Whether you are running a large studio or a single room, it is very important to understand the basics of what has known to be called "3 Point Lighting". Light is a crucial part of any chat room. Good lighting can add to the mood and "closeness" of your performance, while bad lighting can detract from the clarity. Three-point lighting is a technique used to light subjects in traditional photography and film which is simple to do, and yields fantastic results.

Components of 3-point lighting:

• Rim light: The job of the back light is to bring out the silhouette of the subject. The back light helps to separate the subject from the background and direct the viewer's eye towards the subject. The back light should be placed behind and above your subject. The light can be as bright as necessary to draw out the subject from the background. Be careful not to aim the light directly into the lens of the camera or else a "Lens flare" effect may result.
  
  
• Fill light: The key light tends to create very dark shadows. It is the job of the fill light to lighten these shadows and to simulate other sources of illumination in the studio. The fill light should be placed roughly opposite to the key light relative to the camera. The fill should never be more than half as bright as the key light. You can have as many fill lights as you like, but their combined intensity at any given point should not exceed that of the key light. If the fill light is too bright, it will make the final image appear washed out.
  
  
• Key light: The key light is the primary light source in your studio. The key light should be placed above and to the right/left of the camera. There should be a roughly 15 to 50 degree horizontal/vertical angle between the line formed between both the camera and the performer and the line formed between the subject and the key light. Neat Trick: If your performer is in a studio but you want him or her to appear like she is near a window, the key should be placed where the most illumination would be coming from, such as the window.
  
  
• All Lights On. As you can see from the illustration above, with all 3 lights turned on, the model is now properly lit with natural looking shadows that do not hide any features. The Rim Light creates an excellent distinction between the foreground and background creating depth to the image.
  
  
• Color Accent Lights: Adjusting the color of your lights can really improve the look of a good 3-point lighting setup. The key light should always match the color of the primary light source. The fill light should simulate the indirect or reflected illumination in your studio. The back light does not usually simulate "real" light and should only be adjusted until it is pleasing to the eye.