DIG2330C - Lighting Design and Techniques

2 hours Lecture, 1 hour Lab, 3 credit(s)

Lower-Level College Credit

Course Description:
This course provides a theoretical basis and practical skills in lighting theory and techniques for digital video. Topics include lighting and safety, exposure, color theory, human vision, lighting quality, lighting controls, light types (i.e., sunlight, tungsten, fluorescent, LEDs, HMI, xenon, soft lights, and hard lights), lighting techniques, composition, scene lighting, interview setups, studio lighting, specialized lighting, electricity, power distribution, use of a light meter, signal monitoring, and postproduction lighting techniques. Students focus on the art of visual storytelling through lighting and camera movement.

Academic Dean’s Contact Information

LAKELAND DEAN’S OFFICE: LLC 2255 PHONE: (863) 297-1024
WINTER HAVEN DEAN’S OFFICE: WSC 101 PHONE: (863) 297-1020

Polk State College Mission and Outcomes

Polk State College is a quality-driven educational institution, providing access to affordable associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates, and workforce development programs, delivered by diverse, qualified faculty and staff who are committed to student learning and achievement through the consistent practice of collaboration and focus on excellence. In line with this purpose, Polk State College’s AS programs develop competence in career areas. A primary focus of this course is the development of competencies related to the following program learning outcome(s):

Incorporate principles of good design, composition, lighting, interactivity, usability, typography, artistry, creativity, and aesthetics using appropriate tools and techniques to produce pleasing products
Develop targeted messages and use industry standard tools to create, manage, and communicate that message using appropriate formats, channels, and messaging techniques
Collaborate within a multimedia team or group in a manner that demonstrates good soft skills, pleasing attitude, clarity of thought, and mutual respect to produce a common output that provides good aesthetic appeal and conforms to industry standards

Course Objectives:
After completing the course, the student will have acquired the ability to:

1. Explain the importance of lighting for good exposure
2. Describe important concepts of digital video lighting
3. Articulate the differences between human vision and camera vision
4. Describe color theory and color temperature for digital video
5. Explain and demonstrate safe use of electricity and electrical components for video lighting
6. Demonstrate proper handling, setup, use, and disassembly of a variety of lighting instruments for digital video production
7. Demonstrate familiarity with and good use of various lighting instruments including LEDs, fluorescent, soft lights, tungsten and others
8. Demonstrate basic lighting setup including three point lighting, low-budget lighting, and improvised lighting
9. Demonstrate a variety of lighting techniques for a given scene, mood, tone, or setting
10. Demonstrate excellent use of gels, barn doors, reflectors, and diffusion materials for effective lighting control on a scene or set
11. Demonstrate good lighting techniques for interviews, reflection from eyeglasses, harsh natural lighting conditions, intimate scenes, night scenes, group scenes
12. Demonstrate good use of a light meter for exposure
13. Identify common problems for location lighting setups and describe ways to control or minimize these problems
14. Demonstrate use of good lighting techniques for green/blue screen, special effects and “film look” for digital video and for postproduction
15. Demonstrate familiarity of signal monitoring using waveform and vector scope
16. Describe lighting personnel on a large digital video project and the role of each team member during the production

Course Content:
• Importance of lighting
• Exposure and contrast; white balance, ISO
• Controlling contrast, color, and exposure
• Human vision and exposure
• Understanding what the audience sees
• Color Theory, Kelvin scale
• Electricity: volts, amps, watts, lamps and sockets
• Power distribution, battery packs, load calculations
• Electrical safety
• Lighting instruments: open-faced instruments, lens instruments, fluorescent, HMI
• Lighting instruments: Tungsten, LED, Soft lights, special lights
• Lighting controls: gels, diffusion, barn doors, white boxes
• Basic Lighting techniques; three-point lighting, group lighting
• Lighting mood and tone; adding shape, depth, and dimension to a scene
• Light quality: direction, altitude, high key, low key,
• Set operators; team members
• Interview setups
• Solving problems: hot spots, film look, eye glasses, too much light, mixed light
• Studio lighting
• Advanced lighting setup: mood; darkness, exterior, interior, light surgery
• Low budget lighting, improvised lighting
• Lighting for a scene: film noire, intimate, day exterior, in or out, sitcom, night
• Specialized lighting
• Light meters, lighting creativity
• Lighting effects
• Chroma key, green screen/blue screen
• Signal monitoring: waveform, vectors cope

Textbook and Other Requirements

Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus, at the campus bookstore, and on the campus bookstore website at: www.efollett.com.

The Gordon Rule

The Gordon Rule, State Rule 6A-10.30, requires each AA degree program student to complete six credits of college-level mathematics; taking the appropriate General Education mathematics courses will satisfy the mathematics portion of the requirement. In addition, State Rule 6A-10.030 requires each AA degree program student to complete six semester hours of English and six semester hours of additional courses in which the student demonstrates college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Because PSC uses a “Writing across the Curriculum” approach to meeting the writing requirement, in addition to the required composition courses, any of the required Social Sciences and Humanities courses will fulfill this writing requirement.

This is not a Gordon Rule writing course, but it may include writing assignments as a part of course requirements.

A minimum grade of C is required for all courses used to fulfill the Communications and Mathematics areas of the General Education requirements.

Student Help

The professor is available for help during posted hours and by appointment during other non-class hours. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from the professor. To further the educational process, the campus Learning Resources Centers, comprised of the Teaching/Learning and Computing Center (TLCC) and library, are available for student use. Each resource provides qualified staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities to promote students’ academic success. The TLCC provides tutoring services, computing resources, and other instructional support. The library provides information resources, individual and group study space, research assistance, information literacy instruction, and computing resources. Each facility provides free wireless access to the Internet. Polk State College Library and TLCC hours of operation and tutoring schedules are posted at each facility and on the Polk State College website.

Withdrawing From a Course

Students may officially withdraw from course(s) during any given term, provided they follow the appropriate policy and procedure. Following the conclusion of the Drop/Add Period, a student may officially withdraw without academic penalty from any credit course, provided he or she has submitted the appropriate forms to the Student Services Office no later than the published deadline. The published deadline reflects approximately (but no more than) 70% of the term, based upon the course’s scheduled duration. It is the student’s responsibility to submit these withdrawal forms; failure to do so may result in a grade of F in the course. Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. A student is not allowed to withdraw from a third course attempt. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding withdrawing from courses that vary from this policy. Please see the student handbook for that program for more information. If a student stops attending class, the grade earned, usually an F, is assigned and posted. Prior to withdrawing from a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, withdrawal from the course will have on his or her financial aid status. A student cannot use course withdrawal to avoid academic dishonesty penalties. A student who has been penalized for academic dishonesty in a course is not eligible to withdraw from the course.

Repeating a Course

Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one college credit course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. Under certain circumstances, a student may petition to repeat a credit course beyond the three attempts. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding repeating courses that vary from this policy. Please see the student handbook for that program for more information. The student should be aware that repeating a course may result in a higher course cost. A course cannot be repeated unless the previously earned grade is a D, F, or W (the Polk State College Catalog provides further details regarding this process). Prior to repeating a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating the course will have on his or her financial aid status.

Academic Dishonesty

Each student is responsible for his or her work. It is assumed that each student is honest and will abide by this standard; however, in the event that there is an indication or suspicion of cheating/plagiarism, the situation shall be dealt with in accordance with the published College policy. Copies of this policy are available in the Student Services Office. Students should also refer to the course syllabus for more specific information.

Information Technology Access/Use Policy

All individuals who employ the information technology resources provided by Polk State College (this includes, but is not limited to, telephones, computers, the Polk State College Local Area and Wide Area Networks, and the Internet) must use these resources for academic purposes only. Use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use can result in revocation or suspension of this privilege.

Equal Access/Opportunity

Polk State College is an equal access, equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to applicants for admission to the College. Polk State College is committed to the equitable treatment of all students in a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment. Polk State College’s Equity Officer ensures compliance with federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and sexual harassment. Students who believe they have been a victim of discrimination or sexual harassment should contact the Polk State College Equity Officer, Ms. Valparisa Baker, at 863-292-3602 or vbaker@polk.edu.

Equal Opportunity For Students With Disabilities

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provides equal educational opportunity for qualified individuals. A student with a disability who requires special accommodations or auxiliary aids under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Student Services Office on either campus and speak with the Coordinator of Academic Advising.

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