Design Openbook

Lighting Names

What are the names of lighting styles to use in AI image and video prompts? Common lighting names include Rembrandt, Butterfly, Split, Rim light, High key, Low key, Golden hour, Blue hour, Venetian blind shadows, Under lighting, Neon lighting and Practical light.

Even with the same person in the same room, the direction of light alone changes the mood. Lighting can be called by name too.

Terms and previews

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  1. Rembrandt lighting

    Lit from 45 degrees at the side and above, leaving a small inverted triangle of light on the far cheek. A portrait with depth

  2. Butterfly lighting

    Lit from the front above, casting a butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose. Beauty ads

  3. Split lighting

    Only half the face is lit. Tension

  4. Rim light

    Lit from behind so only the outline glows. Separates the subject from the background

  5. High key

    Bright overall with almost no shadows

  6. Low key

    Mostly dark with only parts lit. Noir

  7. Golden hour

    Low, warm sunlight around sunset

  8. Blue hour

    The bluish sky light just after the sun has set

  9. Venetian blind shadows

    Striped light falling through blinds. Classic detective films

  10. Under lighting

    Lit upward from below the face. Horror

  11. Neon lighting

    Pink and teal sign light. City at night

  12. Practical light

    A lamp, candle or monitor in the frame is the actual light source

How to use it

  • Describe light in three parts: type, direction and color temperature. Example: rim light, back left, cool blue.
  • Start with one or two light sources. Listing five gives a flat image.
  • Adding a practical light explains where the light comes from within the scene, so it looks less artificial.

Prompts to copy

Portrait in a workshop

Portrait photo. A man in his 30s, in a dark workshop.
Lighting: Rembrandt lighting. Warm light (3200K) from a window at 45 degrees, upper left.
Fill: the monitor screen acts as a Practical light, casting a faint blue glow on the right side of his face.
Background in Low key, nearly black.

Source posts: @prompt_what

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