Recording light can make or break a video project. Wrong illumination will make a video unwatchable even if you have an amazing script, great guests or performers, a well-rehearsed show, and a fantastic set. Great lighting draws the audience into the scene while making the subject stand out. To help you get the right lighting in recording, we will go through the following topics:
- What light type is recommended for video shooting?
- Which fixture to use for certain types of recording?
- How to set up lights for recording to get high quality outcomes?
What type of recording light is good for video recording?
It is advised to use LED light for recording. LED, which stands for Light Emitting Diode, is a kind of semiconductor that creates lighting when current passes through it. When it is used to manufacture light for video recording, it brings the following benefits.
- Offers continuous lighting without flickers
- Low power consumption
- Long lifespan
- Produces low heat after continuous use
- Comes in various sizes and shapes
- Most models are adjustable in color temperature and brightness to ensure flexible setting.
Which light is good for video recording?
As LEDs own many advantages in recording, COLBOR has manufactured and provided several LED lights for recording studio. They come in different shapes and sizes, offer various power outputs, and have some specific features that make them stand out on certain applications. You can choose among the following products to get the light for video recording that is good for the types of video you are recording.
COLBOR CL60: A good choice for small-scale indoor recording
The COLBOR CL60 is a good choice to provide lighting for home video recording because of its compact size and great illumination figure. It size 140x80x90mm and weighs only 550g so you can place it anywhere you want without the limit of space. It has a power output of 65 watts. When the CL60 is set to 5600K and utilized with a reflector, the illumination measures 19,665lux at 1m away, which is enough to illuminate the subject and the scene.
COLBOR CL330: Bright recording light for outdoor recording and large studios
The COLBOR CL330 is a recording studio light with a constant 330W power output. It is powerful enough to serve as a key light in your recording studio. The color temperature extends from 2700K to 6500K, allowing you to set the perfect mood for your recording.
You will normally have LED lights for recording studios from different brands. Due to the limit of LED technology, you may find that they are slightly different in color even if they are set at the same color temperature. In this case, the CL330 can make a big difference. Its Red-Green Color Compensation function allows you to adjust it to a red or green tint to ensure color consistency. This avoids mixing colors in the scene and cuts down on post-production efforts and time.
COLBOR PL8B: Pocket light ideal for mobile video recording
The COLBOR PL8B features compact size of 125x75x17mm and light weight of 187g, which makes it one of the lights for mobile video recording. You can simply attach it to your smartphone with its magnetic back. Its two 1/4’’ screw holes also allow it to be mounted on tripods.
In addition to providing two hours of continuous lighting at 100% brightness, its large-capacity 5000mAh battery also allows it to function as a power bank for charging mobile devices. The Type-A DC Output connection is meant to charge the recording phone in order to enable continuous recording.
How to set up lights for video recording: Three common setups
You can set up recording light with simple and complex lighting setups according to what you are recording. The 3-point setup is a standard choice for most scenarios. It is also good to use one or two lights. Read on to learn how to achieve these setups and what applications they are ideal for.
One-light setup
This setup only has a key light, which is used to illuminate the subjects from the main angle. The camera can be placed behind or perpendicular to it for the style you want. However, keep in mind that it is the main light source for your scene so you should make sure the camera can pick up the details you want it to capture.
This setup is often used in small-scale and close-up scenes. The backdrop will also need to be illuminated by the single main light, so plan for the proper light-to-scene size ratio and eliminate undesired shadows.
Two-light setup
A fill light is added to get this setup. It is set at a lower brightness and places on the contrary side of the key light.
Fill lights are assessed by their intensity in relation to the main light. For example, If it is half the intensity of the key one, it will have a ratio of 1:2. Depending on your key to fill ratio, each scene will have a particular tone and tension.
Besides physical fixture, a properly angled reflector that bounce back the key illumination can also be used in a two-point setup.
Three-light setup
The golden combo for recording light that stands out from the background and gives excellent shadow control is a three-point setup. The main light comes first, followed by the fill light. You may then create a backdrop light that rises up behind the subject from the background. It is occasionally reflected off the backdrop objects themselves, providing a more comprehensive and immersive mood to the overall image.
This setup allows you to adjust how your subject stands out of the camera or blends into the landscape.