Datasheet

c h a p t e r 1: UNDERSTANDING LIGHTING, COLOR, AND COMPOSITION ■

The rule of thirds is not an accurate representation of the golden mean (see Fig-

ure 1.38). However, the rule may have evolved as a simpliﬁed variation of the golden

rectangle subdivided according to the golden mean. (Unfortunately, the exact origin

of the rule of thirds technique remains murky.) The rule of thirds is useful for modern

media, such as videography, that often require quick compositional decision making.

The golden mean, on the other hand, is appropriate for painting and 3D since more

time can be spent contemplating composition. In any case, attention to compositional

detail will improve any animation you choose to tackle.

Figure 1.38 A golden rectangle (red) divided in accordance to the rule of

thirds (yellow)

Note: Screen direction, a system of motion picture rules developed over the last 100 years, dic-

tates how and where characters, vehicles, and props should be positioned and/or be allowed to move

through a series of shots. A strong knowledge of this system will allow you to make proper choices

when setting up an animation with multiple shots. You can find information on screen direction from

sources that discuss storyboarding, film direction, or editing.

Step-by-Step: 3D Lighting Examples

In this section, I’ll discuss the lighting approach of various independent animations.

The lighting style varies from naturalistic to stylized.

Millennium Bug featured a series of otherworldly characters inserted into pho-

tographs of San Francisco. Simple naturalistic lighting was employed to match the

cloudy, overcast weather conditions of the photos. In one shot (see Figure 1.39), a 3D

head was added to a preexisting crane. A single spotlight, positioned high and to the

right, served as a key. A very low intensity ﬁll light was placed low and to the left.

The shadow of the head on the building was added in the composite. Film grain and

an artiﬁcial camera move were also added in postproduction. Millennium Bug was

created with Alias PowerAnimator on Silicon Graphics machines.

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