When using an external light source, it is important to place it as close to the camera sensor as possible. Increased distance between the light source and the camera sensor will decrease the quality of results.
If the light must be more than a few centimetres from the sensor, we recommend using Multiple Lights.
Light Types
For best results, we recommend using as small of a light as possible. Sometimes this can be achieved by removing any diffusion or reflectors attached to an existing light fixture to expose just the bulb.
✅ Works well ✅
Point Light
Built-in camera flash
Small strobe
Single LED
Does not work
Softboxes
Umbrella lights
Reflectors
Polarisation Filters
See Ring Lights below if you would like to use one.
Small point light,
Crisp shadows,
Sharp highlights
Soft shadows,
Irregular light falloff,
Variable Intensity
Large effective area,
Soft shadows,
Soft / smooth reflections
Light Size
A smaller light usually provides in better results, particularly for roughness.
In this case, a “small” light is relative to the size of and distance to the subject:
Light Placement
The closer a light is to the centre of the camera, the smaller the shadows will be in the source photography.
These shadows can interfere with the results from Marso, making predictions worse.
Minimal Shadows
Too much Shadow
As with the Light Size, this distance between a light and a camera is relative to the overall scale of the scene.
The closer the camera is to the subject, the greater the angle between the camera and light is at a point on the subject. Smaller angles will result in better results.
We recommend an angle of 3° or less. For anything higher than 6.5°, you should use Multiple Lights.
Rig Size | Distance: Camera → Subject | Max Distance: Light → Camera |
|---|---|---|
Small | ~50 cm | 4.5 cm |
Medium | ~100 cm | 9.5 cm |
Large | ~150 cm | 14 cm |
Multiple Lights
In situations where an individual light cannot be placed close to the camera, multiple lights can increase the consistency of material channels.
Sequence
When using multiple lights, they must be sequenced one light at a time, and in the same order each time the sequence runs for each camera position. This must also be true if there are multiple cameras.
For example:
Camera A - Top, Bottom, Left, Right Camera B - Top, Bottom, Left, Right
Camera C - Top, Bottom, Left, Right
Camera A - Top, Bottom, Left, Right Camera B - Bottom, Right, Left, Top
Camera C - Left, Right, Bottom, Top
Placement
When using more than one light source, it is important that such lights can be turned on and off, or triggered individually.
Use the same brand/model of light
Place lights opposite one another
Keep lights rotationally symmetrical
✅ Good ✅ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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For systems with multiple cameras as shown below - ensure that each light group has the same relative positions as their parent camera.
All three camera groups have four lights with the same orientation.
The middle camera group has a different orientation to the other camera groups.
Ring Light
Using a ring light is not yet officially supported, however we have done some testing with promising results.
If you would like to use a ring light, it is important to ensure that the distance from the camera to the subject large is enough to minimise the subject blocking any part of the light from the visible surface of the subject
Good | Bad |
|---|---|
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Contact info@m-xr.com if you are interested in using a ring light with Marso.