Glossary of Lighting Terms

Fill light

• Fill is used to control shadows and contrast and lighting ratios   

Key light

• The key to determine the light of the shadow, to set the mood.

Hair light

• An accent of light mainly at the top of the head, sometimes only backlight.

Background light

• Reveals the character of the background and separates the subject from the background

Shadowless

• They have no shadows at all

Hard light

• A small direct source with or without a lens, that produces a hard light and dark shadows

Soft light

• Diffused, bounced, indirect light it will produce soft shadows

Grey card

• A matte 18% reflectance card used instead of subject of a reflected light meter.

Reflector

• Variously shaped bowls that shape and intensify a lamp beam

Diffuser

• A translucent material placed in front of lights to soften highlights and shadows

Intensity

• The strength of the incident light independent of subject reflectivity commonly measured in foot candles or lux.

Lighting ratio

• The ratio of the key light plus fill vs. fill light only using incident light meter