flat lighting

No depth shadows

Flat lighting is illumination that minimizes shadows and contrast, typically by positioning light sources directly in front of the subject.

The result looks even but can appear two-dimensional or unflattering: The flat lighting washed out her features.

Photographers and cinematographers sometimes use flat lighting deliberately for a clean, uniform look, but it's often considered less dynamic than lighting that creates depth through shadow.

Related

overcast sky · bland · dull · muted · wash · fill · ambient · high key · harsh · studio · portrait · corporate headshot · boring · clinical · fluorescent · office · passport · driver's license

Opposites
dimensionality and depth

flat lightingchiaroscuro

Contrast technique in painting

side lighting · dramatic lighting · directional lighting · backlight · backlit

dramatic quality

flat lightingdramatic lighting

High-contrast, mood-setting illumination

noir lighting · cinematic lighting · theatrical lighting · harsh lighting

contrast ratio

flat lightingharsh lighting

Unflattering, intense illumination

Family

flat, lighting, flats, flatly, flatten, flattened, flattening, flatness, flatter

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G