Stop Motion Day 5 - Set Design

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Set Design is an important part of any movie.  A set can help tell a story, create mood, and help audiences relate to the story.  However, for many movies, sets can be expensive.  With the digital age, we now have access to Blue or Green Screens.  Watch the video to find out how they can help create setting.
What is Blue or Green Screen?
How Movies Do It!

Basic Lighting Techniques

Side Lighting

​Side Lighting brings out the shadows, which helps to bring out textures and can create a lot of drama.  It also often helps to create a heavy mood.  Usually this lighting is not used if you are wanting to bring out the beauty of a character.
Full Frontal Lighting

Frontal Lighting, sometimes called Key Lighting, is when there is one source of light shining on the subject.  Depending on the intensity of the light, it can feel tense (low key), or happy (high key).  If the intensity is very bright, it can flatten the subject by removing all shadows.
Top Heavy Lighting

​Top Heavy Lighting can help make a scene look dramatic.  Shadows are heavy around the eyes.  It can also give a setting a more industrial, gritty feeling.
All Around Lighting

All Around Lighting is well balanced.  It uses lights from all directions to help soften shadows, create highlights, and enhances the subject.  This type of lighting helps a scene feel natural.

More Lighting Terms

Key Light

As explained above, key lighting is a main lighting source.  Sometimes it can be used to emphasize something in the scene.
Fill Light

Fill Light acts like indirect light or light coming from the surrounding area.  It is softer and can help highlight.  It can also flatten the subject.
​Backlighting

Backlighting is when a subject is lit up from the back.  This can create a glowing effect.  This can be used sometimes to show a "good" or "angelic" character.  It can also put the subject's face into a heavy shadow, which can make him/her look menacing.
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Set Lighting

Set Lighting is used to highlight a setting.  
Use the image below to critique the use of elements and principles in a scene.