Get Started Inspiration

3D bust of a human head and neck with a green light on the right side.

Interactive Face Lighting Reference

Loomis Method Interactive Reference

3D male figure walking, facing left, with a green rim light on a transparent background.

Animated Male Walking Reference

3D female figure in an arched pose with raised arms and one leg extended backward.

Posable Female 3D Reference

Male posable model in dynamic pose with one leg raised and arms outstretched with green highlight on right.

Posable Male 3D Reference

Reference of human hand with fingers slightly spread apart and a green rim light.

Posable Hands 3D Reference

3D sphere with smooth shading and slight reflections showing value study shading.

Sphere Value Study Reference

Marble statue of a nude male athlete holding a discus in throwing position with dramatic lighting.

The Discus Thrower 3D Reference

Realistic portrait of African American man with rim and accent lighting on right side.

Realistic Male Portrait Lighting Reference

A square with a dotted outline indicating upload your own reference model

Drop Your Model Into the Scene

Use reference setup

3D bust of a human head and neck with a green light on the right side.

Detailed features, 360° control

Interactive Face Lighting Reference

Use reference setup

The renowned head block-in technique

Loomis Method Interactive Reference

Use reference setup

3D male figure walking, facing left, with a green rim light on a transparent background.

Watch the walk, or pose the body

Animated Male Walking Reference

Use reference setup

3D female figure in an arched pose with raised arms and one leg extended backward.

No constraints, just flexibility

Posable Female 3D Reference

Use reference setup

Male posable model in dynamic pose with one leg raised and arms outstretched with green highlight on right.

No constraints, just flexibility

Posable Male 3D Reference

Use reference setup

Reference of human hand with fingers slightly spread apart and a green rim light.

The hardest thing to draw, made easier

Posable Hands 3D Reference

Use reference setup

3D sphere with smooth shading and slight reflections showing value study shading.

Form and light, nothing else

Sphere Value Study Reference

Use reference setup

Marble statue of a nude male athlete holding a discus in throwing position with dramatic lighting.

Practice drawing classic sculpture

The Discus Thrower 3D Reference

Use reference setup

Realistic portrait of African American man with rim and accent lighting on right side.

Full color detail

Realistic Male Portrait Lighting Reference

Use reference setup

A square with a dotted outline indicating upload your own reference model

A blank canvas to work from

Drop Your Model Into the Scene

Drop in, glow up

Lighting references of the face, body, and more, now interactive.

Light faces, figures, portraits, shape primitives, and more with interactive 3D references. From multi-point lighting to dramatic chiaroscuro setups and beyond, create the reference images you need with the web’s interactive lighting tool built for artists like you.

Start lighting—it’s free

Seen enough? Get started

Shape primitives: cylinder, sphere, and cone, casting shadows on a lighted surface.

The power of Light Dropper™, in three parts

Stop searching for the perfect reference.
This lighting simulator puts you in control.

Choose a model, find your angle, then direct the light.

From detailed anatomy studies to simplified construction forms like the Loomis head, the reference library covers a broad range. Choose a model, or upload your own, then shape the scene with control over light type, quantity, color, brightness, position, camera view, and more. Build classic lighting setups, or something only you can imagine.

Pose characters however you like, or study them in motion.

Interactive lighting is only part of the experience. Pose fully adjustable characters, or explore animated references in motion. Pause at any moment to capture dynamic action, expressive silhouettes, or hard-to-find reference angles that static images simply can’t provide.

Randomize instantly. Tweak easily. Return seamlessly.

Skip starting from square one. A simple keystroke let’s you randomize lights and colors to give you a jolt of inspiration. Undo to go back to a look you liked, or redo to skip forward. Plus, Light Dropper automagically saves your setup. For those marathon lighting reference sessions, leave knowing it’ll be exactly the same when you return.

Bust of a man under split lighting conditions

A man with harsh bright light coming from the right lower side, while a small accent light hits the top left of his face

Bust of a man with dramatic lighting coming from below his face

Color wheel showing a full spectrum of hues with a central selector and a grayscale brightness slider below.

From shape primitives to interactive figure studies, now you set the tone, and angle. Pick a reference, drop a light, and glow up.

3D bust of a human head and neck with a green light on the right side.

Interactive Face Lighting Reference

Loomis Method Interactive Reference

3D male figure walking, facing left, with a green rim light on a transparent background.

Animated Male Walking Reference

3D female figure in an arched pose with raised arms and one leg extended backward.

Posable Female 3D Reference

Male posable model in dynamic pose with one leg raised and arms outstretched with green highlight on right.

Posable Male 3D Reference

Reference of human hand with fingers slightly spread apart and a green rim light.

Posable Hands 3D Reference

3D sphere with smooth shading and slight reflections showing value study shading.

Sphere Value Study Reference

Marble statue of a nude male athlete holding a discus in throwing position with dramatic lighting.

The Discus Thrower 3D Reference

Realistic portrait of African American man with rim and accent lighting on right side.

Realistic Male Portrait Lighting Reference

A square with a dotted outline indicating upload your own reference model

Drop Your Model Into the Scene

Use reference setup

3D bust of a human head and neck with a green light on the right side.

Detailed features, 360° control

Interactive Face Lighting Reference

Use reference setup

The renowned head block-in technique

Loomis Method Interactive Reference

Use reference setup

3D male figure walking, facing left, with a green rim light on a transparent background.

Watch the walk, or pose the body

Animated Male Walking Reference

Use reference setup

3D female figure in an arched pose with raised arms and one leg extended backward.

No constraints, just flexibility

Posable Female 3D Reference

Use reference setup

Male posable model in dynamic pose with one leg raised and arms outstretched with green highlight on right.

No constraints, just flexibility

Posable Male 3D Reference

Use reference setup

Reference of human hand with fingers slightly spread apart and a green rim light.

The hardest thing to draw, made easier

Posable Hands 3D Reference

Use reference setup

3D sphere with smooth shading and slight reflections showing value study shading.

Form and light, nothing else

Sphere Value Study Reference

Use reference setup

Marble statue of a nude male athlete holding a discus in throwing position with dramatic lighting.

Practice drawing classic sculpture

The Discus Thrower 3D Reference

Use reference setup

Realistic portrait of African American man with rim and accent lighting on right side.

Full color detail

Realistic Male Portrait Lighting Reference

Use reference setup

A square with a dotted outline indicating upload your own reference model

A blank canvas to work from

Drop Your Model Into the Scene

3D bust of artist Leonardo da Vinci

“Shadow is the suppression of light and light is the expeller of darkness.”

—Leonardo da Vinci

Create a lighting reference

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