What is hard light and what is it used for?
Richard Kelly described the form of light used to emphasize as "focal glow," meaning "light to look at."
Its function is to direct attention in a targeted way.
Bright areas draw the eye. The surroundings become structured. Important content is emphasized. Information is perceived more quickly.
This light supports orientation within a space and serves to stage objects.
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The most important points
- 1Use spotlights or downlights deliberately when an object should stand out brightly and draw attention to itself.
- 2Combine hard light with diffused light so that shadows reveal depth and structure without making the scene look too harsh or restless.
- 3Choose softly delineated rather than sharp-edged light for accents, so that objects stand out naturally instead of appearing distorted.
