Blender: Lighting

Name: Blender: Lighting
Author: Jay Grewall

Learn lights and lighting in 3D space

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 6 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

Hello, and welcome to another video tutorial on Blender 3D. In this lesson, we are gonna take a look at shading views in Blender. Let's add a few images to our scene here so we can get an idea as to how Blender allows us to view when we are modeling and animating. The first shading view is what is referred to as Wireframe, and I can enter Wireframe by clicking on this very first button here at the top right of my window, and when I click on it, you'll notice that all the color and detail disappear. This view provides us with a very stripped down version of the skeletons of our objects. Now, I can see all the geometry for our 3D models. I would enter this Shading mode so I can get a very quick glimpse of what my scene looks like without having my computer rendering out any shadows or details. When I'm here in Wireframe mode, you'll notice I can see through my objects. That is because I am in X-ray mode. I can turn off X-ray mode while still being in Wireframe mode, and now, I cannot see through the object. One major difference between the two is that when I am out of X-ray mode, I cannot select any objects that are behind other objects, whereas if I am in X-ray mode, I can select the object behind it. The next shading view is called Solid Viewing, and I can access this by clicking on the Solid icon up here up at the top right. When I click on the button, you'll notice all my objects now become solid. There's very little detail in this, but more detail than the Wireframe mode. This shading view allows me to navigate around my scene without putting too much stress on my computer. You'll notice there are no shadows, so there's not too much work being done on my computer. The next shading view is referred to as Material View. This now takes into account the light that I have here, but it does not calculate the shadows. I would enter this view if I want to see how my objects would look if I apply different colors, surfaces, and textures. This also does not require very much CPU usage. The fourth shading view was referred to as Rendered, and I can enter this mode by clicking on this fourth icon up at the top right in my window. When I do so, now you'll start to see my scene look truly three-dimensional. With this view, I can now see the shadows produced by the light. When I move my light around, you'll see the shadows start to move. This view requires more computer processing power, but I get a much better idea of what my scene is gonna look like. Now, when I view my scene through my camera, I get a much better idea as to what the objects would look like in relation to one another along with any shadows that may be cast, and these are the different shading views in Blender 3D. In the next lesson, we are gonna take a look at Blender 3D's render engines. Thank you very much for watching.

Beginner Provider : Jay Grewall 6 Lessons · 24m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

There are few elements that make as big and immediate of a difference in visual media as lighting. Since our eyes understand the depth and shape of objects around us based partly on how the light hits them, the specifics of lighting play a major role in how we interpret our three dimensional world. Blender 3D has a variety of powerful mechanisms which allow you to realistically render light to your exact specifications, making for even more realistic depictions of three dimensional space.

In this module, learn how to light your scenes in Blender 3D. By becoming familiar with Blender’s four methods of shading views, its three render engines, and its different types of lights, you’ll have the tools you need to bring a three dimensional space to life. We’ll begin by exploring the four methods of shading views in Blender 3D, which help us navigate our 3D scene and make modeling and animating easier. We’ll also look at Blender’s render engines, Eevee, Workbench, and Cycles. Then, you’ll learn about Blender’s lights and methods of lighting to create different environments in 3D space.

What You'll Learn

Apply Blender 3D's four methods of shading views to navigate, model, and animate in 3D space
Compare Blender's three render engines — Eevee, Workbench, and Cycles — and their uses and purposes
Distinguish between Blender's point, sun, spot, and area lights
Modify the color parameters of each type of light
Light scenes to create different environments in 3D space

Key Takeaways

Lighting makes a large and immediate difference in visual media because our eyes interpret the depth and shape of objects based partly on how light hits them.
Blender 3D provides powerful mechanisms to realistically render light to your exact specifications for more realistic depictions of three dimensional space.
Blender's four methods of shading views help you navigate a 3D scene and make modeling and animating easier.
Blender offers three render engines — Eevee, Workbench, and Cycles — each with different uses and purposes.
Blender provides point, sun, spot, and area lights, each with color parameters that can be modified to create different environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this Blender: Lighting module cover?

It covers how to light scenes in Blender 3D, including the four methods of shading views, the three render engines (Eevee, Workbench, and Cycles), and the different types of lights — point, sun, spot, and area — along with modifying each light's color parameters.

What types of lights will I learn about in this course?

You'll learn the differences between Blender's point, sun, spot, and area lights, and how to modify the color parameters of each.

Which render engines does the course discuss?

The course looks at Blender's three render engines — Eevee, Workbench, and Cycles — and explores their different uses and purposes.

What lessons are included?

The lessons are Shading Views; Render Engines and Sample Renders; Point Light; Sun Light; Spot Light; and Area Light.

What skills does this course relate to?

It relates to skills including 3D Rendering, Blender 3D (3D Graphics Software), Daylight Modeling, OpenGL Shading Language, RenderMan Shading Language, and Shading Language.