Rim Light

[Derek Zoolander]

Can someone explain what this does and how it's done?

 

[Big Mike]

Rim lighting...is light around the rim or outline of your subject. I'd suggest that the main purpose that it serves, is to give your subject separation from the background...however, it can also give your subject (especially people) a glowing quality...even a halo effect.

It is created by light that comes from behind your subject. Of course, it won't show up if your subject is doesn't have some sort of contour...but thankfully people aren't two dimensional.

You see rim lighting in TV & movies all the time....especially when the actors have big/bushy hair. They are lit as if the sun is behind them. Often, several actors in a scene...facing different directions, will all have back/rim lighting...which isn't natural looking...but it looks good on screen.

 

[Derek Zoolander]

Thanks mike. Any examples of this?

 

[Samanax]

Any examples of this?

Take a look at this shot.

 

[Big Mike]

That's a great example...but also an extreme one. It doesn't have to be a silhouette to have rim lighting.

hair rim lighting portrait - Google Image Search