Meta:BSoD/2006/Proposals/Introduction to Lighting

Lamps and light related tools.

Scope/Breakdown

Starting with a review of Blender basic lamps, moving to proper use of them, some principles about photography and classical light setup, lighting study to match mood or place, and later adding radiosity and AO into the mix, ending in post pro via compositor and/or sequencer.

Some of the points to fill that skeleton (inline or as "did you know?"): Blender assumptions about light (minimal energy, ranges of effect...), layer and lamp group tricks, typical issues with lamps like shadows and opacity or spot controls, when to use baking or radiosity vs per frame calculation, importance of shadows.

At minor level, due the interaction, some parts of materials and textures will be touched too, as both things are related, like shaders vs lamp types, "projector" tricks or material based "lights effects".

Deliverables

A web (multi?) page document with images and blend files. User should be able to start from zero or improve their current level by quickly reading over the basics and start practicing at a later point in the docs.

Biography

Blender & doc related, I wrote a 6 issue intro for Spanish magazine Solo Linux, detailing all the basics (up to basic animation) of Blender 1.x. Published in 2000, Spanish language.

Also wrote two series about POV-Ray, one for PC-Actual and other for Linux Actual. Diverse, single issue, reviews about blender, GIMP, XV or Quake for Solo Linux, including Ton interview. Spanish language.

Technical editor of books GIMP Essential Reference, Grokking the GIMP and Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional. English language.