Lighting Renderings and the Design Process

As with most types of design work, designers often need to create models or mockups of their final design in order to “sell” their design concept. Producers, directors, or simply a paying client need a way to “see” what the designer envisions, and what they are talking about before signing off on a project. For example, an architect always creates a drafted plan that they will sometimes even turn into a three dimensional model in order to fully illustrate their design concept. The same holds very true for lighting designers. The question is, how does a lighting designer create a mock-up of their design? How can you create a light model without actually having to set up an entire lighting rig?

Working From A Light Plot

There are several ways to accomplish this task. No designer uses the exact same methods, nor does every designer follow the same steps, but the concepts remain the same. Some lighting designers start from a more technical aspect and others start from an abstract approach. A lighting designer that works more technically may start with a light plot—which is just like an architect’s drafted plans. A light plot is usually drafted on the computer (although hand drafting is still accepted) using stock templates in order to designate what type of lighting instrument will be used and where it will be placed. This light plot provides a vast amount of information. As previously mentioned, it designates what type of fixtures are going to be used, how they will be powered, what color gel will be in each fixture, if they will require a “gobo” (i.e. they will be projecting texture), etc. and it will give each light a “name”. A light plot is an essential tool for any lighting crew that is going to install a lighting design, but it does very little to communicate how a design will look to a director. For this reason, a very popular method of communication today is a lighting rendering.

Using 3D Modeling Software For Renderings

Lighting renderings can be created using several different methods. One method to create a rendering is to utilize a 3D software program. There are many different programs available including 3ds Max, Maya, Lightwave 3D, etc. Another widely used method is to use a more traditional drafting program like VectorWorks and translate the design into 3D.

VectorWorks is a drafting program similar to the widely known, AutoCad, and has numerous plugins to assist specific types of designers. For example, a scenic designer may draft a theatre in 3D, draft their set in 3D and then turn the drawing over to a lighting designer. The lighting designer can then take the 3D model, and using 3D modeling lighting techniques very closely replicate their design. A lighting plugin gives designers the ability to choose specific lighting fixtures that will provide the proper beam angle, field angle, focus and color.

While 3D graphics software like 3ds Max and Maya create unbelievable representations of light, they are very difficult programs to master. Learning how to use the software takes years of practice and, in my opinion, has created a split in lighting design. There are lighting designers that light “live entertainment” and there are digital lighting designers that light computer animated films and the like. Both types of lighting design requires incredible skill and talent. For traditional live entertainment lighting designers, however, using computer software like the above mentioned programs often times isn’t within their scope of expertise.

Creating a Lighting Rendering From A Photograph

Another type of rendering that is widely accepted is “lighting” an actual photo. For many architectural lighting design companies this method of renderings works particularly well if they are lighting an existing building. A photograph is taken of the building during the day, the fewer the shadows the better, and an architectural lighting rendering artist transforms the photo into a nighttime shot “painting” in the light where needed. The architectural lighting rendering artist works closely with the designer to make sure that the proper qualities of light are realistically achieved. Often times, the person creating the lighting renderings is the designer.

Using 2D Images Rendered From a 3D Model

Finally, one other method of creating a lighting rendering is working from a 3D rendering provided by an architect or scenic designer. Usually, a series of JPG images are rendered and given to the architectural lighting rendering artist who again transforms the image into a nighttime shot and then paints in the light. This technique doesn’t require the lighting designer or lighting rendering artist to be an expert in 3D rendering software since they work from two-dimensional rendered shots. This method is often used when the building does not pre-exist and the lighting design is being installed during the construction of the building.

Final Thoughts

We have become a very “visual” society, and as such, lighting renderings have become a very important aspect of the lighting design process. Those designers who are able to create realistic renderings have a better chance of pleasing the production team, which in turn makes the process smoother and leads to more referrals. No matter what technique is used, communication is a key ingredient to a successful design.

Read about the Philosophy Behind Digital Lighting Renderings here.