Cinematic Lighting Techniques for AI Visual Generation

Purpose

Provides reusable, statistically-validated lighting and visual techniques that improve photorealism, brand fidelity, and emotional engagement in AI-generated imagery. Each technique includes implementation protocols, measured quality deltas, and known pitfalls.

Techniques Library

Volumetric Color Gel Layering

Uses physically accurate colored gels at different angles to create dimensional depth through chromatic separation. See references/volumetric-color-gel-layering.md for full protocol, metrics, and pitfalls.

Quick Reference:

• Key: amber (#FFBF00) 45° at 2:1 ratio
• Fill: blue (#4A90D9) opposite at 30°, 1:2 to key
• Rim: violet (#7B68EE) behind at 180°, 3:1 to key
• Min 1500K temperature differential between warm/cool layers

Practical Light Layering (from visual-prompt-engineering-master-agent skill)

Multiple visible light sources with 1500K+ separation. See the parent visual-prompt-engineering-master-agent skill for baseline implementation.