Measuring Lighting |
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Using a foot candle meter, it is relatively easy to measure the levels of each of your lights. In order to get an accurate reading the meter needs to be placed immediately in front of the subject facing the light source to be measured. The easiest way to take the key, fill, and back light measurements is to do them one at a time, with the other two lights turned off.
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Starting with just the key light on, place the meter in front of the area of the subject struck by the key light. Aim the meter at the key light and note the number of foot candles. For this example, we'll say it reads 100 foot candles.
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Next, turn on just the fill light and take another reading facing the fill light. If our intended lighting ratio is 2:1, then the fill light should read about 50 foot candles. |
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Now, turn on just the back light and take its reading. The back light should be somewhere between 50 and 150 foot candles, depending on the effect you desire. |
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The final step is to remeasure the key, fill, and back light positions with all the lights on. This is important since where the illumination from the lights overlaps the intensity increases. Adjust the intensity of the lights as needed to maintain the desired lighting ratio. | ||
