Test your lighting

[Jesters-Ink]

Thought I?d give away (what I think is) a useful tip I use to test the validity of my lighting in my drawings.

Simple really, if you can apply a solid colour under your lighting but over your markings and the drawing still holds up, then you have the basics right.

I use 3 main colours for this test, Black a mid grey and any obscure colour there after. No need to test it on white, we all use white anyway don't we?
If I still like what I see after this test then I say it?s good to go.
This test also helps you to spot any bloomers or background overlaps you might like to tidy up.

Try it on yours . . .

Her is mine ----->

[Graf]

You so cool!

[BLOWHARD]

AH!!!!
I love doing that!!! I used to do that to my skins as I worked on them, to test lights, darks and weathering.
MY TURN










Notice that high gloss finish
Notice the numerous lighting flaws

[Serval]

I like the purple one best. Got something royal

[Jesters-Ink]

Interesting how we have different ideas on lighting BH.
Blowhard uses more of a mid lighting, see his highlight is more centralised on the fuselage, where as mine is a much higher angle and the highlight is much higher to match.
Blowhards is more like the lighting on an aircraft in flight, mine is suited to one on the ground. Except in the UK I should have done it raining

[GrubbyFingers]

I thought the second Buc WAS in the rain!

[BLOWHARD]

heheheheheheheheheheheh
Not only that, yours cast shadows

I usually think of the light as coming from the viewer, or at least in the general direction. I also think of lighting at 2 separate parts, one is the light source and the other is lighting according to the proximity to the viewer; closer or fuller parts are deeper and richer, darker, and as they recede the get lighter and less strong.

[Jesters-Ink]

Whats that in English BH

[AGNT_Matt]

basically if your closer its lighter on the wintips shadow wise, then as the wing gets closer to the fuselage the shadow deepens as the light cannot reach it as easily i think? or vice-versa.

[Jesters-Ink]

Oh . . .so whats that in Greek?