What’s the Difference Between Hard Light vs Soft Light in Film?
In filmmaking, the lighting that is used to create the scene plays a key role in the mood, emotions, and visual connections between subjects on the set. Soft light can produce smooth shadows that minimize dimension and depth whereas a hard light may create deep, harsh lines that are incredibly powerful. Depending on the look and feel you’re attempting to achieve, you’re likely to use a mix of both lighting options, but what’s the difference between hard light vs. soft light in film?
What is Hard Light in Film?
Hard light is used in filmmaking to produce a bright lighting on the set that will cast deep, heavy, and dark shadows on the set. If you think of hard light as bright, heavy lighting that is used to draw attention to a specific area of the set or element of the set.
You’ll also find that hard lighting is generally used to produce the appearance of a bright sunny day. With dark shadows in certain areas or to create a silhouette that casts distinct features within the shadows.
Hard lights will make your subject appear more in-focus and can create a more complex focus on the shot that is taking place. These types of lighting are included in a shot.
In which the intent of the filmmaker is for the subject of the scene to be the focus. And the audience should be able to see their features. Particularly as the subject speaks or otherwise moves within the frame.
What is Soft Light in Film?
Soft light in film represents a more balanced effect in which there may still be a few hard shadows but the overall appearance is of a more gradient and relaxed tone.
Soft lighting is used to minimize shadowing on the subject, to balance out features and to soften the curvature or to otherwise reduce the harsh curvature of features that would be produced with a hard light source.
Unlike hard lighting, soft lighting in film is used to produce a low-key visibility. In which the features of the character are less pronounced and more relaxed. There is less shadow.
And, although the light is balanced, there is a draw to the subject such that the audience feels relaxed. There are no harsh lines with soft lighting and the subject is more flattering in this type of lighting. As their features are less pronounced as are their surroundings.
Difference Between Hard Light vs. Soft Light in Film
When it comes to hard light vs soft light in film most aspiring cinematographers are interested in learning how they can tell the difference between hard light vs soft light in film. Unlike hard light, soft light can be used to create smooth shadows that are less focused.
And tend to be more relaxed. Likewise, hard light in film is used to create heavy, direct, and sharp shadows. Filmmakers use soft light to reduce the harsh lines and features of a character.
To create a softer look while they incorporate a hard light to produce more pronounced shadows and features for their characters.
Affecting the Mood
Soft lighting in film is often used to create a dramatic scene. Light is reflected to produce soft shadows and to minimize the focus on a particular area for a more balanced scene. Likewise, hard lighting is used to draw the audience toward the subject.
Pulling their glare to the features of a subject creating an impression of a highly defined subject. With contrast that can result in the audience sensing a darkness, mystery, or dramatic mood that cannot be achieved using soft lighting.
Evoking Emotions
It’s quite common for hard light vs soft light in film to be used in order to create completely different scenarios between filmmakers. Dark shadows are used to evoke mystery.
They’re common in horror films but also in detective stories. And those which focus on danger or a sense of intensity that is formidable. Soft lights in film are used to accentuate soft features of a character, to produce an open door for communication, drama, romance, and beauty.
Benefits of Hard Light vs. Soft Light in Film
As with any type of technique, lighting can have several benefits on the film set. Even when we’re talking about the differences between hard light vs soft light in film.
There are several benefits of hard light in the right scenario. Just as there are equally many benefits to using soft light in the right situations
Some benefits of hard light include:
- An intensity in the mood that connects the audience with the character.
- A significant casting of shadows which can be intense and interesting.
- Supreme contracts when used in a black and white film.
The Downfalls
Unfortunately, as with all good things, there are potential downfalls to the use of hard lighting for film. In fact, while you might find hard lighting beneficial for your film.
There’s also the risk that hard lighting will draw interest to imperfections within a character. Or that it could create a harshness of lines or shadows that are less than flattering.
Some benefits of soft light include:
- Improving the beauty of a character.
- Producing a forgiving light that makes features or underlying imperfections less visible.
- Reducing the appearance of harsh lines and shadows.
The Takeaway
While soft lighting in film can be exceptionally useful, it’s not ideal in every scene or in all situations. In fact, there are some downfalls to soft lighting including a limited intensity.
Which can greatly reduce the tension that is built within the scene. Soft lighting also lacks overall contrast. Which means that characters and elements within the scene will tend to be less pronounced.
When it comes to hard light vs. soft light in film most filmmakers find that a mix of the two forms of lighting are ideally responsible for the best outcomes on the set. In fact, hard light and soft light are frequently used together to produce the desired results in a variety of different films.
