☀️ What is Backlighting?

Backlighting refers to light coming from behind an object, as opposed to front lighting which comes from the front.Using backlighting can create a more dramatic effect and a more atmospheric painting compared to front lighting.

The intensity and color of backlighting can also create various moods, so I will briefly explain the methods below.

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☀️ Types of Backlighting

Backlighting can commonly arise in two ways.First is

 

☀️ Natural Backlighting: Backlighting caused by nature, such as the sun and moon. Since the direction and angle of light change with time, the intensity and direction of backlighting can be used to indicate time.

 

Second is

☀️ Artificial Backlighting: Backlighting created by artificial lighting such as fluorescent lamps and neon signs. It has the advantage of being able to be represented in various places, indoors or outdoors, and expressing various colors.

☀️ How to Easily Draw Backlighting Using Natural Light!

I would like to show you two examples of backlighting using natural light.

 

The first is in a gymnasium illuminated by the dawn~morning light, and

 

The second is outdoors at sunset during a confession.

☀️ Gymnasium at Dawn~Morning

1. Prepare the basic character and background.

2. Apply a multiply layer to the character, matching the background color.

3. Create the parts that receive light, matching the character's halo /

Since the current situation is strong light coming in during the morning, paint it with a tone close to white.

4. Using an Add Glow layer, softly paint with an airbrush, centering on the direction receiving light, to make the light more effective.

5. Using an Overlay layer, gently paint with an airbrush in warm tones little by little, to match the original skin tone.

6. Finally, draw lines along the character's outline, matching the tone of each part (e.g., hair in brown tones, clothes in blue tones), then describe the overall painting.

 

I applied light with an Add Glow layer in a top-to-bottom gradient, and also added an Add layer with a gradient opacity of about 5% to diffuse the light spread.

Additionally, by applying a Gaussian blur to the gymnasium background, the character blends in while also standing out.

 

!Tip! : If you use this brush, you can easily express the tiny particles that appear when light shines!

☀️ Outdoors at Sunset during a Confession

1. Prepare the basic character and background.

2. Apply a multiply layer to the character with a warm color that blends with the background.

3. Express the parts that receive light along the character's outline.

Since the character is currently in a sunset background, paint with warm tones mixed with the colors.

4. Gradually paint with mid-tones so that the illuminated and shadowed areas don't look too sharply separated.

Additionally, since it's a confession scene, I added a blush.

5. Finally, add warmth using an Overlay layer with warm-toned colors,

and softly paint with an airbrush on an Add Glow layer in the illuminated areas to express the light more distinctly.

Additionally, describe the folds in the clothes and the expression of the hair to make the character stand out even more.

☀️ Free Expression of Artificial Light

As mentioned earlier, artificial light allows for more freedom in setting colors before painting compared to natural light.

So, what exactly is the difference between artificial and natural light?

 

First, artificial light tends to show stronger contrast compared to natural light. The reason is that natural light generally appears outdoors and its source is far away,

whereas artificial light is mostly indoors and its source is often close.

 

Of course, there are cases where artificial light, like neon signs, is outdoors. However, even in such cases, it is closer to the character than the sun and moon, and the light intensity is strong, resulting in strong contrast.

+ Additional Tip

As I've been mentioning, remember that there's a difference in contrast between natural and artificial light, right?

 

Natural light's source is far away, artificial light's source is close.

 

If you remember this point, you can express strong contrast even with natural light, and weak contrast even with artificial light.

 

What is the reason for this?

 

It's because the farther the light source, the more the light spreads, and the larger the illuminated area becomes, while the shadow area of the object transitions naturally.

Conversely, if the light source is close, the illuminated area becomes limited, and the shadow area of the object appears strong.

 

Additionally, the shadows cast by an object also become weaker the farther the light is,

while shadows appear strong when the light is close.

 

☀️ Concluding the Article

We've explored expressions and directing methods that vary with the intensity and color of light using backlighting!

I hope everyone understood well?

If I get the chance, I'll explain the next tip easily!

I hope you have a fun drawing life!

Thank you!

• Additionally, I'm uploading a speedpainting of a backlit drawing, so please refer to it :)