---
description: >-
  Learn how to control exposure and lighting mood with Aperty’s Light Control
  tool. Fine-tune highlights, shadows, and contrast in your images.
---

# Light Control

{% @arcade/embed flowId="Gor8WrFS1IaaoeM41b08" url="https://app.arcade.software/share/Gor8WrFS1IaaoeM41b08" %}

The **Light Control** tool in Aperty allows you to simulate professional lighting setups within your portrait editing process. You can customize multiple light sources, control their brightness, and apply textured patterns to add depth and artistic effects. This tool offers complete control over the lighting environment, enhancing the mood and visual impact of your portrait.

**Scene Settings Section**

Controls the overall lighting environment, adjusting brightness, smoothness, and contrast to set the foundation for the portrait's lighting.

* **Brightness**: Controls the overall intensity of the light in the scene. Increasing the slider brightens the entire portrait while lowering it reduces the amount of light, creating a more moody or dramatic effect.
* **Smoothness**: Adjusts how soft or harsh the light appears. A higher value softens the light, resulting in gentle shadows and smooth transitions, perfect for a flattering portrait. Lowering it creates sharper, more defined shadows for a more dramatic look.
* **Light Contrast**: Modifies the contrast between the light and shadow areas. Increasing this slider deepens the shadows and enhances contrast while decreasing it, making the lighting even and less harsh.

**Light Source Settings**\
Allows you to add, position, and customize up to five independent light sources. You can adjust each light's brightness, color, saturation, and depth.

* **+ Icon**: Click this to add a new light source to the portrait. You can add up to five lights, which can be repositioned by clicking on the image. Right-click on any added light source to hide or remove it from the scene.
* **Show on Canvas**: This toggles the visibility of light source icons on the canvas, which are displayed as pins for easy adjustment and positioning.
* **Amount**: Adjusts the intensity of the individual light source. Increasing the amount makes the light brighter and more prominent while lowering it softens the impact of that specific light.
* **Hue**: Controls the color of the light source. You can adjust this slider to apply different hues, from warm tones like orange to cooler tones like blue or purple, depending on the mood or style of your portrait.
* **Saturation**: Changes the vividness of the light’s color. Higher saturation makes the hue more intense and noticeable, while lower saturation results in a more subtle, muted color.
* **Depth**: Adjusts how far or near the light source appears relative to the subject, controlling the spread and reach of the light. Higher depth creates a more diffuse, distant light, while lower depth brings the light closer for stronger illumination and sharper shadows.

**Light Customization Section**\
Offers advanced options for adding textured patterns or shadows to the light source, along with controls for scaling and positioning these effects for creative lighting adjustments.

* **Texture Dropdown**: Choose from various textures that mimic a gobo (a Go-between object) to cast patterned shadows or reflections on the portrait. Available options:
  * **None**: No texture applied.
  * **Greenery**: Adds a leafy texture, simulating light filtering through plants.
  * **Monstera**: Creates a shadow pattern resembling large Monstera plant leaves.
  * **Palm Leaf**: Simulates light filtered through palm leaves.
  * **Shutters**: Adds shadow patterns that mimic window shutters.
  * **Tree Shadows**: Creates a shadow effect that resembles light through tree branches.
  * **Vintage Windows**: Adds the effect of light coming through old-style window frames.
  * **Water Drops**: Simulates light refracted through water droplets.
  * **Water Reflections**: Mimics the light reflections on surfaces near water.
* **Add Custom**: You can upload and apply your own custom texture or pattern to personalize the lighting effect.
* **Pattern Dropdown**: Applies additional design patterns to the light source.
  * **None**: No pattern added.
  * **Strips**: Adds a striped pattern to the light.
  * **Dots**: Adds a dotted pattern to the light.
* **Scale Slider**: Controls the size of the texture or pattern. Increasing the scale enlarges the pattern while decreasing it makes the texture smaller and more concentrated.
* **Position X and Y**: Adjusts the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) position of the texture or pattern relative to the portrait, allowing you to fine-tune where the pattern falls on the subject.

{% hint style="info" %}
Use the Brightness and Smoothness sliders to create flattering lighting for professional-looking portraits. Experiment with textured patterns like Shutters or Tree Shadows to add depth and interest to your scene. Keep the Hue and Saturation adjustments subtle to avoid overpowering the natural tones of your portrait.
{% endhint %}
