Plan your lighting

Plan the lighting for each scene like an overhead lighting diagram: place the camera, actors and lights, note what motivates each light, add a reference image, and link shots to the set-up.

The Lighting view

Switch to Lighting (Alt+L). Each scene can have one or more lighting set-ups. The sample’s throne room is lit by a cool window and warm candles.

1. Lighting view
2. Choose a scene
3. Name, time of day and mood
4. Reference image

The overhead plan

Seen from above with the camera at the bottom. Drag the camera, actors and lights into place, or focus one and use the arrow keys; [ and ] turn a light. Beams show where each light points.

1. Camera
2. Numbered lights
3. Actors

What each light does

For every light, choose its role, type, colour temperature and level, add a gel, and note how it is modified, rigged and powered. The notes record the set, what motivates the light, power and the gear list.

1. Key light settings
2. Set, motivation, power, gear
3. Shots that use this set-up

Print or export

Print a lighting plan for the crew, or download the lights list as a spreadsheet. On the Board, each shot shows the lighting set-up it uses.

1. Print or spreadsheet

Watch the walkthrough