Learn light setting with a free tool from Google

[16:26 Sun,13.April 2025 by Thomas Richter]

Lighting is an extremely important aspect for filmmakers, and learning it practically can be very time-consuming. Google has just launched a very useful, free online tool called "Learning Light" that can help exactly here, because with its help you can interactively try out different lighting scenarios using a 3D model and play with the parameters of the individual lights.

The new tool was developed in collaboration with the Google Arts & Culture Lab and the artist Jack Wild. It is aimed in particular at beginners and creatives who want to improve their skills in dealing with studio lighting - i.e. controlled light. At the heart of Learning Light is an interactive virtual studio space with a human model (or several, if desired). There is also a selection of different backgrounds and props, which are illuminated by six different virtual lamps. Users can adjust parameters of the lights such as brightness, beam angle, penumbra (edge blur), hue and saturation to see how they affect the overall image.

Google Light Workshop

To get started, it is recommended to use the chatbot "LuxBot3000" in eight short lessons to learn the basics and subtleties of various lighting techniques and thus learn the influence of intensity, color, shape, position and direction, focus and mood of lights. In addition, there are also four special lessons in which lighting scenarios of famous works of art such as Edward Hopper&s "Nighthawks" are gradually recreated and explained - users can then experiment with them.

However, the tool also has some limitations, such as the lack of ability to freely place the lights or use light modifiers such as softboxes. Nevertheless, Learning Light is an interesting and, above all, free alternative to professional (and paid) solutions and is particularly interesting for beginners. Fortunately, "Learning Light" also works on smartphones - so you can also learn lessons in lighting on the go.

more infos at bei artsandculture.google.com

deutsche Version dieser Seite: Beleuchtung für Foto und Video lernen mit kostenlosem Tool von Google