| name | soft-vs-hard-light |
| description | Use when choosing light source character. Soft light = flattering; hard light = dramatic.
|
Soft vs Hard Light
Soft light: large source, wraps around subject. Hard light: small/distant source, sharp shadows. Different applications.
Soft light character
- Source: large or diffused
- Shadow: soft edge, gradient
- Skin: forgiving, flattering
- Feel: gentle, intimate
Applications:
- Interviews
- Portraits
- Product beauty shots
- Talking head
Hard light character
- Source: small or bare
- Shadow: sharp edge, defined
- Skin: shows texture, blemishes
- Feel: dramatic, intense
Applications:
- Dramatic moments
- Stylized portraits
- Sports
- Action
- Hero shots
Creating soft light
- Softbox — diffuser over light
- Diffusion paper — sheet between light + subject
- Bounce — light bounced off white surface
- Window light — naturally soft
- Cloudy day — sky as giant softbox
- Beauty dish — focused soft light
Key rule: larger source relative to subject = softer light.
Where this fits in the X3 empire
Light character choice for CardPrepAI video moods.