of a high-key image can be darkened to create a more
interesting composition.

4. Examples