Three Point Lighting setup explained

Published on
Written by Andrew Clouden
Illustrated scene from The Hobbit

What is Three Point Lighting Setup?

Most cinematographers learn about the 3-point lighting setup early on in their careers. That’s not surprising, as it’s one of the most fundamental and widely used lighting setups in film.

Let’s break it down.

Three point lighting consists of three main light sources: a key light, a fill light, and a back light (also known as a rim light or hair light). Each of these lights serves a specific purpose in shaping the look and feel of a scene.

Definition of Three Point Lighting

Purpose

Use cases

Interviews

Product shots

Three Point Lighting: diagram

Three Point Lighting: examples