fairytale video
Make an ad
Write lighting direction for an AI product ad
Useful lighting direction tells the model where illumination comes from, how hard it is and what it must reveal. Words such as “beautiful”, “cinematic” and “premium” do not answer those questions. Begin with the product surface and the detail that needs to remain readable.
Give one source the main job
Hypothetical example: an amber bottle stands on a pale desk with its photographed label facing the camera. The label text and front shape are supplied; the bottle’s exact dimensions and contents are unknown. A large soft window to camera left can reveal the outline while reducing a sharp glare stripe across the lettering.
Describe a secondary light only when it has a clear purpose. A dim background lamp may establish a room without changing the product colour. Asking simultaneously for warm sunset, cool studio light and bright frontal ring light gives competing explanations for the scene. Decide which source dominates and keep the others modest.
Hypothetical lighting note:
Large soft daylight source at camera left.
Gentle shadow falls to the right of the bottle.
Label remains evenly readable, with no bright glare stripe.
Background lamp is dim; it does not tint the product.
Exposure and colour stay stable through the camera move.Match light to the material
Glossy packaging needs an intentional highlight rather than many sparkling reflections. A matte object needs enough side light to show shape without making the finish look metallic. Transparent packaging needs visible edges and consistent background refraction. Lighting cannot establish an ingredient, material or fill level that the photos do not confirm.
For a reflective item, choose a small motion and inspect where the highlight crosses the identifying detail. The reflective-product guide covers that interaction. For an outdoor setting, use one coherent weather and light condition rather than importing studio cues into a street photograph.
Separate lighting from colour claims
A warm look can change the apparent colour of a product. If the shade is part of what the customer buys, favour neutral illumination and compare the output against the original reference. Do not approve a dramatic grade simply because it flatters the scene. A blue notebook that becomes teal may be an attractive image of the wrong item.
Review across time
- Does the dominant shadow keep the same direction?
- Does the product brighten without a visible reason?
- Does skin or packaging change colour during motion?
- Can the label be read in the final product hold?
Record accepted direction in the reusable seven-field scene style block. Keep the camera and light notes compatible: if the camera moves past a window, the plan should account for changing reflections rather than demanding an impossible fixed highlight.