DIGITAL UP MAGAZINE R.A.D. DAYLIGHT The graph below shows a sunny afternoon. The main source of light is the Sun, while the blue skylight is the second light source with various characteristics. Some light bounces off the white base and reflects on the part of the ball in the shadows and brightens it. This reflected light is the third source of illumination. The strongest light that comes from the sun represents distant point source of white light, which typically creates sharp shadows. The second light source, the blue skylight, has a very large light source (its physical size) and produces very soft shadows. A simple rule applies: the smaller and more distant light source, the sharper the shadow. Light coming from the blue sky strongly colors all the shadows in the scene. The shadow cast by the ball is blue because it is illuminated by light from the blue sky. If the blue sky wasn’t the second light source, the shadows would only be the diminished values of the white sunlight - shades of gray. Thus, parts of the ball which are not directly exposed to sunlight also receive bluish tones because the illuminated light from the blue sky. Finally, the light that is reflected from the white base on the dark areas of the ball is blue, although the background and ball are both white, because it is actually a blue light reflecting off white objects – white objects do not change color and so the white cards are mainly used for reflecting light and »