# Light Sources

## Light Types

For best results, we recommend using as small of a light as possible. Sometimes this can be achieved by removing any diffusion or reflectors attached to an existing light fixture to expose just the bulb.

#### Supported Light Sources

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Supported Lights" %}

* Point Light 
* Built-in camera flash
* Single LED
* Ring Flash
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Not Supported" %}

* Softboxes
* Umbrella lights
* Reflectors
* Polarisation Filters
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
When using an external light source, it is important to place it as close to the camera sensor as possible. Increased distance between the light source and the camera sensor will decrease the quality of results.
{% endhint %}

***

### Using a Ring Flash

If you would like to use a ring light, it is important to ensure that the distance from the camera to the subject large is enough to minimise the subject blocking any part of the light from the visible surface of the subject.

<details>

<summary>Good Ring Flash Positions</summary>

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/mynDXRuNEQXJLthgswfE/Screenshot%202025-03-07%20at%2016.26.28.png)

</details>

<details>

<summary>Bad Ring Flash Position</summary>

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/VWfgmMqjE02fsbJ6T7nK/Screenshot%202025-03-07%20at%2016.27.49.png)

</details>

***

### Explore different light sources and their effects on an asset

<div align="left" data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/Qwg2TS3l0o1mJDr6oc5N/AOjGbl-HfkWO0vBiOMWl23Q4sRjd52xqIjTfYVz0MGzlJxopEcuBiJltwRB6F1ni7jVn4Fw8HkqJPd-e7WGDB7vs3SxEc_38WAuXO068f6PHXxpdh6pmECCPAXrTR5jvaiBs1F-XXniTQ0QfM0obkRk.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/tuhphzTZEa2uUf2YFtJR/Nh7DOSbQV2aKoxKJPtNjYp4Z-UW-mZs3buez6ysPIif-vtOFkHFmcncke1nU4Ozb3zOoxVR5zyLyy_HPhw2QuWt92eRAlq4xVQPU6AjWm81s9jlaKd4cGqb5WuDhhmj9PrNsayuvFJn5VeaK_B1wse8.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/MO6tnqJxlqfbRgsaCnJT/zZCUNd-nhOGsUIqSb_AWU8fb-cOz4hO35ukNU1ckK_DzK5fixwRBNnDxcIz0DyIpqsAFtjLQw6RMk_WQNfvcphuac5Fl4zccEbbxJ-qC-RlaIuHanZHWA5Q5fdFqu5aW0SkoFfWMz0mnSVQJ80ILIys.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/weHUJNrfOsV4nuR30Rzc/BlUiPKxMGv-Vfwv4M2sliRGQHrE56Oekf781cUSCBSUqZX-9UBvgbYahBcr_mkgs3UukAAqKh5edLjRFgbN-a2kr43z4VkS_8aM3Y2vjwQbrPyACWpJcLwkGH-mNfcEHt-nfwYmhMDz6bBVnguKNxLA.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/fwlc4JvJya92Y7HzIpje/eyltev_rK6enLw6bx9wLSus7n2Z7vgzXJC89-l9RT3BKmNODwUwbQX5yz3qhjxTNeUdEFqqr7DHvv_mdKVejKHluCkLKet-rc1afmY_z8Nfag5hhzdq2NPh69BV5gOix3j832WG6mv0eXakTeD1rjUA.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/iIvm0985epZqTr6crS82/_sjr-M9ll75USjvvVkAzRmZ9-GdUfstT_gJWc6gcGsZKVSMLFl1Hq2AT_MunMBxfF0VsvxgHXQLgA88gG-cij42jEPQ8SBdmoIjCl_HXHwz6h3pGZUxnYbI1BLttIBH9SU8yahTBe5zWvTNLPWeEZGk.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<table><thead><tr><th width="201.4609375" align="center">Ideal Light Source</th><th width="200.6875" align="center">Not Compatible</th><th width="212.859375" align="center">Not Compatible</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td align="center">Small point light</td><td align="center">Soft shadows</td><td align="center">Large effective area</td></tr><tr><td align="center">Crisp shadows</td><td align="center">Irregular light falloff</td><td align="center">Soft shadows</td></tr><tr><td align="center">Sharp highlights</td><td align="center">Variable Intensity</td><td align="center">Soft / smooth reflections</td></tr></tbody></table>

***

## Light Placement

The closer a light is to the centre of the camera, the smaller the shadows will be in the source photography.

These shadows can interfere with the results from Marso Measure, making predictions worse.

As with the light size, this distance between a light and a camera is relative to the overall scale of the scene.

The closer the camera is to the subject, the greater the angle between the camera and light is at a point on the subject. Smaller angles will result in better results.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/dSWZvUSEhiy6J2XcG20t/blobs/wYlJtnR67GnkqNGhCCoQ/Screenshot%202025-03-07%20at%2016.07.12.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
We recommend an angle of 3° or less. For anything higher than 6.5°, you should use multiple lights
{% endhint %}

| Rig Size | Distance: Camera → Subject | Max Distance: Light → Camera |
| :------: | :------------------------: | :--------------------------: |
|   Small  |           \~50 cm          |            4.5 cm            |
|  Medium  |          \~100 cm          |            9.5 cm            |
|   Large  |          \~150 cm          |             14 cm            |