Lighting a Scene For a Digital Fashion Show With John Waynick

ArtStation
21 Feb 202325:09

TLDRIn this informative video, John Wayne discusses the intricacies of fashion show lighting within Unreal Engine, focusing on the use of the free character FaZe from Paragon content. He elaborates on setting up the environment, using Auto exposure, and the importance of the walk and shot zones. John also covers the three-point lighting system, adjusting spotlights, and utilizing an HDRI map for Skylight to achieve a cinematic effect. The video provides practical tips for creating dynamic and well-lit fashion show scenes in Unreal Engine 5.1.

Takeaways

  • 🎮 Utilize the free character FaZe from the Paragon content in Unreal Engine's marketplace for testing.
  • 🚫 Turn off Auto exposure to maintain consistent lighting throughout the scene.
  • 🏠 Create a simple room setup in Maya for demonstrating lighting effects.
  • 👤 Add the character to the scene and pose them using animations available in Unreal Engine.
  • 🚶‍♀️ Designate two zones for the fashion show: the 'walk' area for the catwalk and the 'shot' area for posing.
  • 💡 Employ multiple spotlights for the walk area, adjusting their angles and intensity for dramatic effect.
  • 🌟 Position key lights in the shot area to illuminate the model well for photography.
  • 🎨 Use a daylight setting (5600K) for the spotlights to mimic real-world fashion show lighting.
  • 📸 Consider using a three-point lighting system, but adjust for the specific needs of a fashion show catwalk.
  • 🖼️ Use Skylight with an HDRI map to create realistic ambient lighting without capturing the external sky.
  • 🎥 Set up a cinematic camera with tracking focus on the model for dynamic shots during the fashion show.

Q & A

  • What is the first step in setting up a character in Unreal Engine for cinematic fashion show lighting?

    -The first step is to find a suitable character in the marketplace, such as FaZe from the Paragon content provided by Epic Games, and add it to your project.

  • Why is it important to turn off Auto Exposure when setting up lighting for a cinematic fashion show?

    -Turning off Auto Exposure ensures that the lighting remains consistent throughout the scene, preventing the brightness from changing based on the camera's focus.

  • How can you adjust a character's pose in Unreal Engine for the fashion show?

    -You can adjust the character's pose by browsing through their available animations, selecting the desired animation, and then using the animation editor to find and set the pose.

  • What are the two main zones to consider when setting up lighting for a fashion show catwalk?

    -The two main zones are the 'walk' zone, where the model walks down the catwalk, and the 'shot' zone, where the model stops and poses for photographers.

  • What is the purpose of the three-point lighting system in fashion show lighting?

    -The three-point lighting system is used to create depth and dimension in the lighting, with a key light, a fill light, and a rim light working together to highlight and shape the model effectively.

  • How can you adjust the intensity and color of spotlights in Unreal Engine to match a fashion show environment?

    -You can adjust the intensity by changing the value in the spotlight settings, and for the color, you can set the temperature to mimic daylight, which is commonly used in fashion shows.

  • What is the effect of adjusting the cone angles of spotlights in the walk zone?

    -Adjusting the cone angles affects the spread and focus of the light, with smaller angles creating more focused lighting and larger angles creating a wider, softer light.

  • How can you create a well-lit shot zone for photographers in a fashion show setup?

    -You can create a well-lit shot zone by adding additional spotlights in front of the model and adjusting their positions and intensities to ensure the model is well lit from multiple angles.

  • What is the purpose of using an HDRI map in the Skylight settings for a fashion show environment?

    -Using an HDRI map in the Skylight settings allows for more control over the ambient lighting, providing realistic reflections and a consistent lighting environment without capturing the actual sky.

  • How can you set up a camera for capturing the model in the shot zone?

    -You can set up a camera by selecting it, adjusting its position and rotation, and changing the focus method to tracking. Then, you can use the eyedropper tool to set the focus on the model's face and adjust the aperture for depth of field.

  • What additional elements can be added to the environment to complete the fashion show setup?

    -Additional elements that can be added to the environment include chairs, neon lights, and other decorative items to create a complete and immersive fashion show scene.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Introduction to Cinematic Fashion Show Lighting in Unreal Engine

The paragraph introduces the topic of cinematic fashion show lighting inside Unreal Engine, highlighting the use of a free character, FaZe, from the Paragon content provided by Epic Games. It explains the process of adding the character to a project, even if it's not officially compatible with the current version of Unreal Engine, by adjusting the settings. The speaker then sets the stage for a demonstration by creating a simple room in Maya and discussing the importance of turning off auto exposure to maintain consistent lighting throughout the scene.

05:02

💡 Setting Up Spotlights for the Fashion Show Catwalk

This section delves into the specifics of setting up spotlights for the fashion show catwalk. It describes the process of using the quick add button to place spotlights and adjusting their positions and angles to mimic the typical lighting setup found in real-world fashion shows. The speaker explains the importance of having multiple spotlights lined up along the catwalk and the need to adjust their intensity and color temperature to achieve the desired lighting effect. The paragraph also touches on the concept of the three-point lighting system and how it can be adapted for the fashion show environment.

10:04

🌟 Enhancing the Shot Zone for Photographers

The focus of this paragraph is on enhancing the 'shot' zone where models pose for photographers. It emphasizes the need for well-lit areas in this zone to allow for high-quality photography. The speaker discusses the placement of additional lights to create a well-lit shot area and the use of a key light at the front of the catwalk. The paragraph also explores the concept of the three-point lighting system in the context of a fashion show, explaining how the key, fill, and rim lights are adapted to suit the unique requirements of the catwalk setup.

15:05

🎥 Adjusting Lighting for Cinematic Effect and Realism

This paragraph discusses the fine-tuning of the lighting setup to achieve a cinematic effect and a sense of realism. The speaker explains how to adjust the intensity and positioning of the spotlights to create the desired lighting style, known as the Reinhardt style, which emphasizes one side of the face. The paragraph also covers the use of a secondary light to mimic the flash from photographers' cameras and the importance of balancing this with the other lights in the scene. The speaker further explains how to manage the overall lighting by adjusting the cone angles and the intensity of the walk light folder to avoid overexposure.

20:06

📸 Setting Up the Camera and Capturing the Scene

The final paragraph focuses on setting up the camera for capturing the fashion show scene. It describes the process of selecting and positioning a cine camera, adjusting its settings for depth of field and focus, and using a cinematic viewport for a better visual representation of the scene. The speaker also talks about the use of high-resolution screenshots to capture the final look of the character in the well-lit catwalk environment. The paragraph concludes by reminding the audience to maintain the primary lighting setup while adding additional elements to the environment as needed.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cinematic Fashion Show Lighting

The term 'Cinematic Fashion Show Lighting' refers to the use of lighting techniques in a fashion show setting to create a dramatic and visually appealing atmosphere, similar to what is seen in movies. In the context of the video, it involves using specific lighting setups within Unreal Engine to illuminate a character walking down a catwalk, with the goal of achieving a high-quality, professional look for photography and videography.

💡Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is a powerful game development engine created by Epic Games, widely used for creating 3D video games and other interactive media. In the video, it is used as the platform to design and test the lighting for a fashion show, demonstrating its versatility beyond gaming to other types of content creation.

💡Auto Exposure

Auto Exposure is a feature in imaging and rendering software that automatically adjusts the exposure settings to achieve a balanced image. In the context of the video, turning off Auto Exposure allows for consistent lighting throughout the scene, preventing the automatic brightening or darkening of the image based on the camera's focus.

💡Paragon Content

Paragon Content refers to assets and characters from the game Paragon, which was developed by Epic Games. These assets are available for free in the Unreal Engine Marketplace and can be used in various projects, including the fashion show lighting setup described in the video.

💡Three-Point Lighting System

The Three-Point Lighting System is a traditional lighting setup used in photography and film, consisting of a key light, a fill light, and a backlight or rim light. This system is used to create depth and contour in a scene. In the video, the system is discussed in the context of fashion show lighting, with adjustments made to suit the specific needs of the catwalk and shot zones.

💡Spotlights

Spotlights are focused, intense light sources used in stage lighting, photography, and film production to highlight specific areas or subjects. In the video, spotlights are used to create the dramatic lighting effects for the fashion show, with careful positioning and adjustment of their angles and intensities.

💡HDRI Map

An HDRI (High Dynamic Range Image) Map is a type of image that contains a wide range of light intensities, used to create realistic lighting in 3D environments. In the video, an HDRI Map is used in the Skylight component of Unreal Engine to simulate the ambient lighting of an environment, adding realism to the fashion show scene.

💡Cinematography

Cinematography refers to the art of capturing and creating visual images and scenes for film and television. It involves the use of camera settings, lighting, and composition to tell a story or convey a mood. In the video, cinematography principles are applied to set up the camera and lighting for the fashion show scene in Unreal Engine.

💡Character Animation

Character Animation involves creating movement and actions for characters in a virtual environment. In the context of the video, it is crucial for bringing the fashion show model to life, as it includes selecting appropriate animations for the character to pose and walk down the catwalk.

💡Lighting Intensity

Lighting Intensity refers to the strength or brightness of a light source in a scene. Adjusting intensity is a key aspect of lighting design, as it can dramatically affect the mood and appearance of a scene. In the video, adjusting the intensity of spotlights is crucial for achieving the desired look for the fashion show lighting.

Highlights

John Wayne discusses cinematic fashion show lighting in Unreal Engine.

FaZe from Paragon content is a favorite free character for testing in Unreal Engine.

Despite being labeled for Unreal Engine 5, FaZe can be added to a 5.1 project with a simple workaround.

Auto exposure should be turned off for consistent lighting throughout the scene.

A simple room setup in Maya demonstrates the importance of lighting for the cinematic effect.

The walk and shot zones are crucial for a fashion show catwalk setup.

The three-point lighting system may not be ideal for fashion show catwalks; spotlights are more common.

Positioning and intensity of spotlights are critical for achieving the desired lighting effects.

Using an appropriate color temperature, like a daylight setting, enhances the lighting realism.

The Reinhardt lighting style is highlighted as effective for fashion show scenarios.

Balancing key lights and managing indirect lighting contribute to a more cinematic feel.

The setup involves adjusting the Skylight to use an HDRI map for a more controlled lighting environment.

Camera settings, including focus and depth of field, are crucial for capturing the perfect shot.

The process concludes with setting up additional cameras and environment elements to complete the fashion show scene.