11 Best Books on Colour and Lighting

We have compiled a list of the Best Reference Books on Colour and Lighting, which are used by students of top universities, and colleges. This will help you choose the right book depending on if you are a beginner or an expert. Here is the complete list of Colour and Lighting Books with their authors, publishers, and an unbiased review of them as well as links to the Amazon website to directly purchase them. If permissible, you can also download the free PDF books on Colour and Lighting below.

 
1."Blender 3D for Beginners: The Complete Guide" by Danan Thilakanathan
“Blender 3D for Beginners: The Complete Guide” Book Review: This book is designed for beginners who are new to 3D graphics and animations. It provides a simple and easy-to-understand explanation of all the basic features of Blender. You will learn how to navigate your way around Blender, and with practice, you will be able to create your own 3D models. The book also includes information on how to use Blender as a video editor, as well as how to texture, UV map, render, sculpt, animate, and composite your 3D models. Additionally, it covers lighting techniques and provides basic setups. The book includes practical exercises with step-by-step instructions to help you gain hands-on experience.

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2."Rick Sammon’s Creative Visualization for Photographers" by Rick Sammon
“Rick Sammon’s Creative Visualization for Photographers” Book Review: This book is a useful guide for individuals looking to develop their photography skills and improve the quality of their photos. It begins with a discussion on what constitutes a good photograph, and then delves into the technical aspects of adjusting camera settings in different conditions. The book also covers corrective image processing, as well as the use of HDR and EDR techniques. Readers can learn about creating perfect panoramas, and there are numerous examples of the author’s own work, with important information on exposure, lighting, and depth. The book also includes simple follow-along examples for reference.

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3."In Camera: Perfect Pictures Straight Out of the Camera" by Gordon Laing
“In Camera: Perfect Pictures Straight Out of the Camera” Book Review: This book is a useful resource for emerging photographers who want to take great shots without relying on post-processing. It provides a comprehensive guide on how to make the most of digital cameras, and emphasizes the importance of getting the shot right the first time, without having to rely on editing. The book covers the features that photographers should be familiar with in order to master their cameras and take great shots. It includes hundreds of pictures taken by Gordon Laing that serve as examples and offer valuable insights that learners can apply in practice.

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4."NEW: Photographers Cheat Sheets - A quick reference guide to your photography" by Simon Walden
“NEW: Photographers Cheat Sheets – A quick reference guide to your photography” Book Review: This book is a comprehensive guide to photography features and adjustments, suitable for all levels of photographers. It serves as a reference for various aspects of photography, without requiring prior knowledge of technical jargon. The book includes a cheat sheet with tips on taking photos from wide-angle to telephoto lenses. It also provides a composition flow chart for better understanding of photography techniques. The book contains cropping guidelines for photographs with people in them and explains the color temperature scale. Information about light exposure, from brighter to darker, is also provided.

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5."Lumitecture: Illuminating Interiors for Designers and Architects" by Anna Yudina
“Lumitecture: Illuminating Interiors for Designers and Architects” Book Review: This book is aimed at helping interior designers and architects gain an understanding of indoor lighting. It offers various ideas for utilizing light within buildings. The book is divided into three sections, each showcasing the central effect of lighting in different scenarios: transforming space, altering the perception of time, and evoking emotional responses. Projects are provided as examples, with both design solutions and practical explanations. The book also covers techniques for creating an attractive ambience. In addition, it promotes the use of new light sources such as bioluminescence or rarefied glasses.

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6."The Photoshop Handbook: Simple Ways to Create Visually Stunning and Breathtaking Photos" by Mr Dwayne Brown
“The Photoshop Handbook: Simple Ways to Create Visually Stunning and Breathtaking Photos” Book Review: This book is a beginner’s guide to using Photoshop, the widely available software for photo editing. It provides step-by-step guidance on how to enhance existing photos to make them more lively and beautiful. The book covers detailed information on modifying lights and levels, as well as advanced techniques for enhancing landscape and portrait photos. Additionally, there are tips and tricks for using a DSLR camera to capture stunning images. Overall, this book is a comprehensive resource for those new to Photoshop and interested in improving their photography skills.

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7."Shaping Light: Use Light Modifiers to Create Amazing Studio and Location Photographs" by Nelson R
“Shaping Light: Use Light Modifiers to Create Amazing Studio and Location Photographs” Book Review: This book provides in-depth knowledge of how to correctly use light and masks to enhance photographs, making it a valuable resource for professional photographers. The book covers techniques for modifying light to bring images to life and outlines the tools and techniques necessary for shaping light effectively. Multiple before-and-after pictures are included for practical usage. The book also explains how to predict the interaction of light with the surface of an object for optimal use. Additionally, the book provides information about various modifiers such as softboxes, umbrellas, masks, and gels and how to use them to achieve perfect diffusion, edges, and ratio of light.

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8."Capturing Light: The Heart of Photography" by Michael Freeman
“Capturing Light: The Heart of Photography” Book Review: The book delves into the significance of different types of light for specific situations. It is organized into three sections, each thoroughly discussed: Waiting, Chasing, and Helping. Waiting outlines the various types of light that one can anticipate and wait for, such as the timing of the sun, city lights, blue evenings, golden hours, and more. Chasing the lights encourages a positive outlook and emphasizes that light can be unpredictable, necessitating different responses than initially planned. Helping focuses on modifying light according to one’s preferences to achieve optimal outcomes.

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9."Lamps and Lighting (Conran design guides)" by T Conran
“Lamps and Lighting (Conran design guides)” Book Review: This book is intended for artists, architects, and engineers who are fascinated by light. The book highlights the importance of light in art, particularly its ability to showcase colors and textures. It provides detailed information on various types of lighting, including table lamps, ceiling lamps, desk lamps, wall and floor lamps. The book also emphasizes the significance of lighting design and provides comprehensive explanations on the subject.

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10."Light in Architecture (Architecture in Focus)" by Chris van Uffelen
“Light in Architecture (Architecture in Focus)” Book Review: This book is a valuable resource for interior designers and architects seeking creative inspiration. It features a multitude of projects that showcase how the right lighting can greatly enhance the look and feel of a room. The book provides insights on how to properly highlight interiors and information on both natural and artificial light to create a spatial experience. It also delves into the different roles that illumination can play in a space. With 123 projects from architects and designers from around the world, including the Air Traffic Control Tower in Vienna, the Greenpix Zero Energy Wall in Beijing, the Ave Maria Chapel in Naples, the Deloitte Headquarters in Copenhagen, and the Koukjian Jewelry in Beirut, this book offers a wealth of examples to draw from.

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11."Solid State Lighting Reliability" by X J Fan and Willem Dirk Van Driel
“Solid State Lighting Reliability” Book Review: This book examines the benefits of using solid state lighting compared to conventional lighting systems, highlighting advantages such as longer lifetimes and higher efficacy. The reliability of SSL devices and sub-components is discussed, including failure modes and reliability testing. The book also covers the reliability performance of integrated systems of SSL modules, lamps, and luminaires. It explores future research possibilities in SSL reliability and delves into essential reliability theories and practices for SSL components and systems. Aimed at industry professionals, researchers, and graduate students, this book provides a comprehensive look at SSL reliability from sub-component to total system performance.

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We have put a lot of effort into researching the best books on Colour and Lighting and came out with a recommended list and their reviews. If any more book needs to be added to this list, please email us. We are working on free pdf downloads for books on Colour and Lighting and will publish the download link here. Fill out this Colour and Lighting books pdf download" request form for download notification.

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Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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