Light Sources

Follow this page to understand supported light sources for Marso.

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.

Positioning your light source as close to the camera sensor as possible will improve results. If the light must be more than a few centimetres from the sensor, we recommend using multiple lights.

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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

Supported Lights

• Point Light

• Built-in camera flash

• Small strobe

• Single LED

• Ring Flash

Not Supported

• Softboxes

• Umbrella lights

• Reflectors

• Polarisation Filters

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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.

Good Ring Flash Positions

Bad Ring Flash Position

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Explore different light sources and their effects on an asset

Ideal Light Source	Not Compatible	Not Compatible
Small point light	Soft shadows	Large effective area
Crisp shadows	Irregular light falloff	Soft shadows
Sharp highlights	Variable Intensity	Soft / smooth reflections

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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, 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.

We recommend an angle of 3° or less. For anything higher than 6.5°, you should use multiple lights

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

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Multiple Lights

In situations where an individual light cannot be placed close to the camera, multiple lights can increase the consistency of material channels.

Sequence

When using multiple lights, they must be sequenced one light at a time, and in the same order each time the sequence runs for each camera position. This must also be true if there are multiple cameras.

Perfect Sequencing

Camera A - Top, Bottom, Left, Right

Camera B - Top, Bottom, Left, Right

Camera C - Top, Bottom, Left, Right

Bad Sequencing

Camera A - Top, Bottom, Left, Right

Camera B - Bottom, Right, Left, Top

Camera C - Left, Right, Bottom, Top

Placement

When using more than one light source, it is important that such lights can be turned on and off, or triggered individually.

Key Points

• Use the same brand/model of light

• Place lights opposite one another

• Keep lights rotationally symmetrical

Good Placement

Bad Placement

For systems with multiple cameras as shown below - ensure that each light group has the same relative positions as their parent camera.