Archive republication: This article was originally published in 2021. Product features, pricing, availability, company status, credits and links reflect the information available at that time.
Learning with U-Render
U-Render published a tutorial series on image contrast in real-time rendering. A companion lesson covered practical lighting setup.
Image contrast basics
The U-Render article asked what image contrast actually means. In visual design, contrast appears whenever opposing elements meet: different colours, tones, materials or textures, for example. Contrast can also be conceptual, pairing ideas such as sad and happy, old and young, or true and false.
Intensity is another creative variable. High contrast can produce a dramatic effect, while lower contrast creates a more restrained result. Physical, conceptual and intensity-based contrasts can also be combined.
Image contrast: article and video
In its article on image contrast, U-Render identified seven features that could help improve lighting and shadow design: volumetrics, light types, shadows, materials, displacement maps, depth of field and post-processing curves. The first two videos below demonstrate ways to shape contrast with the renderer.
Three-point lighting basics
A further U-Render tutorial explained the familiar three-point lighting method. The key light defines the primary form and scale of the subject and casts the main shadow. The fill light is less intense and is commonly used to illuminate darker facial areas that the key does not reach. The back light sits behind the subject and helps separate its shape and detail from the background.
Three-point lighting: article and video
The accompanying three-point lighting article offered further tips for creating an effective setup in U-Render. The related video showed how the technique could support visual storytelling.
Mastering Image Contrast Episode 1 — U-Render Tutorial
Mastering Image Contrast Episode 2 — U-Render Tutorial
How to Set Up Three-Point and Photographic Lighting — U-Render Tutorial
