There are three main types of studio lights: quartz, HMI, and fluorescent. Quartz lights use a tungsten filament and produce a 3200K color temperature, while HMI lamps reproduce daylight at 5000K. Fluorescents are high frequency and color balanced. The key light is the main light on a subject, while the fill light softens edges and balances exposure. A back light creates separation from the background. Common lighting ratios include 1:1 for flat lighting, 2:1 for general photography/videography, and higher ratios for more dramatic effects.

1. 3 POINT LIGHTING Key Light - main light on a subject (not always the brightest) Fill Light - softens the hard edges of the key and balances the light. Back Light- light behind a subject creating separation from the background.

2. Kicker - is a light behind a subject but enough to the side so it skims along the face. Rim - is the same, sometimes used interchangeably, but most of the time refers to an object rather than a subject. Eyelight - is the little gleam of light in the eye that makes a subject look alive; a specialized type of fill. Hard light - Light that creates strong contrast and heavy shadows, usually from a direct source. Soft light - Where there are no hard shadows or bright areas of contrast. Early morning or late afternoon light is often soft.

3. Fill Ratio If the key light is twice as bright as the fill, the ratio will be 2:1, which is the standard for most TV applications. At the same time, some lighting directors, especially in TV news, prefer to make the key and fill the same intensity, resulting in a flat, high-key effect. Key : Fill 2:1

4. Lighting Ratios With differences (in f-stops) required between key and fill light intensities 1:1 - no difference (flat lighting) 2:1 - One f-stop (for general color photography, videography) 3:1 - One and two-thirds f-stops (for general black and white photography) 4:1 - Two f-stops (for low-key dramatic effect) 8:1 - Three f-stops (film noir)

5. 3 kinds of studio lights: QUARTZ HMI FLUORESCENT Also called tungsten. (3200K) This kind of light uses a tungsten filament in a quartz container. This light is explosive when touched with bare hands. Hydro Mercuric Iodide lamps that reproduce daylight (5000K). Studios don’t use conventional tri-phosphor fluorescents. Studio fluorescents, like KinoFlo, are high frequency, color balanced and take less electricity to run.

6. All lights are categorized according to their wattage. The higher the wattage, the more intense the light. Usually intensity = heat So, the higher the wattage, the more intense the light, And the hotter the light is. That’s why you use gloves.

7. QUARTZ 0-500w Pepper 150w Dedo 150w InkyDinky 150w

8. QUARTZ 500w-1k Broad (1k) Mickey Mole (750w) Lowel Omni (650w) The broad and the omni are both open face lights. Lowel Rifa (1K) The rifa is a soft light.

9. QUARTZ 500w-1k This is an Arri 650w. You can find this light in our Arri light kit. This light is called an INKY. This light is called a cyc, can be 650 to 1K It’s similar to a broad light.

10. QUARTZ 2K-3500Kw 2K Zap This is a soft light. MiniBrute This is a PAR light. PAR stands for parabolic aluminum reflector.

11. QUARTZ 5K and over Sky pan 5K Wendy 5K Baby 5K senior

12. QUARTZ specialty Sunguns are Battery operated A chimera lantern is often used to soften the face or provide an eyelight. They were created as a professional version of the Chinese paper lantern. Ringlight

13. Balloon lights are filled with helium so you don’t have to “Fly” a light. You can also get the fill needed for green screen shoots. And get a beautiful moonlit, luminescent quality.

14. HMI’s 12K fresnel 575w PAR Balloon 5K HMI HMI’s are super expensive, could be from $10 grand and up.

15. FLUORESCENTS 4 bank Also called a Diva 2 bank Micro flo These are stand alone lights that can go on a car dashboard to light faces or even underneath a desk, or plant.

16. Ballast An electrical device for regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps. It makes sure the voltage and current stay constant. Dimmer Allows lights to be controlled to various intensities.