Backlight

A subject's edges or translucent areas appear bright from light behind it.

Visual traits

• bright contours
• potentially dark front
• light behind

Expected changes

• Contours are more likely to appear bright
• Tonal separation from the front is more likely to appear

Definition

Backlight is a lighting condition arriving from behind a subject toward the camera, brightening contours or translucent areas. It does not determine time, light-source type, subject, or exposure setting.

In more detail

Contour brightness, front-facing darkness, and luminous translucent material make light direction readable. Lens flare, whole-image color, and figure pose can be specified separately.

Includes

• Light arriving from behind a subject
• Lighting that brightens contours or translucent areas

Excludes

• Front or side lighting
• Internal lens reflections
• Color grading

What this does not imply

• A particular light source
• time
• color grade
• lens flare
• or subject

Variability

Light height and strength can be adjusted while keeping the contour readable.

Usage

• Make the behind-subject direction clear
• Specify light-source type separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Use lens flare when lens reflections are wanted

Typical uses

• Outline a person or animal with light from behind
• Show translucency in leaves or thin cloth

Possible failure modes

• Front becomes too dark to read
• Back light is absent and direction becomes ambiguous