Light Reference

Light Reference is a browser-based lighting studio designed for how artists really learn. You move lights and shapes while observing the effects. It works anywhere! desktop or phone—no installs required. It encourages careful observation.

What you can do

• Place and shape lights: set direction and height, adjust distance, beam angle, and softness. Change color temperature from cool to warm to study mood and material response.
• Move and arrange objects: translate and rotate shapes to see how planes respond to key, fill, and rim lights. Add simple shapes like spheres, cubes, and busts to create basic scenes and comparative studies.
• Import your own models (OBJ): bring in reference geometry to test lighting plans before painting or rendering.
• Edit the scene quickly: duplicate or delete objects, reset poses, and toggle guides to maintain a focused study.
• Use intent-driven presets: access classroom essentials like 3-point, rim, split, and silhouette lighting, then adjust as needed.
• Capture and share: one-click Download PNG for reference boards and Copy Link to share your exact setup with peers or students.
• Mobile-friendly: the interface adapts on phones and tablets, with gestures optimized for small screens.

Who this is for and why it helps

• Art students needing structured practice: observe edge hierarchy, value grouping, and separation under controlled conditions.
• Illustrators & concept artists planning key frames: block in lighting before starting to paint.
• 3D & Blender artists pre-visualizing: decide on direction and temperature before rendering.
• Teachers explaining fundamentals quickly: demonstrate cause and effect live, then provide students with a shareable link.

How the tool operates (in the instructor’s terms)

Think of the scene as a small, obedient stage. You control a primary light source and its companions, then watch how the image comes together.

• You place the key light using compass direction and height, then control its behavior with distance, beam angle, and softness.
• A fill control adds light to the shadows without losing form.
• You can move and rotate each object crucial, because we don’t learn lighting in theory; we learn it as it interacts with geometry.
• Presets provide starting positions. Use them to establish the basic setup, then refine your approach.
• For critique and iteration, Fullscreen offers a larger view, Copy Link preserves your setup, and Download PNG captures a frame with one click.

Practical notes

• Add & manage objects: create small arrangements to test separation between subjects and background, or figures and props.
• OBJ import: great for classroom demos. Load a shared model, assign tasks, and compare results through shared links.
• Performance & clarity: the interface prioritizes legibility over decoration; controls are labeled in clear, understandable terms.
• Accessibility: keyboard-friendly sliders and clear focus states keep the tool easy to use while annotating or recording.

Suggested exercises

• Edge hierarchy study: rotate a bust 15° at a time; maintain clarity with only key and fill lights. Record frames.
• Temperature contrast: compare warm key lights with cool fill, then switch them. Observe material changes.
• Rim discipline: push the rim until it breaks the form, then pull back to the smallest effective highlight.

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Open the web app via the external link above. No sign-ups are needed; it runs directly in your browser. Capture results with Download PNG or share studies with Copy Link. If you bring your own OBJ model, all the better—good teaching starts with familiar shapes.