Reading the result

After the analysis you get two things: a written read-out and a simulated version of the portrait. Read them together, as clues that point to a good starting setup.

The read-out

• Main light: the suggested side, angle and height of the key light, when the picture allows a useful estimate.
• Shadows: how much darker the shadow side of the face is than the lit side.
• Background: the visible background, when it can be read reliably.
• Eye reflections: whether useful reflections were found and whether they agree with the shading.
• Suggested pattern: a lighting pattern that fits the proposed setup.

All the details opens the full reasoning: key position, brightness gap, proposed fill, eye reflections, face turn and the comparison. When one clue is weak, the others can still support a good overall suggestion.

The stops and ratios describe brightness differences in the finished picture, not the original flash power. Editing, skin tone, face shape, hair and blown highlights all influence them.

How close the Lab gets

Beside your portrait, the Lab shows its proposed setup on a Lumen Tool head. This comparison checks whether the suggested direction and contrast give a similar look. It does not copy the person’s face, skin, pose or equipment, so some difference always comes from the subject rather than the light.

From above shows where the proposed lights stand around the head.

Happy with it? Open it in Photo Lighting and refine the lights yourself.