ENDA Episode 83→ The time when ENDA shares why lighting matters (Part 4)

Beyond cast shadows and occlusion shadows, there’s a third type worth exploring: the 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄.

This shadow defines an object’s volume, showing us how intense or close the light source is. It usually has softer edges, blending smoothly with the midtones, and often includes a “𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄”, that is the darkest region within that form shadow.

When integrating CG elements or compositing, the form shadow is crucial because it reveals whether an object reacts correctly to the scene’s illumination and if its volume reads properly.

Keep in mind that the surface color also influences how this shadow appears, so creating a simple black constant at lowered opacity isn’t enough. You have to factor in how the light, surface color, and midtones interact to form a believable shadow.

In the GIF below, despite the intense lighting changes, the character’s volume is defined thanks to these Form Shadows, which outline features and provide contrast against the strong lights.

And I know we've been talk about shadows for too long, and you are right it is time to step up to next part: the two different types of lights.

But that’s for another episode.

The journey continues…