Light for Visual Artists: Understanding and Using Light in Art & Design, Second Edition

Light is as important as colour in creating the right effect, whether on a palette or on a computer. Whether you’re an animator, painter, photographer or illustrator, you need to know how to harness light in your work to create the right effect. Light for Visual Artists is the first and only book that explores the way light can be used to create realistic and fantastical effects in a wide range of media.

This introduction to light for students and visual artists explores the way light can be used to create realistic and fantastical effects in a wide range of media. Divided into three parts, the clearly written text explains: the fundamental properties of natural and artificial light; how to create realistic images by observing people and the environment; the creative use of light in composition and design. Updated with revised photos and artwork, as well as 15 practical exercises and new online video material, this second edition is an indispensable resource for animators, digital illustrators, painters, photographers and artists working in any medium.

Illustrator Richard Yot, known for his work in film as a lighting artist and stylised 3D illustrations, takes you through the fundamental properties of natural and artificial light, shadows, the interaction of light on different types of surfaces, reflections, as well as transparency, translucency and the effects of light on colour. Richard also explores how to observe the effects of light to create realistic images, and the creative use of light in composition and design for creating moods or setting a scene. This second edition has been updated with revised photos and artwork, as well as 15 practical exercises and new online video material.

Packed with diagrams and illustrations, as well as computer game and film stills, Light for Visual Artists is an invaluable resource for animators, digital illustrators, painters, photographers and artists working in any medium.

‘Understanding light is one of the foundations to great art, so really studying this book can only aid improvement. There are few books that will become classics, but I feel this will be one of them’ – Amazon reviewer

‘Beautiful. Just a really beautiful book, lovely layout. Fantastically well communicated. Takes what could be a dry subject and grounds it in everyday life.’– Amazon reviewer

‘Very easy to understand and entertaining. I recommend this book to all artists/designers, or simply anyone who is curious about this subject.‘ – Amazon reviewer