Lighting plays a bigger part in your video than you’ll ever know. However, it’s not as simple as just shifting your lighting equipment from one place to another; there’s a lot more to work on.

But with creativity and a little help from a professional, transforming any shot into a masterpiece is possible. Even if it’s for an animation video, where you have to film then do your bits of editing – you can enhance the video by creating a cinematic look using lighting.

At first thought, it may seem rather costly to achieve a cinematic look. However, with a few tips and tricks, you can do it even at a low budget!

Using the same principles of blocking, diffusing, and reflecting light – you can achieve success in your shots. Read on and discover the three primary ways you can use to improve the cinematic look of your shots using lighting!

Throw in bouncing light

For some businesses or videographers, they get scared immediately once they hear of bouncing light – due to the imagined costs involved in purchasing equipment.

However… the actual reality is it does not have to be expensive – you can even use your white bedsheets to achieve this process of bouncing light!

Reflectors or bouncing light are indispensable in light modification. With this, you get light from its current location to whatever location you want it to be. You can get this effect by simply using a poly-board insulation item.

Then, you just have to mount it on a stand or tape it to come up with a V-flat. And ta-da! You have successfully improved the quality of light and attained the ultimate cinematic look.

Diffuse the situation

A great modifier diffuses the light for an enhanced experience, bringing forth a larger subject than its actuality and ensure the quality of light is much softer!

And you don’t even have to use a costly diffuser, bring on any piece of translucent plastic like a shower curtain, place it over a lighting stand, and you’re done. You would have created a T-stop, which is ideal in making the quality of light softer.

Professionals typically use frames covered in silk for diffusion purposes. An example of such equipment is soft frost.

If you have the financial ability, go ahead and give it a try – it’s pretty effective 

Use a negative fill

Back then and even until now, videographers or businesses jumping into the video production field will block light by using a fire-resistant material known as Duvetyne.

You either reduce the intensity of the light or take it away entirely, and this is possible even without the above-mentioned material. As long as you use low-heat LED lighting, you can go ahead and welcome black curtains or black builder’s plastic even!

However, keep filming with black builder’s plastic indoors – it can get pretty noisy with the wind. But in all honestly, anything that comes with a black matted surface will work perfectly.

Lighting and filming aside, remember to throw in other unique elements to make your video astounding! The post-production phase will contribute a whole lot to the end-result of the video as well. If 2D animation or any other motion graphics is the answer – then, be sure to add them to your video.